Saving Spoonie (2026)

Without the relentless efforts of Dr. Christoph Zöckler and a dedicated global team of bird experts, the spoon-billed sandpiper—affectionately named Spoonie—would have vanished from the Earth long ago. To make matters worse, this tiny, sparrow-sized shorebird, unmistakable thanks to its bizarre spoon-shaped beak, follows a perilous migration path that cuts across Russia, North Korea, China, and all the way down to Myanmar. That route happens to pass through some of the most volatile conflict zones of the last decade. Saving Spoonie isn’t just a biological mission—it’s a diplomatic tightrope walk. The task force must navigate delicate political relationships with each country along the flyway. In this bittersweet, almost absurd saga of one bird’s survival, we see the larger, urgent struggle to protect endangered biodiversity in a world growing more fragile by the day.