The Wings of Survival started its 30,000 km cycling expedition on August 1, 2026, from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and was in Prince George yesterday for an overnight stay. The Alberta-born expedition combines extreme sports, exploration, science, education, conservation, and community engagement.
“This expedition is about much more than cycling,” said Dr. Timm Döbert. “It’s about inspiring people to reconnect with nature, understand the incredible journeys of migratory birds, and recognize that our own health and well-being are deeply connected to the health of the natural world.”
The team is from Alberta. Edmontonians, Dr. Timm Döbert, a German-Canadian scientific explorer and global change ecologist and Leanna Carriere, Canada’s first female decathlete, sports nutrition entrepreneur, and mother of a 9-year-old daughter, are leading the project. After five years of planning and preparation, they are underway on the 30,000km, 9-month cycling expedition across the entire Americas, 15 countries and hundreds of communities, emulating the greatest endurance athletes on the planet: migratory birds.
By taking on the extraordinary challenges of bird migration, they aim to help restore the physical and emotional connection of people to nature; they know that connection precedes care and action. Wings of Survival’s unique blend of science, education, and advocacy will be shared with millions of people throughout the Pacific-Americas Flyway and beyond, both in-person and virtually. Moving Artistry Productions is creating the professional Wings of Survival documentary.
Leanna Carriere, Canada’s first female decathlete and mother of a nine-year-old daughter, says the project is designed to inspire people of all ages. “We hope people leave feeling inspired by what’s possible when we challenge ourselves and reconnect with nature. This journey is about exploration and conservation, but it’s also about hope, curiosity, and caring for the planet we all share.”
The Wings of Survival webpage expedition map showcases daily updates in the forms of videos, photos, health information and cycling data: https://www.wingsofsurvival.com/
They look forward to their stop in your community and are available for interviews in the morning.
About Wings of Survival
Wings of Survival is a world-first Race with Nature that follows the migratory journeys of shorebirds from Alaska to Patagonia. Led by Dr. Timm Döbert and Leanna Carriere, the 30,000-kilometre cycling expedition combines adventure, science, conservation, education, and storytelling to inspire people to reconnect with nature and protect the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.