Los Angeles Audubon helps local high school produce conservation video
Snowy Plover chick - photo by S. Little
In partnership with the Los Angeles Audubon Society, young filmmakers from Dorsey High School in South Los Angeles have made a short award-winning film about the threatened Snowy Plover, called Sharing the Beach with Western Snowy Plovers.
“Digital media is ideal for getting students involved in conservation,” says Stacey Vigallon, Los Angeles Audubon’s director of interpretation. Vigallon is married to Dorsey High teacher Robert Jeffers, who oversees the school’s film production program.
“We really wanted to get students involved directly in the filmmaking process—they conducted research about the plovers, and put that information into a format that’s accessible and appealing to their peers,” Vigallon adds.
The film can be see on YouTube YouTube, and there is a Spanish language version available as well.
Short (about three minutes) and sweet, the film first introduces the viewer to Snowy Plovers, providing their vital stats, what they eat, and where and how they nest. The narration is delivered in classic documentary style: a voiceover makes sure the audience is hip to what the Snowy Plover is, exactly, before delving into why one should care.
In concise, motivated terms, the film describes the Snowy Plovers’ status as Threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act, and goes on to list a number of ways the individual can contribute to strengthening the Snowy Plover population.
The film’s suggestions are real-world relevant and easy to do: pick up trash at the beach, keep your dog under control and obey leash laws on Los Angeles County beaches, and take steps to keep yourself informed, through the internet, or local conservation groups like Audubon California.
The film’s message is clear—your efforts and interest really can make a difference to the Snowy Plover.
Sharing the Beach with Western Snowy Plovers was a collaboration between the film production program at Dorsey High and its extracurricular Eco Club, which Jeffers also advises.
Vigallon guided the students throughout the filmmaking process. She began with a basic Plover presentation and a script for the students to work from, and provided professional wildlife photography for use in the film. Professional film footage, photographs, and illustrations were generously donated by Don DesJardin, Callie Bowdish and Peter Gaede.
Of the fourteen students who worked on the film, a core group of five did most of the editing, and a few attended Snowy Plover volunteer events hosted by LA Audubon.
The film was screened as part of Audubon Film Fridays at the Audubon Center at Debs Park in July.
