The Motivation
Wings of Survival is inspired by the mounting escalation of the global biodiversity and extinction crises. In less than 50 years, fueled by our ever-growing disconnect to the natural world, we humans have extirpated a terrifying 70% of the planet’s wildlife, including billions of wild birds. We are endangering ourselves.
The Concept
Wings of Survival was conceptualized by Dr. Timm Döbert, evolved from his deep passion for and commitment to science, exploration, and sport. His long-term vision is a trilogy of unmotorized expeditions, across the planet’s major flight paths, emulating the epic journeys of migratory birds, the world’s greatest ‘athletes’ and our barometer for planetary health.
The TEAM
Dr Timm Döbert — Expedition Leader
PhD Global Change Ecology | Scientist & Lecturer | Royal Canadian Geographical Society fellow | The Explorers Club fellow (MI’12) | Scientific Exploration Society fellow | IUCN CEC, WCPA, & TBC SG member
timm@wingsofsurvival.com
Leanna Carriere — Expeditioner
Canada’s first female decathlete | Former international track & field athlete | Ironman athlete | Personal Trainer | Mum | 7 Summits Snacks co-founder | Women of Vision award recipient | EcoAthlete champion
leannacarriere@gmail.com
Justin Brunelle — Film Producer
Founder & owner of Moving Artistry Productions | award-winning Canadian documentary producer, director, and cinematographer with over 15 years experience | certified ice diver
justin.brunelle@movingartistry.com
Dr Andrew Farnsworth — Science Advisor
Bird migration ecologist | Bioacoustics expert | Climate change scientist
Joe Grabowski — Education Advisor
Science Communicator | Director of Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants | National Geographic Explorer | Explorers Club Board Member
Coming soon — Sport for Nature Advisor
The bird
The avian champion of the first expedition is the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus), a remarkably resilient yet increasingly threatened shorebird, committed to one of the longest migrations in the animal world. Born in the High Arctic, these birds travel to places as far-flung as Tierra del Fuego, revealing mind-boggling superpowers. Wings of Survival helps unravel the mysteries of migration.
The VISION
We envision a world in which humans act as stewards for all life.
By emulating the extraordinary migrations of threatened shorebirds, and spotlighting the ways in which these birds connect us humans across their flight paths, we will create bridges between the human-avian experience using science, education, and community, married into impact storytelling, to ultimately foster sympathy and care.
