Vienna (OTS) – In the border area between Tyrol and Bavaria, one of the largest wilderness areas in the Alps has been preserved – with a variety of animal and plant survival artists. Above all, the peregrine falcon, the fastest predator in the animal world. The visually stunning “Universe” documentary “Nature Paradise Seefeld – In the Realm of the Peregrine Falcon” by Manfred Corrine will portray a fascinating alpine habitat based on the story of a peregrine falcon – one of the most difficult to kill – on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 8:15 p.m. on ORF 2 filming animals.
The peaks around the Seefeld high plateau look like fortified castle walls from ancient times – the Karwendel and Wetterstein Mountains protect a unique natural paradise from the all-too-easy advance of civilization. The Seefeld Plateau, located at an altitude of 1,200 meters, and the mountain ranges that border it are a highly dynamic habitat, characterized by harsh climatic conditions. Nature is particularly characterized by the long winters with lots of snow and cold, but also by heavy rains coming from the south that have accumulated on the mighty mountain flanks. It is a region inhabited by adaptators who have found their home among deep valleys and ravines and mountain peaks almost 3,000 meters high. They are the protagonists of this film: ibex, chamois, marmots, dippers and alpine scorpions. But the focus is on a very special bird: the peregrine falcon, which travels at a breathtaking 300 kilometers per hour on hunting flights. Manfred Corrine and his camera teams followed a breeding pair for a year – from the impressive courtship flights in the spring to the rearing of the young, the fledging of the new generation and their first hunting attempts.
The nature of the Seefeld plateau is not only characterized by wild mountain flanks, but also by countless springs that rise from the limestone and shape the unique landscape of this region. The unbridled power of the water in the undeveloped rivers of the Karwendel provides the spawning area for a species of fish that has become rare: the Tyrolean trout. Almost extinct, it is an indicator of high water quality. In addition to the ancient trout, the Karwendel is also a habitat for other rare species such as the sandpiper. A refuge for this rare bird species in the heart of this mountain world was created through a protection program by the Karwendel Nature Park. The mountain rivers are surrounded by pristine forests in which protective measures have been used to preserve habitat for other demanding residents. One of them is the three-toed woodpecker, which has already been displaced from many other forests by intensive forestry. Man has also made his contribution to ensuring that this natural paradise can be preserved – alongside the mighty mountains that surround the Seefeld plateau and thus preserve a unique wilderness – the kingdom of the peregrine falcon.
Director Manfred Corrine about the filming: “When you enter the Karwendel Mountains for the first time from the Seefeld plateau, you are surprised by how untouched they are. The dynamism of the living space is immediately noticeable. You can see the landscaping power of water as you walk through canyons or over gravel banks. I tried to convey this first impression. Unfortunately, our protagonist, the peregrine falcon, who guides us through this film, flies at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. He managed to push me and my highly professional cameramen, who are used to a lot of things, to our limits again and again. Nevertheless, we managed to capture spectacular shots.” With four camera teams spread over 80 days of filming, the unique character of this mountain world was captured. The teams traveled from the Seefeld plateau to the highest peak of the Karwendel in all landscapes of the region and also braved the masses of snow to accompany all the residents of this area throughout the year.
“Naturparadies Seefeld – In the Realm of the Peregrine Falcon” was created as a co-production by ORF and Interspot Film, supported by TV Fund Austria and Cine Tirol, in collaboration with the Olympiaregion Seefeld and ORF-Enterprise.