Where birds are concerned, fans just cannot seem to get enough coverage of the winged wonders that exist in our presence. Whether those are in-house pets of the many varieties of colorful and intelligent exotic birds, or the outside wonderworld of flying creatures, we all need to get our fill of birds. And we seek it out by joining birding clubs, creating backyard bird paradises, and the like. There are also the occasional series on television that chronicle different birds and our fascination with them. One of them is a new series from National Geographic called “Extraordinary Birder.”
“Extraordinary Birder”
“Extraordinary Birder” will focus primarily on “…the wild, wonderful, and unpredictable worlds of birds.” The new show, which is slated to premiere on Nat Geo Wild on June 17, and on Disney+ on June 21, will wander the world for exciting views of incredible birds. The new show is hosted by Christian Cooper and follows him to Alaska for puffins, explore the “wilds” of Manhattan (NYC) for peregrine falcons, and other beautiful creatures (perhaps even Flaco), and cross the grueling rainforests of Puerto Rico for the colorful parrots. His visits will give him opportunities to learn about all the amazing birds that he encounters, which in turn, will be passed on to the viewer.
The Back Story
Cooper has a unique back story. He is an avid birdwatcher who frequents areas of NYC’s famed Central Park (the subject of many recent and entertaining tales like Flaco, Pale Male, and others). In 2020, he was thrust into the national spotlight after an event in Central Park with a woman who claimed that he threatened her and her dog. Cooper asked the woman to leash her dog, and she threatened to call 911 to report an incident while Cooper filmed the encounter. The “threatening” incident was determined to be false, and the posted video of the encounter generated views into the millions. Retribution against the woman and her false accusation was swift and far-reaching. Cooper assumed that she had gone through enough and he opted to not press charges.
Fast forward to 2021, National Geographic contacted Cooper to see if he would be interested in a series. Cooper eagerly signed on and has high hopes for the series. He also has an autobiography arriving on June 16 from Random House. The book tells the story of his life from childhood, his time with Marvel Comics, through his encounter in Central Park. But it will also serve as a “primer on the art of birding.” In it, Cooper is anxious to teach the reader how to enjoy the wonderous art of birding “and what they can teach us about life.”