A Saturday bonus: Johanna van de Woestijne has made another film about the park. This one is about the Rose-Ringed Parakeets that have become so noticeable here in recent years.
The Parakeets sit on top of people's heads just like the doves in Seville. Amusing! Funny about the mistake in depicting the feet of the Parakeet in the mosaic. One might have thought that the restorers should have at least consult a book. Wonderful film!
This is a beautifully constructed, shot and edited short film. I was at school in Ealing in the later 50s and early 60s. But made my escape around the end of 1966. It was impossible to escape London altogether and I did live in St Albans for some six years, spending around half of my working life in London. Then later still I would catch the train several times a week from my next home in Hove. Even now, I visit London on every other occasion when I return to the UK. The interesting thing about the film itself, for me, is the way in which the fawna has changed so completely from the days of my childhood, when there was only a caged parrot in Walpole Park, behind Sir John Soane's country residence, then serving as Ealing Public Library. The infrequency of my return visits and the sometimes rather rushed nature of them, allows me to become rather challenged by such changes, which I have been unable to observe at first hand. So thank you - to both you and your collaborator - for a fascinating insight.
Hi, Johanna here. Thank you for your thoughtful comments on the video. At first, I was a little reluctant to make a video about the parakeets. I'm just the occasional visitor to London. To me the changes seemed rapid too, as if in time lapse. I'm hoping at some point to get educational comments from a field researcher as to how the effects on local bird populations are being studied.
There is now a substantial flock of them in Springfield Park; just spotted them all (I think) at dusk having a quick roost altogether in a close stand of trees, before flying off in diverse groups. And they were not as noisy as you might expect, not as noisy as when flying and shrieking. P.S. Johanna, don't be reluctant , seems to me you and Ralph work well together!
The problem with being a local is that one tends to absorb the changes, even if one does not like them - as an act of pragmatism. For the likes of you and me, changes appear more marked, as we can only absorb them intermittently.
At the risk of making Ralph groan (!), I see it as a Heraclitan flux of phenomena, in this situation. But the world does turn and life also changes perpetually.
The parakeets experience is reflected in the life of humans. I emigrated over ten years ago now. It is still my country, but only partly. That can be painful to contemplate. It can be even more painful to experience at first hand, which is part of why I left, feeling that I could no longer influence it. The fact that I now experience double the hours of sunshine should not be ignored either! A wonderful peppersteak only costs me around $15m, so I am quids in, if you will forgive the expression!
But what you have both done represents the best in the Anglo-American tradition IMHO.
thank you, all- another splendid film
ReplyDeleteA hobby eating a parakeet? That must be a unique photo! Enjoyed your cultural archaeology too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the entertainment and information. All this background really enhances any visit to the parks.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your kind words. Yes, the Hobby eating the parakeet was astonishing. No one ever saw it happen again, as far as I know.
DeleteThe Parakeets sit on top of people's heads just like the doves in Seville. Amusing! Funny about the mistake in depicting the feet of the Parakeet in the mosaic. One might have thought that the restorers should have at least consult a book.
ReplyDeleteWonderful film!
*consulted,even.
DeleteOne of my favourite pictures is this one showing Monet and Mrs Monet visiting St Mark's Square in Venice.
DeleteThis is a beautifully constructed, shot and edited short film. I was at school in Ealing in the later 50s and early 60s. But made my escape around the end of 1966. It was impossible to escape London altogether and I did live in St Albans for some six years, spending around half of my working life in London. Then later still I would catch the train several times a week from my next home in Hove. Even now, I visit London on every other occasion when I return to the UK. The interesting thing about the film itself, for me, is the way in which the fawna has changed so completely from the days of my childhood, when there was only a caged parrot in Walpole Park, behind Sir John Soane's country residence, then serving as Ealing Public Library. The infrequency of my return visits and the sometimes rather rushed nature of them, allows me to become rather challenged by such changes, which I have been unable to observe at first hand. So thank you - to both you and your collaborator - for a fascinating insight.
ReplyDeleteHi, Johanna here. Thank you for your thoughtful comments on the video. At first, I was a little reluctant to make a video about the parakeets. I'm just the occasional visitor to London. To me the changes seemed rapid too, as if in time lapse. I'm hoping at some point to get educational comments from a field researcher as to how the effects on local bird populations are being studied.
DeleteThere is now a substantial flock of them in Springfield Park; just spotted them all (I think) at dusk having a quick roost altogether in a close stand of trees, before flying off in diverse groups. And they were not as noisy as you might expect, not as noisy as when flying and shrieking.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Johanna, don't be reluctant , seems to me you and Ralph work well together!
It's not clear what makes these birds so incredibly successful in a climate they can only just tolerate.
DeleteHi Johanna,
ReplyDeleteThank you too!
The problem with being a local is that one tends to absorb the changes, even if one does not like them - as an act of pragmatism. For the likes of you and me, changes appear more marked, as we can only absorb them intermittently.
At the risk of making Ralph groan (!), I see it as a Heraclitan flux of phenomena, in this situation. But the world does turn and life also changes perpetually.
The parakeets experience is reflected in the life of humans. I emigrated over ten years ago now. It is still my country, but only partly. That can be painful to contemplate. It can be even more painful to experience at first hand, which is part of why I left, feeling that I could no longer influence it. The fact that I now experience double the hours of sunshine should not be ignored either! A wonderful peppersteak only costs me around $15m, so I am quids in, if you will forgive the expression!
But what you have both done represents the best in the Anglo-American tradition IMHO.
Please produce more.
Hey, thank you for looking at the video and the kind words too. Much appreciated.
Delete