When Mark Bittner moved to San Francisco to become a musician, he never imagined he'd become virtual manager to a raucous flock of parrots.

Bittner said:

In the spring of 1990 I saw something on San Francisco's Telegraph Hill that astonished me: wild parrots.

I was so curious about their presence that I kept trying to get closer until finally I had them eating out of my hand.

Bittner is now an expert on the birds he eventually learned were red-headed Conyers from Ecuador.

His journey into their daily world and his subsequent self-discovery as a writer are the focus of the documentary film, "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" which opens across the U.S. this week beginning February 11th, 2005.

Over the past 15 years, Bittner has become their companion, their nurse, and their public relations spokesman.

He's chronicled their habits, their romances, their natural terror of hawks and falcons, and watched them multiply from a couple of dozen to about 160 members.

Bittner also wrote a book by the same name that's just been released in paperback.

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The complex human relationship with birds and other creatures -- including the ones we snuggle up with and take on vacation -- is also the focus of the weekly radio show Animals Aloud.

Animals Aloud premiers nationally on XM Satellite radio in the Spring, and currently airs on KUSF 90.3FM San Francisco on Saturdays from 2:30 - 3:30 pm.

Mark Bittner is one of the many authors, entertainers, animal conservationists, historians and filmmakers interviewed each week by host Deirdre Kennedy.

About Deirdre Kennedy

Radio personality, Deirdre Kennedy is the host and executive producer of Animals Aloud.

If Deirdre's name sounds familiar -- you've probably heard her feature stories on NPR, or heard her on KQED public radio 88.5 FM in San Francisco, where she was a reporter and newscaster.

Deirdre has been a broadcaster for 17 years, holding positions at NBC News and ITN in London, KTVU-Channel 2, KPFA, and KALW in the San Francisco Bay Area.

She has reported and produced stories for All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace, Living On Earth, On the Media, Performance Today, The Infinite Mind, Latino USA, This American Life, and BBC Outlook.

Deirdre's full interview with Bittner and clips from the film on the shows web site can be found at:

Today on Animals Aloud ...

It's about Animal Love.

Deirdre talks to Robert Yau, founder of DateMyPet.com, the pet lovers' meeting place.

World renowned biologist and author of Smile of a Dolphin, Mark Bekoff will talk about animal emotion.

Separately, estate attorney Jill Dodd will tell you how to provide for your pets in your will. Estate planning books are available through Nolo Press.

Finally, veterinary advice will be offered on preserving your pet's vision.

A book, that is not mentioned in Deirdre's show today, but one she recommends as a great Valentines book for making sure your pet doesn't "bust up" your romance: When Pets Come Between Partners.

To hear Deirdre's "Valentines" program tune in, today, Saturday Feburary 12th, to Animals Aloud at 2:30 - 3:30 pm on KUSF 90.3 San Francisco, or online at www.kusf.org.

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