Biodiversity In the Heart of the Sky Islands

A film by Vincent Pinto & Michele Gisser

In this new film Wildlife Biologist, Naturalist, & Ethnobotanist Vincent Pinto explores the rich ecology and inherent beauty of key wild areas in the Sky Islands – including looming threats to their ecological integrity, valuable natural resources, and continued survival.  Will generations to come have these natural treasures to enjoy or will they be carelessly squandered?  Passionate about the urgent need to protect the area’s unique biodiversity and promote conservation efforts in the region, Vincent came up with the concept of this new Nature Documentary – Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands – serving as the film’s Screenwriter, Director, Film Narrator, co-Editor and on-screen Presenter.

YOU CAN NOW RENT THE FILM ON VIMEO : Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands

Read AZPM : NPR Article & Radio Interview

This Nature documentary explores Arizona’s renowned Sky Islands – a region hosting more biodiversity than any comparable area in the U.S.   Southeast Arizona hosts soaring mountain ranges carpeted with forests – each isolated by surrounding foreboding deserts and parched grasslands. These ranges are thus virtual habitat islands, lending the region its most famous name – “The Sky Islands”.   Here we enjoy a world-class biodiversity hotspot! PRT Film Review

Six different biological provinces overlap in this region:  Rocky Mountains, Sierra Madre, Sonoran Desert, Chihuahuan Desert, Great Plains, and Neo-tropics.  This new film explores the wilds of these key Sky Islands conservation zones, their rich ecology, inherent beauty, as well as new threats to their valuable natural resources and continued survival.

In the heart of this Madrean Archipelago the Patagonia Mountains and Sonoita Creek are world-class biodiversity hotspots supporting a myriad of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and a dazzling array of native plants. The film delves deeply into the lives of these intriguing Sky Island species. There are more than 100 Federally Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species in the Patagonia Mountains area.  Further, the Patagonia Mountains are also undoubtedly a gateway for rare Jaguars and Ocelots traveling to and from their nearby breeding grounds in Sonora, Mexico.

Highlights of our amazing Sky Islands Biodiversity include:

• • More than 1,000 species of native Bees, making it the pollinator capital of the U.S.
  • Over 500 species of Birds – many more typical of Mexico and the tropics including:

    18 species of Hummingbird
    12 species of Owl
    ~23 species of Hawks and Vultures
    13 species of Woodpecker
    ~30 Flycatcher species
    7 Vireos
    8 Corvids
    8 species of Wren (all of Europe has only 1!)
    3 species of Gnatcatcher
    9 species of Mimic Thrushes
    ~10 Thrushes
    ~33 species of Warblers
     ~35 species of Sparrows & Towhees – the most in the world!

  • 108 Mammal species – more than any comparable area in North America and including species more characteristic of the Neotropics such as White-nosed Coatis and Mexican Long-tongued Bat
  • The greatest diversity of Reptiles in North America, including:
    • 32 species of Lizards
    • 45 species of Snake

The Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands film ventures into the area’s wilderness, exploring the lives of its fascinating denizens. Join us to learn about the multitude of intriguing flora and fauna that call these beautiful mountains and this rare perennial creek home. Further, the film also explores looming threats to the Patagonia Mountains and Sonoita Creek that could forever compromise their ecological integrity.

Vincent approached the content of the film with a broad view, giving prominence to both rare and common species, temperate and tropical ones, the flashy and the cryptic, the large and the diminutive…  The result is a kaleidoscopic view of our region’s much vaunted, yet imperiled biodiversity.  

Vincent Pinto is the founder of Ravens-Way Wild Journeys LLC (RWWJ). Since 1987 he has been passionate about the urgent need to help protect the unique biodiversity of the Sky Islands, offering education and conservation programs via RWWJ.  Vincent conceived the idea for the film to help educate people about what the term ” Sky Islands” means, as well as the complexity of the biodiversity that we are fortunate to have in the region. Vincent wrote the Script, directed the film, selected the compelling classical music, filmed the majority of wildlife, and captured most of the photos. Vincent hopes that by making the film basic and digestible for neophytes – while also rich and engaging for those more conversant in ecology – that everyone would in turn feel compelled to help protect the unique Sky Islands Biodiversity for future generations!

If you love all things wild and feel compelled to help protect the landscapes and species that make the Sky Islands so unique, then you won’t want to miss this ground-breaking Nature Documentary which promotes the urgent need for conservation efforts in the Patagonia Mountains and Sonoita Creek.

Multiple Film Screenings were scheduled in Arizona theaters. The successful Tucson Premier on March 26,2023  at The Loft Cinema – included over 300 people who were very engaged, interested, complementary, and participated in a 40 mins Q & A session with Vincent.  Two sold-out showings in Patagonia at the Tin Shed Theater on March 24th and April 14th – included a standing ovation by very enthusiastic and appreciative local residents and Sky Islands Biodiversity supporters.  If you were unable to attend any of the Film Screenings in the Arizona cities listed below, you are now able to Rent the Film on VIMEO: Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands

ALL proceeds benefit PARA a local Conservation Organization to support its urgent conservation mission in the Patagonia Mountains & Sonoita Creek.                                                                

    Come, enjoy, get involved, and make a difference!

MARCH 24	Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands Film Screening TinShed Theater – Patagonia, AZ	POSTER
MARCH 26	Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands Film Screening The LOFT Cinema – Tucson, AZ	POSTER
APRIL 14	Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands Film Screening TinShed Theater – Patagonia, AZ	POSTER

MAY 15	Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands Film Screening Oasis Cinema – Nogales, AZ	POSTER
MAY 23	Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands Film Screening  Community Performance & Art Center CPAC Green Valley, AZ	POSTER
AUGUST 6	Southwest Wings Birding Festival, through the generous donation of the Dutch Nagel Legacy Fund, presents: Biodiversity in the Heart of the Sky Islands Film Screening  Klein Center for the Performing Arts Sierra Vista, AZ	POSTER