Canadian Conservation Film Makes Mexico Premiere at National Park in Baja
OFFICIAL RELEASE
A Canadian documentary about a bird that calls through the night has found an audience in a national park in Mexico, where protecting the darkness is also part of the conservation effort.
WorkCabin Films, an independent conservation documentary production company based in Norfolk County, Ontario licensed a Mexico premiere screening of Saving The Night Caller – The Dark Cannot Fall Silent to Constitución de 1857 National Park in Baja California.
The screening took place October 24, 2026 as part of the park’s National Conservation Week activities. The event also included a presentation about nocturnal birds found in the Sierra de Juárez mountains and nighttime telescope observations.
The documentary tells the story of the Eastern Whip-poor-will, a bird whose familiar nighttime call was once heard across much of eastern North America. Its numbers have declined, and the film looks at the challenges facing the species, including habitat loss, fewer insects and the growing use of artificial light at night.
Through the work of biologists at Birds Canada and student researchers at the University of Waterloo, the film explores why the bird matters and what can be done to protect it. It also introduces viewers to a world of wildlife that most people rarely see.
Although Eastern Whip-poor-wills occur in parts of Mexico, park officials say there are no confirmed records of the species within Constitución de 1857 National Park.
However, the region is home to other nocturnal birds. The Common Poorwill and Lesser Nighthawk have both been recorded in nearby Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park. Owls and other night-active birds also live in the area.
For park staff, the screening offered a chance to connect the film’s message with their own conservation work.
In recent years, researchers at the park have studied night-sky quality and light pollution. Their work looks at how artificial light affects wildlife and why natural darkness needs protection.
“Protecting natural darkness is an essential part of conserving biodiversity,” said Manuel Saddan Nevarez Flores, a park ranger with Constitución de 1857 National Park.
“Through research and environmental education, we hope to raise awareness that darkness is not simply the absence of light, but a natural condition that many species depend on.”
Mexico has also taken steps to recognize the value of natural darkness. Article 110 BIS of the country’s federal environmental law, known as LGEEPA, recognizes the need to protect natural nighttime conditions for wildlife, plants and ecosystems.
For Gregg McLachlan, filmmaker and executive producer of Saving The Night Caller, having the film screened in a park where dark-sky protection is already part of the conversation carries special meaning.
“The dark is habitat too,” McLachlan said. “People often think of wildlife as something we see during the day. But there’s an entire world of activity after sunset, and much of it goes unnoticed.
“The Eastern Whip-poor-will is a good example. It’s a bird many people hear but rarely see. We wanted to tell its story and help people understand why protecting the darkness is just as important as protecting the places where wildlife lives.”
Producer Cynthia Brink said the Mexico screening shows how a story about one species can connect with conservation efforts in other parts of the world.
“What’s interesting about this screening is that the park is already working to protect something that is central to our film’s message. While the species may be different, the need for natural darkness and healthy habitat is shared,” Brink said.
The October 24 screening was part of a larger program focused on nocturnal wildlife. Park visitors also had an opportunity to learn about birds of the Sierra de Juárez and take part in nighttime telescope observations.
Flores said the documentary offered a chance to help people see the natural world in a different way.
“One of the most powerful messages of Saving The Night Caller is that nature does not become silent after sunset. Even when we cannot see the animals around us, their sounds remind us that our ecosystems are full of life,” he said.
“Protecting nocturnal wildlife also means protecting the darkness and habitats they need to survive.”
For WorkCabin Films, the screening marks another step in bringing the story of the Eastern Whip-poor-will to audiences beyond Canada and the United States.
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