Underbirds: The Fight to Save the Southern New Zealand Dotterel by students at University of Otago.

Underbirds: The Fight to Save the Southern New Zealand Dotterel is the story of the challenges and struggles that the Southern New Zealand Dotterel face to survive on Rakiura, and also the passionate DOC Rangers who drop everything to live among the birds year-round. The film immerses viewers in the remote backcountry of the island, where the rangers deploy predator traps, meticulously document every aspect of the birds' lives, and raise awareness about the dire need for conservation. It's a heartwarming, heart-wrenching journey that underscores the fragility of life, the spirit of these underbirds, and the fierce determination of those who stand as their guardians. Discover the untold story of the Southern New Zealand Dotterel and the dedication of the rangers working to bring these birds back from the brink.
The filming team was made up of Abi Liddell, Brady Clarke, and Isabella Lewis. Together, Abi and Brady traveled to the island of Rakiura and tramped over 8 hours and spent the week at the dotterel ranger's hut. Together they filmed the very few dotterels that inhabited this small location. Once they returned to Dunedin, Isabella helped shape their story from their travel encounters. Over the following months, the team tediously edited their work to ensure the story was as visually captivating and compelling, as it was emotionally.
Underbirds was filmed as a part of the Directors’ Science Communication degrees at the University of Otago. A special thank you to Steve Ting, Max Quinn, Gianna Savoie, and the Department of Science Communication at the University of Otago.
This documentary was made possible with the support of the Department of Conservation, particularly the Southern NZ Dotterel Team on Rakiura, namely Daniel Cocker and Guy McDonald.