Grassland Bird Trust || Promo Video

Grassland Bird Trust // Updated Promo Video

Here’s  an updated promo video that was completed for the non-profit organization, Grassland Bird Trust, which conserves grasslands for wildlife and also educates people about the importance of grasslands. What made the creation of this video particularly special was going to Washington County during the winter months to  get footage of short-eared owls, which are classified as an endangered species in New York State, with an estimated population of less than 100.  Some days I went to record footage there weren’t any birds out in the open fields, while other days it was full of life. I was fortunate to have been out in the field to film footage on a couple days where there were quite a bit of short-eared owls hunting in the open fields, and it was a thrill to get footage of them in action. It was also nice just being outdoors  in nature during the midst of the pandemic.  I wish Grassland Bird Trust continued success with educating people about the many species that call grasslands their home and with the organization’s efforts to conserve grasslands throughout the nation.


2020 Winter Raptor Fest || Grassland Bird Trust || Virtual Event Video Sample

2020 Winter Raptor Fest // Grassland Bird Trust // Virtual Event Video Sample

The annual Winter Raptor Fest hosted by Grassland Bird Trust typically attracts thousands of bird enthusiasts to the Washington County Fairgrounds, though holding this year’s event in the same fashion as previous years obviously wasn’t an option because of the pandemic. Rather than cancel the event, it was decided to limit the attendance to under 30 attendees who purchased premium tickets, and hold the event in a pay-per-view virtual format for others who wanted to view the programs and support Grassland Bird Trust’s land conservation efforts. It was a fun experience to be there to record the event, and it was also a pleasure to co-produce the virtual video with  a fellow video production company based in Saratoga Springs, Look Media, which specializes in current event interview news pieces. I filmed the event alongside Dayna and Jack from Look Media, and Look Media’s owner, Jesse, helped direct the event. Included in this post are small portions of the American Kestrel segment and Harris Hawk demonstrations. 100% of the funds generated from the annual Winter Raptor Fest including this one go to conserving grasslands, and I wish Grassland Bird Trust continued success with its events. To learn more about the Winter Raptor Fest, visit https://winterraptorfest.com.    


Grassland Bird Trust || Winter Raptor Fest || Promo

Grassland Bird Trust // Winter Raptor Fest // Promo Video

Last year I filmed at the Winter Raptor Fest event, which is held annually at the Washington County Fairgrounds. The event is hosted by Grassland Bird Trust, formerly known as Friends of the IBA, which conserves grassland that at-risk birds such as endangered short-eared owls rely on to nest and forage for food. I’ve always been impressed by the large turnouts of Grassland Bird Trust events, and the Winter Raptor Fest is the grandaddy of gatherings they host. This is definitely an event that any bird enthusiast would want to attend, as the Winter Raptor Fest provides a unique opportunity to learn about and see birds of prey such as hawks, falcons, and owls up close. For me, it’s always a majestic sight to see a raptor soaring in the air in this region, and it was cool to get to see so many different kinds of raptors at the Winter Raptor Fest as well as at other video shoots I’ve done for Grassland Bird Trust.  Because of the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic, the plan is to limit the number of attendees for the 2020 Winter Raptor Fest scheduled to be held in the fall, as well hold a virtual event that anyone with an internet connection can view from the comfort of home. Thank you to Scott from Grassland Bird Trust for lending his voice in the voiceover and to Laurie, who helped craft the message of the video. To learn more about the annual Winter Raptor Fest, visit: https://winterraptorfest.com  


Friends of the IBA // Fundraising Video // Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Viewing Area

Friends of the IBA // Fundraising Video // Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Viewing Area

Here is a fundraising video that was produced for the Friends of the IBA (FIBA) organization, which is based in Washington County, New York. Junda Video Enterprises worked with FIBA a few years ago and I enjoyed working with them again. It was nice to visit the trail of the Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Viewing Area and also learn more about the birds that share this area of upstate NY with us. Special thanks go to David deVries for writing and narrating the script, Dr. Gordon Ellmers for providing the still photographs of the birds, and the founder of FIBA, Laurie LaFond for all of her help. To learn more about Friends of the IBA, visit: https://www.ibafriends.org. The video can also be viewed on the FIBA YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st754RxknbA.