The International Crane Foundation

This partnership between the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and The International Crane Foundation was coordinated and designed by Debbie Selier (M.S. student in Environment and Resources) as part of a unique new course Community Engagement through Film.

COMMUNITY PARTNER:
Although The International Crane Foundation works to promote ecosystem protection and restoration, research, education, and captive breeding to save cranes and their ecosystems.  In working with Tales from Planet Earth, ICF hopes to increase concern, education, and awareness of bird conservation.  Connecting the public in a positive way with birds, cranes, and the outdoors helps create tomorrow's ICF members, volunteers, and conservation advocates.  ICF is also the parent organization of Friends of Muraviovka Park (FOMP), which focuses on educational and scientific exchange for a major crane conservation area in Russia.

PARTNERING FILMS:
Ghost Bird (Saturday, November 7, 2 pm, UW Cinematheque)

A haunting story of hope and loss in the search for the Giant Ivory Billed Woodpecker, a species thought to be extinct.  ICF's work has brought several crane species back from the brink of extinction, but the battle is far from over.


Milking the Rhino (Saturday, November 7, 11 am, UW Cinematheque)

Can saving animals save people too? Milking the Rhino explores the idea of community-based conservation and how it can help give people a stake in the survival of wildlife. This film ties in to ICF's many international collaborations to save crane species worldwide.


Wild New York (Saturday, November 7, 11 am, UW Cinematheque)

This film makes the point that even in America's biggest city, our wildlife neighbors survive and capture our hearts. For the keen observer, Madison is also full of Wisconsin's most enigmatic wildlife, right down to Sandhill Cranes (like those that ICF conserves) which appear at Picnic Point.

The Adventures of Chico (Sunday, November 8, 2 pm, UW Cinematheque)

Childhood and wildlife on the farm. From Mexico to Wisconsin, our relationship with wildlife is a crucial component of who we are, something that ICF emphasizes in its educational materials to children around the world.

Arkansas, Kenya, Manhattan, Mexico, Wisconsin. No matter where you go, humans confront our wild neighbors. As in these films, human-wildlife interactions can be tragic, lucrative, inspiring, or humorous, and similar ones all take place right here in Madison. Together with ICF, we're linking filmgoers to local wildlife experts -- our brainy, oddball Madison birding community -- with the simple mission to get people outside so that they may fall in love. We'll be creating new friendships, community alliances, and wildlife stories through our film-related events.

FILM-RELATED EVENTS:

Tweet'n'Meet

Follow and meet Madison's expert birders on their TfPE twitter feed. In the week leading up to the festival they'll be tweeting birding coordinates and birds. @MadBirdersTweet

Bagels with a Birder

Share bagels and coffee while you learn about and spot Wisconsin's birds—the everyday and the very rare—with expert Madison birders. Saturday & Sunday, November 7 & 8, at 7:30 am. Meet at the entrance to Picnic Point.

ADDITIONAL NEEDS:
The International Crane Foundation needs an educated public that will act as conservation policy advocates, volunteers, and donors to ICF (as well as other WI conservation groups). FOMP needs teachers and wildlife advocates, who are willing to volunteer to travel to the park in Russia to work at its educational programs. They also need donations of wildlife field guides and quality used high school-level science textbooks. We are working on the first step at TfPE, by setting up fun and educational events for Madison residents to get to know their neighbors -- both birds and the humans who love them.

SOCIAL MEDIA @ WORK:
http://madbirderfilms.tumblr.com - View the latest updates and recaps on our special "bird" program for the Tales from Planet Earth film festival. We'll be posting news, photos, and multimedia here on our highlighted films, events, and community partner, the International Crane Foundation.
http://twitter.com/MadBirdersTweet - Follow our "Tweet'n'Meet" bird walks and updates.  Subscribe @MadBirdersTweet.

CONTACTS:
For all events, contact Debbie Seiler, dseiler@wisc.edu.