Experiencing Interruptions?

Return of the Little Tern Seabird on the Floating Artificial Sand Islands

Andong Lake islands where the little terns had made their home became submerged in 2018 due to heavy rain. When the birds lost their home, the Andong City government, the Ministry of Environment, and civilians all got together to create an artificial sand island on which the little terns could settle down and breed.
People even installed decoys to attract little terns to the artificial island so that they will build their new home on the island and settle down on Andong Lake, which is an inland lake. Also, when an eagle-owl attacked, threatening the breeding of little terns, they installed pipes in which the chicks can hide and use as a refuge.

  • Dong-Man Shin
    Director
  • Sang-Seop Yeom
    Director
  • So-Hee Park
    Writer
  • Dong-man Shin
    Producer
  • Jong-Ho Son
    Producer
  • Sang-Seop Yeom
    Cinematographer
  • Sung-Il Shin
    Cinematographer
  • Dae-Geun Park
    Cinematographer
  • Hyeong-Jin Kim
    Music
  • Ki-Kwon Jang
    Sound
  • Joo-Sang Yoon
    Sound
  • Woon-Ki Baek
    Interviewee
  • Kwang-Soon Kwon
    Interviewee
  • Joo-sang Yoon
    Narrator
  • KBS
    Production
  • Wildnet
    Production
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Television
  • Runtime:
    48 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 9, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    South Korea
  • Country of Filming:
    South Korea
  • Language:
    Korean
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, UHD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • World Wildlife Day film showcase
    Washington
    United States
    March 3, 2023
    International premiere
    Official Selection
  • SliberSalz Science & Media Awards

    Germany
    October 25, 2023
    European Premiere
    Finalist
Distribution Information
  • KBS Media
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Dong-Man Shin, Sang-Seop Yeom

Since joining KBS in 1991, Dong-Man Shin has been specializing in wildlife and environmental documentaries and is a renowned wildlife documentary producer and director in Korea.

Mr. Shin has been concerned about the endangered wild animals in Korea, playing a leading role in spreading the awareness on wildlife protection. In 2016, he received a Ph.D. in animal ecology degree at Kyung Hee University.

Mr. Shin has produced numerous wildlife documentaries: “The Otter” (1998), “The Last Land of Sand Dune” (2000); “Environment Special: Experiment For Coexistence-Magpie” (2001); “A Temple in a Forest” (2003); “The Extinction” (2004); “The Secret Raider in the Dark, Eagle Owl” (2008); “Life in the Rain” (2013); “Korean Geographic” (2014); “The Empire of the Water” (2017); “The Secret of the Little Tern Seabird of the Inland Lake”(2018).

He won the Best Wildlife Prize in the 29th Festival de l’Oiseau et de la Nature (2019, Abbeville, France), Special Jury Award and Gold REMI of TV Nature•Wildlife in the Houston Film Festival (2019, 2014, respectively), Gold Prize in the New York TV Film Festival (2015), Gold Prize in the China Dragon Awards (2014).

In addition, Shin wrote three ecological books: The Secret Raider in the Dark, Eagle Owl (Kungree, 2008); The Present of the Great Crested Grebe (Dongasia, 2009); The Dream of the Little Tern (Storyzone, 2016).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The producer and director Shin presented the documentary as follows.

"The little terns, who had lost their habitat, finally settled down on Andong Lake sand islands. However, when their breeding season becomes ruined due to their natural enemies, an eagle-owls’ attack, and the submergence of the islands during a rainy season, people got together to build artificial sand islands and helped the little terns make a successful come back. This is a nature documentary recording the past 5 years of the people’s efforts."