The Messenger

Sunday, February 11 at 3:00pm

Birds of Winter: A Skagit Valley Experience runs from December 2017 through February 2018. When the planning commitee asked us to participate with a birding film we had to do quite a bit of research to find a good film that we haven't already screened. We think we found one in The Messenger. For thousands of years, songbirds were regarded by mankind as messengers from the gods. Today, these creatures have woven inextricably into the fabric of our environment and are vanishing at an alarming rate. Under threat from climate change, pesticides and more, populations of hundreds of species have dipped dramatically. As scientists, activists and bird enthusiasts investigate this phenomenon, amazing secrets of the bird world come to light for the first time in the acclaimed and visually thrilling documentary The Messenger. Find out what's killing our songbirds, and what can be done about it. As in ancient times, songbirds may once again be carrying a message to humans - one that we ignore at our own peril. In this documentary filmmaker Su Rynard examines the various hazards songbirds face around the world, which has led to a drastic reduction in their population. The role the birds play in the global ecosystem is discussed by biologists and industry experts.