The spoonbill — an iconic white wading bird with a distinctive spoon-shaped bill—symbolizes one of the Netherlands’ greatest conservation successes. It was nearly extinct in Western Europe, but is now making a remarkable comeback. The Wadden Sea serves as a safe haven, yet spoonbill chicks are even being raised near Amsterdam. Using state-of-the-art scientific techniques, this documentary follows the bird’s epic journey from the Netherlands to Southern Europe and Africa. Along the way, we discover how it survived thanks to the Netherlands—and what challenges it still faces in a rapidly changing world.
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This film is one of 44 productions selected for the European Wildlife Film Awards (EWFA) and is in the running for the Audience Award, which will be presented in 2027. Movie-goers have the opportunity to rate the film on-site.
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About the European Wildlife Film Awards (EWFA)
With the EWFA, the Deutsche Wildtier Stiftung (German Wildlife Foundation) has launched a competition for the best European nature films. It is Europe’s first and only nature film award—only documentaries about European flora and fauna are eligible. There are a total of six award categories. An independent jury selects the winners in the categories of Wildlife, Biodiversity, Conservation, and Story. The audience can also rate the films. Movie-goers vote for the best short film, and their votes determine the Audience Award.
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Shown in
English with German subtitles
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
