The migration track of flock of light-bellied Brent Geese tagged by Irish school children is the theme of a new marine wildlife series due to be broadcast on RTE 2 television.
Where the Wild Geese Go follows the birds from Irish coasts to Arctic Canada, and back again.
The flock of geese were tagged by school children in St Mary’s primary school, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, who became “goose detectives”, working with a dedicated team of scientists.
‘Where the Wild Geese Go' is an original concept from EZ Films and has been produced with the support of RTÉ, Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, Green-Schools, and the University of Exeter.
The project features an interactive website which offers a vast range of educational resources for teachers, parents, and students specially developed by the team at An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme.
Producer David Clarke said that “we’ve had such an amazing time creating this series and it’s been an honour to get to know these fascinating birds and track their awe- inspiring migration”.
“We could not have done it without the help of all of the young goose detectives who took part and also the hard working scientists who dedicate themselves to studying and protecting these animals everyday,”he said.
“Where the Wild Geese Go is not just an adventure—it’s a way to educate, inspire, and immerse children in the wonders of wildlife and conservation,”he said.
Executive producer for RTE Suzanne Kelly stated: “I remember when this series was first pitched to me, the thing that struck me most was its ambition.”
“Not only to create a kid’s series that charts the migratory path of the Brent geese across the world from Ireland to Arctic Canada but to invite every school child on the island of Ireland to get involved!”she said.
“ What has resulted is a series that is truly cross platform - an engaging and dramatic series as well as a website rich in resources for every school to get stuck into,” she said.
“Right now, our environment is perched on a knife edge, and to deliver a project that encourages kids and young people to invest in this jaw-dropping journey and therefore invest in their planet is a joy to behold!”she added.
Senior theme coordinator of Green-Schools Global Citizenship Marine Environment theme, Caoimhe O’Brien Moran, said that “it has been an absolute pleasure to collaborate on the project,and develop a suite of educational resources to accompany this fantastic programme”.
“The series provides a unique insight into the astounding journey that these birds make, highlighting the importance of protecting wild spaces the importance of connecting young people to nature and their local environment. We hope that teachers, parents and children will enjoy watching the series and using the educational resources,”O’Brien Moran said.
Where the Wild Geese Go, a new 13-part animated documentary series from EZ Films, has its premiere on RTÉ 2 on October 21st, 2024.
An interactive platform and educational resources are available at: www.rte.ie/goose
