Episode Information

Found nowhere else on earth but the last few pockets of wilderness along East Asia’s rugged coastline, the black-faced spoonbill is the only spoonbill currently regarded as endangered. Biannually, this enigmatic bird undertakes a mammoth migration that navigates through the heart of Asia. The route is full of danger from predators, weather, and – most of all – the urbanisation of this rapidly developing region. For the very first time, this magnificent migration has been captured on film. We document an epic journey, 2,000km from its wintering grounds in Taiwan, across coastal China, and the Yellow Sea, to the world’s most dangerous flashpoint – the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea – finally reaching the bird’s annual breeding ground. The film crew crisscrossed East Asia, flying over 16,000km to capture breathtaking images of one of the region’s most loved birds. This story transcends any political, geographic or ethnic borders. We reveal a group of dedicated scientists and conservationists who are divided by these borders but share one common goal – the conservation and protection of this endangered species and their last remaining habitats.