In the film, Amy (played by Anna Paquin) was raised in New Zealand and then moved to Canada after her mother's death. In real life, Anna Paquin was born in Canada and raised in New Zealand.
Based on the true story of William Lishman's and Joseph Duff's experiments on migrating birds. Lishman and Duff provided actual "imprinted" birds for the making of the film, as well as the actual aircraft used. The film is also based on the experience of Dr. William J. L. Sladen, a British-born zoologist and adventurer, who aided Lishman with the migration.
Release of the film was delayed after a seven-year-old girl, Jessica Dubroff, was killed at the controls of a small plane that crashed amidst a much-publicized transcontinental flight attempt, along with her father and flight instructor.
Bill Lishman, whose real-life assisted migration of geese this movie dramatizes, was engaged as Jeff Daniels' stunt double to perform Thomas Alden's flying sequences. He also created the sculptures at Thomas and Amy's home.
The original title for the film which can be seen in several trailers, was "Flying Wild."