Shorebirds connect continents, countries, and communities across their migration flyways. Their extraordinary journeys require exceptional endurance, resilience, and courage. Arguably, long-distance avian migrants are the greatest ‘athletes’ on the planet, dwarfing the physiological capabilities of any human to ever live. These messengers of the sky, however, are in dire trouble. Human-induced global changes considerably amplify the naturally challenging complexity of seasonal migrations. The decline of shorebirds mirrors the overall state of the biosphere. The loss of biodiversity, a warming climate, and environmental pollution threaten birds and humans alike. In fact, the fate of migratory birds – our best barometers for the state of the planet – and their habitats is inseparably tied to our own well-being.
This July, we are are setting out to make a difference to the future of migratory birds and humans alike. My name is Dr. Timm Döbert, I am a conservation scientist and scientific explorer, and in 2021 I had a ground-breaking idea: to emulate by bicycle the daring journeys of migratory birds. After five years of planning and preparation for the Wings of Survival expedition, my partner Leanna Carriere and I are about to embark on this world-first Race with Nature. The starting line is Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, from where we will cycle 30,000km over nice months, crossing 15 countries, climbing 300,000m elevation, and crossing the Darién Gap, to reach Ushuaia, the southern tip of South America, in April 2027. Inspired by the emotional and physical disconnect of humans to the natural world, Wings of Survival is setting out to help rediscover our place in the web of life, to empower a shift to planetary stewardship.
This past January, we teamed up with migratory bird scientists on Chiloé Island, southern Chile, where we equipped five whimbrels - a threatened long-distance migrant - with tiny GPS backpacks. Two of these birds are currently in North America; we expect they will soon return to the tidal mudflats of Chiloé Island. Our vision is to reunite with ‘our’ birds in southern Chile in mid-March.
On route, we will pass hundreds of communities, from major cities (e.g., Fairbanks, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Medellín, Quito, Lima, and Santiago) to remote settlements. There exists a unique opportunity to connect communities, municipalities, and organizations, and to bring them into the story as supporters and champions. Examples include presentations to schools and businesses, ‘ride with us’ meet-ups, and bird watching.
The professional Wings of Survival documentary is in development by international film producers, spearheaded by Edmonton-based Moving Artistry Productions. Weekly virtual classrooms hosted by Exploring by the Seat of your Pants and a partnership with Earth Rangers will immerse tens of thousands of young minds from at least 15 countries into the story.
Our expedition progress can be tracked in an interactive map on the Wings of Survival homepage: www.wingsofsurvival.com.
Contact: @wingsofsurvival or timm@wingsofsurvival.com to learn more and to explore the ways in which you can support and be part of the story.
Select media features:
