By Parker McKenzie
11 years in the making, The Message of the Lyrebird will have an Australian premiere at Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave on 12 February, with all proceeds going towards the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Study Group.
The nature documentary, produced by Balangara Films, explores the relationships between the people who care for the Lyrebirds and explores misconceptions commonly held about the bird.
Producer and director Mark Pearce said he wanted to make a film about the Lyrebird because some of the most famous footage – David Attenborough’s Life of Birds – was filmed in captivity.
“The film touches on the misconceptions people have about the bird,” he said.
“I wanted to make an unconventional film because I’m an unconventional person,
“We wanted to capture the characters that interact and care for the bird, and explore their relationship throughout the film.”
Nick Hayward, the cinematographer for The Life of Birds, serves the same role in The Message of the Lyrebirds as the film questions whether lyrebirds will mimic sounds of human origin in the wild.
Alex Maisey, from the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Study Group, said the lyrebird was a special animal deserving of the feature film.
“I’ve been studying Lyrebirds for 20 years and this is some of the best footage ever filmed,” he said.
“That’s why I wanted it to be on the big screen, it was made for it.”
In 1975, the population of lyrebirds in Sherbrooke forest fell to an estimated 60 male birds. With the implementation of policies to protect the species, it is now estimated there are 160 lyrebirds.
Mr Maisey said the longevity of the Study Group – founded in 1958 – and the Friends of Sherbrooke Forest shows the importance the Lyrebird holds in the community.
“Sherbrooke Lyrebird Study Group is one of the longest running environmental groups associated with Parks Victoria,” he said.
“It shows the relationship people have held with the bird for decades.”
Mr Maisey completed his PHD in 2020 on the role of the Superb Lyrebird as an ecosystem engineer in Australia’s temperate forests.
After award-winning screenings overseas, the film is finally making its Australian premiere in Belgrave at 3pm on Saturday 12 Feburary, a short-walk from the lyrebird’s home in Sherbrooke Forest.
Tickets for the premiere can be bought at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-message-of-the-lyrebird-tickets-248293190617?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
