A New Project Begins

Joey and I have just embarked on our latest film project, this time profiling Mark Mariano and his efforts around the Berkeley Pit. Mark, who co-founded Montana Wetlands & Waterfowl, is known for his role as a "Waterfowl Protection Specialist" for the Berkeley Pit program.

The Berkeley Pit is the massive, acid-laden remnant of a former open-pit copper mine in Butte, Montana that operated from 1955 until its closure in 1982. After the pumps keeping groundwater out were shut off, the pit gradually filled, creating a toxic lake that became notorious for killing waterfowl that land on it.

Mark and his team work to prevent bird deaths through the Berkeley Pit Waterfowl Protection Program, using tactics like auditory deterrents, lasers, drones, and hazing strategies to discourage birds from landing. Their nuanced approach—from habitat restoration to direct intervention—offers a compelling narrative of how human ingenuity and ecological responsibility can intersect.

We're excited to tell this story: the tension between a toxic relic of industry and the living creatures it still affects, and the passionate individuals like Mark who dedicate themselves to mitigation rather than despair.