Australian coming-of-age family drama based on the novel by Colin Thiele. Twelve-year-old Mike (Greg Rowe) becomes involved in looking after a group of orphaned pelicans on the desolate Southern coast of Australia. With the help of his secret Aboriginal friend, Fingerbone Bill (David Gulpilil), Mike readies the birds for a life in the wild - but as they fly away to freedom, Mike must turn to face new challenges in the world he has been hiding from.