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A Naturalist in the Rainforest

A Naturalist in the Rainforest

This is an inspirational portrait of Alexander Skutch, one of the great naturalists of our time. It was in 1928 that Skutch first plunged into the Central American rainforest with the same enthusiasm and sense of wonder as the pioneer naturalists of the 19th century. In 1941 he settled in a secluded valley in Costa Rica. Here on his farm and nature reserve he has been able to achieve a rare intimacy with the rainforest's shy inhabitants.

He has written over two hundred articles and a dozen books. His voluminous life histories of the birds of Central America are considered by ornithologists to be an accomplishment comparable only to Audubon's in North America.

In this beautifully photographed film, Alexander Skutch guides us through the rainforest, explaining the biology that is unique to this environment, and showing the importance of preserving this dazzling reservoir of genetic diversity.