Migratory birds: The greatest athletes on Earth
Every spring and fall, billions of birds take to the firmament, embarking on feats of endurance that dwarf the physiological abilities of any human. In fact, migratory birds are the greatest ‘athletes’ on the planet and the epitome of resilience. These messengers of the sky connect continents, countries and communities, bringing us stories from afar that bind us together across space and time.
Many Indigenous cultures have revered migratory birds since time immemorial, reflected in rituals and stories. Western societies, in contrast, have largely lost their spiritual relationship to fellow species. This emotional disconnect from the natural world is arguably the root cause of the accelerating climate, biodiversity and extinction crises.
From awareness to action: The power of storytelling and sports
Fostering planetary stewardship and advancing resilient conservation action benefit from the power of creative storytelling; emotional connection precedes care and action. The urgency of the poly-crisis demands local to international action that concertedly matches the scale of the problem. Sport offers unrivalled scope to unite and reach people across the globe, as embraced by the IUCN Sports for Nature initiative, which aims to deliver transformative action for nature across sports.
My personal #Sports4Nature trigger moment was in 2021, when I came across a global map of flyways, the seasonal migration pathways used by billions of birds. As a global change ecologist, I had long grappled with my inability to turn my research on humanity's planetary footprint into resilient conservation outcomes. Not surprisingly, I could have never imagined that sports, my other deep passion, would fundamentally shape my approach to conservation. Ever since this life-changing moment, I have been developing the concept for an expedition trilogy called Wings of Survival.
Wings of Survival: The project takes flight
The Wings of Survival initiative is pioneering a storyline that uniquely bridges scientific exploration, extreme sports and conservation action – and migratory birds are at the heart of this endeavour. Framed around three unmotorised flyway expeditions, the inseparable connection between healthy ecosystems and human well-being will be uniquely portrayed through the bird’s eye view. By emulating the arduous and perilous journeys of long-distance migratory shorebirds, their stories become more tangible and relatable to our own.
The maiden Wings of Survival expedition across the Pacific Americas flyway, from Alaska’s High Arctic to Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia, is set to start in June 2026 and follows the migration of whimbrels. Committed to one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom, my expedition partner and Canada’s first female decathlete, Leanna Carriere, and I will cycle and pack-raft 30,000km, exposing ourselves to the same survival challenges faced by these majestic birds.
In Alaska, we will take advantage of long-term whimbrel monitoring research, by fitting up to five individuals with tracking devices. The destination and fate of these individuals will be completely uncertain, creating the arc of suspense, as to whether we will meet again along our parallel journeys, and even reunite at the southern tip of South America. While whimbrels are currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, their populations are declining fast due to various human pressures throughout their range. A major driver of decline is the loss and degradation of coastal wetlands, including widely threatened mangrove forests, as highlighted by the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems.
30x30 in action: Public engagement and stewardship in motion
The aim of the Wings of Survival initiative is to inspire and empower people to help protect and rewild 30% of the planet by 2030, in accordance with the United Nations, 30x30 Biodiversity Targets, and aligned with the Nature 2030 IUCN Programme. To bring our motivations to life, we will engage with people on the ground and virtually, using creative storytelling to plant the seed for stewardship and action. This includes the collection of scientific data on our body, mind and plant-based nutrition, to create perspective for the remarkable performances of migratory birds.
As a member of IUCN CEC (Commission on Education and Communication) and WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas), public engagement and the protection of key biodiversity areas (KBA) are close to my heart. The global KBA system is co-hosted by IUCN and focuses on safeguarding the most biodiverse places on the planet. In the summer of 2024, Leanna and I cycled 4,500km coast-to-coast across Canada, highlighting 30 KBAs along our 30-day ride. With the support of partners, such as the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, Birds Canada and Environment Climate Change Canada, we mainstreamed the 30x30 concept to the general public.
Stronger together: Building partnerships
Strong partnerships are front and centre to the Wings of Survival initiative, which inspired us to join the IUCN #NatureForAll movement, a convening space for organisations to showcase initiatives and explore ways to collaborate, exemplified by our recent feature story as part of the 2025 Love Fest. In doing so, Wings of Survival directly supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by building bridges across sectors, borders, and disciplines - from conservation science and Indigenous knowledge to elite sport and media - to catalyse collective action for nature. Traditional media, such as features by the BBC, CBC and Conservation Optimism, along with social media collaborations, are important tools to grow support for Wings of Survival.
Migratory birds know no borders; their conservation presents a shared responsibility but even more so an opportunity. As a member of the Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group of IUCN WCPA, I am committed to using the Wings of Survival initiative as a vehicle to scale up resilient conservation action without borders. Migratory birds are the best indicators of the health of the environment; it is time for us to listen.
Over the past three years, the planning and preparation of Wings of Survival have been documented by international film producers, with the ultimate goal of a professional expedition film. I am hopeful to have the opportunity to inspire international audiences with this ground-breaking story of wonder and hope – in person – at this year’s IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025.
Photo by Bill Ault
https://www.wingsofsurvival.com/