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Colorado Birdwatcher Says Hobby Rubbed Off On Movie Cast

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado birdwatcher portrayed by Steve Martin in the comedy film "The Big Year" says his fascination with birds may have rubbed off on some of the cast.

Martin plays a character modeled on Al Levantin of Snowmass. The movie follows Levantin's character and two rivals competing to see who can observe the most species of birds in North America in a calendar year.

Jack Black and Owen Wilson play Levantin's rivals. The supporting cast includes Rashida Jones of "The Office."

Levantin tells the Aspen Daily News he and his wife visited the movie set in British Columbia, and he spotted Black and Jones blowing a birdcall for a yellow-breasted flycatcher.

Levantin says, "They were having a blast with it."

The movie opens Friday.

LINK: The Big Year

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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