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The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay

a Kim Smith film

The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay is a 55-minute narrated documentary that tells the story of the Piping Plover as it unfolds along the North Atlantic coastline. The film features a pair of courageous Plovers that overcome life-threatening obstacles while nesting at one of the region’s most popular beaches.

Each spring, northward migrating Atlantic coast Piping Plovers return to breeding sites located from North Carolina to Newfoundland. Amazingly, nesting often takes place on public beaches, where anyone can observe their beautiful life story unfolding. But in such areas, where people enjoy a full range of recreational activities, nesting and raising chicks is a perilous occupation.

Set against the backdrop of the ever-dynamic Atlantic shoreline, the documentary illustrates how conservation partners have provided safe corridors that allow these highly vulnerable birds to raise chicks to fledge at even the most well-loved beaches.

The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay is a film for all ages, and was created especially for young people to inspire in them a love for wild creatures and their habitats, and to develop a deeper understanding of the vital role that wildlife play in our interconnected ecosystem. 

Every stage of the Plover’s life cycle is experienced in vibrant HD and 4K close-up, from egg to chick to adult.

Production and distribution of The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay will be made possible by tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and public agencies. 

To date, among other generous donations, we have received a leadership grant of $15,000 from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. 

Gifts for The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay will support post production and distribution costs, including re-recording voiceover narration, color and sound editors, picture mastering, studio time, festival fees and applications, music and map rights, and an underwriting agent to bring the film to the wide audience of public television. Our goal is to raise $115,000. 

The names of underwriters contributing $10,000 and above will be proudly listed in the film’s special underwriting credit pod. What does it mean to be an underwriter? When you watch a film on public television and the announcer says (for example), “This program was made possible by gifts from Katherine and Charles Cassidy, by The Fairweather Foundation, by Lillian B. Anderson, and by The Arnhold Family, in Memory of Clarisse Arnhold,” that’s where your name, or the name of your foundation, will appear, at both the beginning and at the end of the film.

All supporters, no matter how large or small the donation, will be listed on the film’s website. Any amount contributed is tremendously appreciated. Thank you!

Thank you for being part of launching The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay.

For more information, please visit the film’s website at The Piping Plover Project  https://pipingploverproject.org/ and email the director at kimsmith.designs1@gmail.com

Logline

Come discover the wondrous story of The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay. Told through the adventures of Pippi and Papi Plover, and their blended family of chicks, experience the life story of the Piping Plover, from courtship to nesting to fledging to migration.

Please see our sister nature documentary Filmmakers Collaborative project Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly. https://filmmakerscollab.org/films/beauty-on-the-wing-life-story-of-the-monarch-butterfly/