South Carolina filmmaker Zach Steinhauser explores bird species’ reliance on humans in “Purple Haze: A Conservation Film”
January 6, 2020
The conservation documentary will take an in-depth look at the Purple Martin’s nesting habits and threats to their survival.
The relationship between Purple Martins and humans dates back to a time before European settlements in America. In recent decades, nearly this entire species of bird has grown dependent on manmade nesting boxes as their reproductive habitat. This dependence raises the question: “What happens if people stop putting out nesting boxes?” Steinhauser’s documentary seeks to understand this unique relationship between man and animal all while searching for any natural nesting Purple Martins left in the wild.
“When I was in college, I began to see a major disconnect between public and professional knowledge as it relates to wildlife conservation,” said filmmaker Zach Steinhauser. “Even I spent the majority of my childhood watching the Purple Martins at Lake Murray and was never aware of their habitat requirements. I’ve always wanted to make a wildlife documentary, and it turns out, the perfect topic was sitting (and flying) in my own backyard.”
“Purple Haze: A Conservation Film” was initially born out of a three-year journey between state lines and international borders while following the Purple Martin’s migration. In February Steinhauser will travel to Brazil to film with the International Purple Martin Research Group as they study a recently discovered Purple Martin migratory roost in the Amazon rainforest. The film is set to release later in 2020.
To learn more about “Purple Haze: A Conservation Film” and to view the film’s official trailer, visit: https://www.purplehazeacfmovie.com/. You can also follow along on Instagram at @purplehaze_documentary or on Facebook at Purple Haze: A Conservation Film.
About Zach Steinhauser
When Zach Steinhauser isn’t behind a camera lens, he is a captain on South Carolina’s Lake Murray providing guided tours to the lake’s beloved Purple Martin Roost at Bomb Island. He grew up enthralled with the natural world, spending countless hours outside trying to get his hands on anything he could catch. With a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida, he provides his knowledge as a Naturalist at Wingard’s Market, in Lexington, educating others about what they can do to help local wildlife around their home. You can follow him on Instagram at: @thewildstein.
