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Tomas Koeck, Documentary Filmmaker | September 4, 2025

Birds are some of the most extraordinary animals on Earth, not only because of their varying appearances and amazing behaviors but because of their ability to travel thousands of miles every year. Here on the East Coast, every spring and fall, millions of migratory birds embark on epic journeys across the Americas, weaving a living thread that connects ecosystems from Costa Rica’s lush forests to the windswept tundra of northern Manitoba. Along these journeys, many pass directly through one of the most densely populated places in the world—New York City.

My new feature-length film, Flyway of Life, explores this phenomenon, reminding us that birds are not only harbingers of changing seasons but also critical connectors of our shared environments. The film highlights how their survival—and in turn, the health of our ecosystems—depends on the work of conservationists, scientists, and communities dedicated to ensuring these travelers have safe passage. While the film explores “wild” and remote environments such as the subarctic and the cloud forests of Costa Rica, it also takes a turn: focusing on the work of New York City Bird Alliance. The organization was new to me at the beginning of this project but I quickly came to admire, respect, and realize the impact that the group had on avian conservation.

Two of NYC Bird Alliance’s own, Melissa Breyer and Dr. Dustin Partridge, are featured in the film. Their work underscores the importance of local action in a global story. Melissa Breyer, an award-winning photographer and writer, has been instrumental in raising awareness about the challenges urban birds face, particularly around window collisions—a leading cause of bird mortality. As a volunteer collision monitor with NYC Bird Alliance’s Project Safe Flight, her ability to blend art and advocacy helps translate science into stories that inspire city dwellers to take action.

Dr. Dustin Partridge, NYC Bird Alliance’s director of conservation and science, has led groundbreaking work in understanding how urban landscapes can be made more bird-friendly. Dustin showed me the volume of collision victims on a visual level in easily the saddest moment in the film. Both Melissa and Dustin demonstrate how science, community, and creativity come together to build a safer city for birds.

The migration routes—often called the flyways of the Americas—are invisible “highways” in the sky. Birds navigating these paths encounter sprawling suburbs, skyscraper skylines, and heavily industrialized regions. Without local conservation efforts, these critical stopover points can disappear and negative side effects (such as the window production) can go unchecked. This is why the work of New York City Bird Alliance is so vital. By advocating for bird-safe building legislation, mobilizing volunteers during migration seasons, restoring habitats, and conducting community science projects, the organization plays a pivotal role in protecting birds where the need is greatest.

When a warbler that wintered in Costa Rica lands briefly in Central Park before continuing north to northern Manitoba, this is the Atlantic Flyway in live action! Protecting these birds here in New York means protecting the entire flyway system that sustains them—and us.

If there is one thing that quickly became apparent to me throughout the production, Flyway of Life makes one thing abundantly clear: birds connect us all. Their journeys unite continents, ecosystems, and people. And by safeguarding them, we are safeguarding the health of our shared environment. Thanks to the ongoing work of New York City Bird Alliance, New York’s birds have a voice, an advocate, and even an avenue to persevere. 

To see more of NYC Bird Alliance and their work to advocate for birds, be sure to watch Flyway of Life at select venues. We will be having an exclusive talk and film screening at the Explorers Club during Climate Week NYC on September 29. To learn more and purchase tickets, you can click the link here. 

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