Paul Hamy, who played the lead Fernando, is a French actor. The director and writer João Pedro Rodrigues dubbed much of Fernando's dialogue.
Fernando is trying to observe the rare Black Stork (Ciconia nigra). In reality, its endangered status is officially mix as its population is increasing in parts of a wide range habitat such as the Iberian Peninsula. As a result, International Union for Conservation of Nature is a species of least concern. It is experiencing a population decline in parts of India, China and parts of Western Europe. Various conservation measures have been taken for the black stork, like the Conservation Action Plan for African black storks by Wetlands International. It is also covered under the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
The Portuguese ornithologist is probably exploring Iberian Peninsula as its Black Storks' central southwest habitat, where they breed and roost. As of 2006, their population in Spain and Portugal appears to be increasing estimating their population at 405 to 483.