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” in the United States.
“I was all in,” he said. “I like to spread the gospel of bird watching.”
A National Geographic spokesperson told CNN the show will air in the spring of 2023.
“Birdwatching has exploded in popularity recently, and I can’t wait to shine a light on these amazing creatures and the amazing birders who love them and work to protect them!” he wrote.
Cooper refused to cooperate with Amy Cooper’s lawsuits
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 met Christian Cooper in a wooded area known as Ramble, famous for bird watching.
An argument broke out after he asked her to keep her dog on a leash, which is mandatory at the Ramble. She threatened to call 911 as he used his phone to record 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 silent most of the time. “I’m in the Ramble. And there’s a man, African American — he’s got a bike helmet. He’s recording me and threatening me and my dog,” she said.
The indignation was wide and rapid. Amy Cooper was fired from her job at a financial services company and accused of filing a false police report. Christian Cooper said he would not cooperate with his prosecution.
He wrote a comic about his experiences
He is also a huge fan of comic books and superheroes, and has worked as a comic book editor and writer in the past. After the Central Park incident, he wrote a graphic novel partly based on his experiences. DC Comics released the “It’s a Bird” novel in September 2020.
It tells the story of Jules, a black ornithologist teenager, who recovers an old pair of binoculars with magical powers. When he flips 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 will read it in particular, and be inspired to keep the focus where it belongs, which is on those we have lost and how we avoid lose 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 an upcoming series with travel blogger Jeff Jenkins.