Pelicans plight told in 'Pelican Dreams'

Prehistoric creatures soaring through the sky. That’s pretty much how documentary filmmaker and avian enthusiast Judy Irving once regarded the remarkable California brown pelican.

Her understanding and appreciation of this large-billed bird, however, deepened when the Emmy-winning director decided to chart the journey, rehabilitation and release of Gigi, a 4-month-old pelican that in 2008 wandered onto the Golden Gate Bridge and perched in the hearts of some in the Bay Area and beyond.

In the eloquent, lyrical and beautifully photographed “Pelican Dreams,” Irving acts as a comforting narrator as she explores our fascination with and concern for the plight of these seabirds that are so much a part of the Bay Area coastline.

It’s a succinct film but long enough for us to come away with a greater understanding of not just the birds but ourselves. We learn how they mate (quickly - it’s a G-rated documentary) all the way through how they landed on the endangered species in 1970 thanks to the chemical DDT, which has since been banned. In 2009, they were taken off the list, but a recent survey revealed the numbers are down again; potential factors include climate change and a decline in sardines, one of their primary sources of food.

“Pelican Dreams” might sound like a niche film for devout bird lovers, but it will find fans in anyone with a healthy respect for preserving habitats and nature’s gifts.

And there’s no denying that part of the film’s appeal is Irving, a gracious, relatable and educational guide even when she addresses numerous hot button topics - oil spills, our desire to anthropomorphize them and when to euthanize wounded birds.

Through it all, she retains an abiding sense of humanity and integrity, never resorting to gavel-pounding judgment. As a filmmaker, she possesses a poet’s touch, with images, words and reflections that seem to come together effortlessly.