Cooper will host a series, “Extraordinary Birder,” which National Geographic says will take viewers on a journey through the “wild, wonderful and unpredictable world of birds” around the US.
“I was all in,” he said. “I love spreading the gospel of birding.”
A National Geographic spokesperson told CNN the show will premiere in spring of 2023.
“Birding has exploded in popularity recently, and I’m looking forward to putting a spotlight on these amazing creatures and the extraordinary birders who love them and work to protect them!” he wrote.
Cooper declined to cooperate in Amy Cooper’s prosecution
Cooper made headlines after a White woman falsely accused him of threatening her and her dog on May 25, 2020 — the same day a police officer killed George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Amy Cooper (no relation) was walking her dog in Central Park when she encountered Christian Cooper in a wooded area known as the Ramble, which is famous for birdwatching.
A dispute began after he asked her to leash her dog, which is required at the Ramble. She threatened to call 911 as he used his phone to record a video of the incident.
“I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life,” she said in the video.
She then told dispatchers that she was in danger as he remained mostly silent. “I’m in the Ramble. And there is a man, African American — he has a bicycle helmet. He’s recording me and threatening me and my dog,” she said.
The outrage was broad and swift. Amy Cooper was fired from her job at a financial services firm and charged with filing a false police report. Christian Cooper said he would not cooperate in her prosecution.
He wrote a comic book about his experiences
He’s also a big fan of comics and superheroes, and once worked as a comics editor and writer. After the Central Park incident he wrote a graphic novel partly inspired by his experiences. DC Comics published the novel, “It’s a Bird,” in September 2020.
It tells the story of Jules, a Black teenage birdwatcher, who gets an old pair of binoculars with magic powers. When he looks through them, he sees the stories of Amadou Diallo, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd — unarmed Black Americans who were killed by police.
“I hope young people read it in particular, and that they’re inspired to keep the focus where it needs to be, which is on those we have lost and how we keep from losing more,” Cooper said at the time.
They include “Dance The World With Derek Hough”; “Farming Is Life,” with urban gardener and influencer Indy Srinath; “Restaurants At The End Of The World,” with chef and entrepreneur Kristen Kish; and a yet-to-be titled series with travel blogger Jeff Jenkins.
