Handa - and its Birds
(1950)
An early film from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Handa - and its Birds explores the avian life inhabiting this internationally important bird sanctuary situated off the west coast of Sutherland in Scotland.
Following a small group of birdwatchers as they explore the island, the film features some of the most significant seabird colonies in the UK. The north-western extremity plays host to guillemots and razorbills that pack the ledges of the sandstone cliffs. On the eastern side, intimate footage looks at the nesting behaviour of the island's large shag colony.
Two years after this production, the RSPB formed its renowned film unit which went on to produce many award-winning programmes.
