In this behind-the-scenes podcast, filmmaker Allison Argo discusses the importance of protecting small species.
Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.
Subscribe to the NATURE Podcast with iTunes.

In this behind-the-scenes podcast, filmmaker Allison Argo discusses the importance of protecting small species.
Subscribe to the NATURE Podcast with iTunes.
Produced by THIRTEEN ©2009 Educational Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Major corporate support for Nature is provided by SC Johnson, Canon, CPB.
This is a gorgeous piece of work. I am thankful for people like Allison Argo. Sometimes I think the fresh perspective of a filmmaker who “didn’t know red knots existed” before starting the project is exactly what we need to wake us up. I remember carpets of red knots on the Delaware Bay. Now it’s an event to see more than a handful of them at once. Human greed knows no bounds, but perhaps the state legislatures have been forced to wake up in time, to freeze the “harvest”–wanton exploitation, actually–of the horseshoe crab. Perhaps not.
How intriguing! I found Ms Argo’s comments insightful and the video beautiful. It would be great to use with my students to explain why observation of nature and careful stewardship of our environment is so important.
I met Ms Argo in Costa Rica recently while staying in Puerto Jimenez, on the Osa Peninsula. While visiting Dr.Michael Boston at his home,a noted tropical zoologist, we found ourselves discussing the urgency of informing the general public along with world leaders, of the local, regional and global collapse of so many species, and the ecosystems and eco-regional environments they rely on worldwide, I found her insights and passion on how to get the message out about how our global home is in peril and how important it is to focus on the “Canaries in the Coal mine”, like the Red Knot and other species, to be encouraging and applaudable. As a restoration specialist, I find too often that it appears we are studying ecosystem collapse and species decline to the point that we will have an excellent record of their demise, but not any representatives left. This was the case of the Dodo, Passenger pigeon and so many others over the last few centuries.
This production is so well done, it stands as a credit to three species. It’s easy to love the two for whom survival is their only concern. But homo sapiens are finally living up to the name in applying science and compassion to the problem. The video makes this and much more to the point. Brava Ms Argo. Bravi men and women of science and concern.
Thank you for making this film. This microcosmic gem shines an indelible light on who we are as humans, and
how profound our respect should be for all living creatures. Bravo……..now is the time we should all stand up and do our part in demanding this respect.
People have to become aware and understand that we are all interconnected before it is to let.
Thank you so much for your work