The Seabirds’ Story Behind the Camera
A Seabirds love letter Written by Katie Wardle, Filmmaker and fellow explorer
After meeting Seabirds’ co-founders Tiffany Duong and Ashley Bugge over Zoom, I knew I was in for a treat when I finally met the Seabirds team. The beauty of this group lies in how, no matter the route that brought us here, we were all kindred spirits; ocean lovers, do-ers, and believers in the Seabirds’ future.
As filmmakers, we often take on the quiet role of observer, watching from the edges of another’s story. But with the Seabirds, Felicity (our camerawoman) and I (Director) were pulled right into the heart of things. It was impossible to stay detached; we found ourselves invested in every moment of the San Juans retreat, every conversation about the future.
What was a weekend away for the Seabirds became three weeks of adventure for us. We flew from the UK to Seattle, scones in hand, keeping up the British stereotype at customs. And soon hit the road for Cape Disappointment, which, delightfully, did not live up to its name. Our first recce left us in tears: five humpback whales, porpoises, bald eagles, vultures, Caspian terns, and a curious raccoon to top it off.
Tiff, Ash, and their families joined us soon after for an intense day of interviews and filming until the last drop of light. The next day brought gentler filming at Ashley’s home, before we were island-bound to meet more Seabirds along the way. The energy was infectious, pure excitement for what lay ahead and what we could create together.
The time on the island passed in a blur. Filling every day to the brim: museum tours, interviews, hydrophone practice, and, of course, time on the water. For Felicity, it was her first encounter with orcas. Though she stayed the consummate professional behind the lens, she couldn’t escape the “orca comedown” with that lingering mix of wonder, joy, and awe they leave behind. Between my own obsession and the Seabirds’ contagious enthusiasm, she’s now a proud member of the DORKA (dorks for orcas, meant in the most loving and awesome way possible) club.
Saying goodbye was bittersweet. The whirlwind was over, but the energy lingered. To keep the magic alive, I booked us 5 a.m. starts in our garden, hoping the orcas might swim past. For two weeks we waited but no orcas this time. However, daily visits from otters, deer, and the infamous San Juan foxes kept our spirits high.
With three days left before our flight home, and an uneasy feeling about being able to snag a spot on the ferries back to mainland Washington, we left the island early, chasing reports of pods off the mainland. Within half an hour of leaving the ferry, we struck gold: orcas gliding through a sunset straight out of Free Willy. Felicity caught it all with a perfect wide shot, behind-the-scenes of me filming the close-up, and then, naturally, me crying my eyes out for a good twenty minutes before realising we still needed to find a place to sleep.
The next day wasn’t as lucky, but after five ferries and driving through what felt like all of Washington State, we left knowing we’d given it everything. The story isn’t over yet. I’ll be joining the girls once more in Norway for another round of orca mayhem and, hopefully, the completion of this film.
