THE
BIRDS
& ME
This 60-minute documentary will explore the unique relationship many Australians have with the wild birds in their very own backyards. What do we all get out of this friendship? How has the suburban sprawl affected the behaviour of wild birds? And, are birds much more empathic, intelligent and observant of us than we previously thought?
We’ll also explore why it’s still taboo to openly feed birds in the backyard, despite so many of us doing it, and despite the fact many other countries in the world encourage feeding wild birds.
We’ll separate fact from fiction and try to understand what the most responsible way is to conduct a relationship with our feathered friends.
What we'll cover
Everyday experiences: We’ll visit the homes of numerous Australians across the country who enjoy daily visits from wild birds, capturing compelling footage of their unusual interactions. We’ll show just how endearing, wonderful and intimate these relationships truly are
Extraordinary experiences: We’ll talk to people whose experiences with the wild birds in the backyards became profound and life-changing
Experts in bird behaviour: We’ll talk to leading experts in ecology and bird behaviour to really understand: what’s going on from a biological perspective; what makes our Aussie birds so unique; are they more curious and interactive than their international counterparts; and is their behaviour changing, and if so, why? We’ll explore what the birds may be getting out of this, above and beyond a regular snack. The experts will also watch our footage of these interactions and try and decipher what’s happening from the bird’s perspective
The wildlife carers: We’ll talk to wildlife carers and rescuers who can shed light on the grey areas of backyard interactions: over-feeding, feeding the wrong foods, and dependency. Are these all real issues? We’ll find out…
The artists and pop culture references: We’ll interview prominent artists who work with birds. We’ll also explore the way Aussie birds have entered pop culture, such as the ‘10/10 Swoopy Bois’ phenomenon and the Guardian’s increasingly popular Bird of the Year competition. What is it about our Aussie birds, such as the Magpie, which capture our imagination so?
Meet our Director, Caroline
Welcome!
My name’s Caroline Attwood, and I’m the creator and director of The Birds & Me documentary film.
I’ve always loved birds. Their complex lives and social structures co-exist with ours in such a magical way. I’m endlessly fascinated by the intelligence, empathy and curiosity of birds.
The idea for this documentary came to me during our initial lockdown in Brisbane. I was interacting with the birds on our back deck at least twice a day. It was a bit of a lifeline during such a strange and lonely time. Eventually, the local crows started leaving us little gifts at our front door. I joined a bird group on Facebook with 40,000+ members, shared my story, and over 100 people responded with similarly profound experiences.
This led me to create the concept of a documentary exploring these rewarding relationships.
I have more than 15 years’ experience in content creation, working with some phenomenal brands and publications across the globe. This is my first documentary film.
You can visit my professional website here.