Mark Bittner's Parrot Legacy: A Heartfelt Farewell

0:00It's April 2nd. You're listening to Vancouver News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Cory with the story. Mark Bittner, the Vancouver-born legend who charmed San Francisco with his parrot crew, passed away from a heart attack on March 1st. He was 74. Once homeless on Telegraph Hill, he turned into the city's birding icon by caring for a flock of wild South American parrots right from an abandoned house he stayed in. Those bright, tropical birds showed up in foggy San Francisco somehow, still a puzzle today. Bittner fed them daily and bonded deep, spotting jealousy, playfulness, even anger in their eyes. That bond sparked the 2003 documentary, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, a gentle hit that made him a quiet star. The film captured hearts as a wholesome, cold classic, directed by Judy Irving, who later became his wife. Looking up in Vancouver, young Bittner itched to escape the small town vibe. But looking back, he cherished the Pacific Northwest landscapes and positive memories

1:02from home. They parted ways amicably, with a divorce in 2024. Bittner left San Francisco early this year and was house sitting up in Northern California when his heart gave out just two months later. His story reminds us of that raw connection between all living things, and you can cast the documentary streaming on spots like YouTube to see the Parrots in action.