Now You See Me

The species we share our planet with have so many superpowers. But the lives of our endangered species are depending on humans to save them and their superpowers.

There are less than 350 North Atlantic Right Whales left on this planet. Did you know they help feed plankton through their gassy plumes? Did you know that plankton helps create about 50% of the air we breathe? So you could say that North Atlantic Right Whales not only take our breath away, they help give us the air for those breaths. They are also carbon sinks, which helps in the fight against climate change. Total super powers and totally worth protecting. North Atlantic Right Whale, Eubalaena glacialis, Critically Endangered.

Piping Plovers are shorebirds that are important in the beach ecosystem, they are masters of camouflage, even when you’re looking right at them, baby chick plovers are almost impossible to spot when they’re not moving. Tiny plover parents can hide their wee chicks underneath them, you wouldn’t even know they were there until you spot an extra leg or two, or the chicks pop out and run off at high speed on their toothpick like legs. Piping Plover, Charadrius melodus, Near Threatened.

I created these mini stop motion videos about endangered species to share some of the cool things that our coastal and marine species can do in the hopes that people will want to work harder to protect them. As an added layer to the videos, they are created entirely out of marine-debris found during beach clean ups, with the added hope that people will also think about their single-use plastic use and how it adversely affects our planet. The North Atlantic Right Whale soundtrack which sounds like whales singing, is actually created from marine debris and natural coastal sounds by a friend of mine from a huge lobster trap cleanup we did together on Cuttyhunk in MA.

The videos link to a webpage with more information about the species, and ways you can help along with organizations that are working to protect our environment. I always say the two most important things we can do for the planet and the creatures we share it with: are to go out and find wonder in this world; and to vote.