National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Lle Triga’r Caneri
From Tenerife to Treorchy: Jack Bellamy’s tribute to the canary, the little yellow songster that saved so many miners’ lives.
From the collection of:
Overview
Jack Bellamy's tribute to the canary, showing its habitat in Tenerife (one of the Canary Islands) and demonstrating its use underground – since 1911 - in the collieries. Its behaviour when affected by gas gave the miners early warning of danger and thus saved countless lives. In 1989 when this film was produced, the little bird was being superceded by electronic, gas-detecting meters but its song ensures that it will retain its status as the world’s favourite pet bird.
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