Eagle Eye Student Reflections

Biology 112, University of the Fraser Valley

Ron Wilen, Instructor

Student Reflection #1 - Marianne Lankhorst

The part of the Eagle Eye Legend that best explained the teachings of biodiversity and sustainability was, for me, when Eagle Eye Daughter met with a variety of animals to ask where the humans had gone. This gave insight to how each species adapted to their changing habitat, how organisms coexist in harmony with each other, and how nature weaves itself together to create ecosystems, worlds inside our larger world that contain immeasurable smaller worlds inside.

Initially, I thought that something sinister had happened to the humans, that they had gone extinct and that the story would have a harsh moral, declaring that nature is able to recover from all damage that it is dealt, while humans are evil creatures that pollute the earth and will ultimately be wiped out if they do not do something to save the environment while there is still time.

However, as we all know this was not the case. I loved the ending. It gave me hope instead of sadness; it is healing to think that we can come back from our consumerist ways and start all over again with a deeper respect for nature, before we push too far and destroy ourselves utterly.

The most useful ideas I learned from the Expert Commentary were the different interpretations of biodiversity. Beforehand, I had had no idea that the concept of biodiversity could mean more than just animals greatly varying from region to region, but that it also had to do with evolution and sustainability. The Eagle Eye Inquiry Project has definitely changed me; it has given me a greater appreciation for the natural and it has given me the hope that no matter what we do, nature will always remain the same and the circles of life will go on.

Student Reflection #2 - Salma Tewfik

Many things were said in the Eagle Eye legend that I felt were relevant to biodiversity, sustainability and systems thinking. For instance, the river otter's speech about all organisms and systems working together for a common good sums up the concept of biodiversity rather well. All over the world, there are a large variety of organisms, and all play a part in sustaining the Earth as we know it. And in every section of the world, there is always an ecosystem of life forms, all working together to maintain their world (“a world within a world” as Duck says), which in turn maintains the global ecosystem. All this was presented in a way that I found to be very entertaining. The improvisation was most amusing and it got the right message across.

The most useful ideas I got out of the expert commentary was their definition of biodiversity. They defined it as the stable foundation for all life, or the web of life, where each filamentous thread of the web contains a life form, and each creature is dependent on the other for equilibrium. If one thread breaks, then the web is weakened and eventually, it will disintegrate.

Another idea that I found useful was when they finally revealed what it was that Eagle-Eye could not see (even though he could see everything). What Eagle Eye could not see was where human society was going, or the human condition. I would argue however, that Eagle-Eye is not the only one who cannot see it. Humans themselves cannot see (or rather, are in denial) of how fast they are destroying the global ecosystem. What, with the rapid exploitation of natural resources (and no renewal), it's not a new concept. But the way it was presented, from the viewpoint of animals, was quite eye-opening. Very impressive!

I have always been rather conscious when it came to the environment (i.e car pooling, fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent, etc.), and have always tried to do my part to reverse the damage done. The video has re-enforced my beliefs that I'm doing right and I shouldn't quit.

Student Reflection #3 - Katie Liebault

This is the second time that I have seen "Eagle Eye Legend." I watched it the first time in grade twelve (last year) and seeing it once more helped me to better understand the underlying messages. Being completely concerned in environmental issues myself I loved watching an artistic approach to science based issues. I think the metaphor of the search for the people helped audience members with a low education about the science behind global warming and other issues understand the main concepts in an entertaining way.
 
I loved how all the characters that were taken had a different accent or way of communicating ideas. In particular I found the Bark Beetle quite comical and very effective in relaying the message of "Diversify or Die!" He also suggested shifting the blame of the Pine Beetle epidemic to the human induced global warming instead of the beetles themselves. Like he said, "We are opportunists!"
 
Regarding the systems thinking I found the bird characters to communicate those ideas the best. The goose was talking in short sentences basically about insufficient funds in the "resource bank," and the duck was talking about how we are all connected and how people have living systems inside them and are consuming other living things which consumed other living things... It was about the levels of the trophic system... I can't remember which character it was, but one of them brought up the interesting topic of how humans aren't exactly in the food web. Seriously, we are the reason environmental problems exist! But we can live in harmony with our world if we just slowed down and live off the natural land, like those of the First Nation’s people. It escapes me how our world became so focused on material items instead of being inspired by natural beauty, and relying on our family, friends and the outdoors to have fun. There are many, many, many ways for humans to de-stress and have fun without the use of electricity and also there are so many sustainable ways for us to have fun. We don't need to destroy our Earth. Why are we?

The commentary reinforced the main ideas as mentioned above. I also enjoyed the aboriginal perspective such as "we don't need technology to have fun and whatnot."
 
I definitely feel encouraged that the issue of climate change is on people's minds and that creative ways are being expressed to explain climate change in a simple yet profound way!
 
I would like to add that although I enjoyed this presentation very much so in grade 12 and in first year university, not everyone my age took it seriously. I feel that this should be enjoyed by a younger audience and with their parents. Then again, I enjoyed. I also think that maybe the topic is so profound but obvious that immature people can't handle the awesome artistic side of climate change! Keep it up. It definitely has affected me as an amateur environmentalist!

Student Reflection #4 - Alycia Bradley

Having no background information about the DVD, I was quite surprised that it was done through a performance. Right away, I found the way Peter moved was like those of the species he was trying to depict; each with their own specific mannerisms and matching personalities. The descriptive phrases made me feel as though I was experiencing flight through the eyes of the eagle. By painting such vivid pictures in my mind, I wanted to learn more about the mystery. The core teachings learned came through the various species that eagle eye daughter met along her travels, which also explained the vast biodiversity in the various areas that she travelled.

The duck definitely had a complex mind, thinking outside the box about every world within the next world. Although it was stated later on in the production, even the smallest piece of matter, like the salmon egg, could have a grand story—it “is ancient and brand new.” The beaver’s view explained the effect that one species has on a vast majority of others. I never realized how a beaver dam could help everyone from salmon spawning, to making sure that we have water available in the hot summer months where little rainfall occurs. The otter, snake and pine beetle had the most important information to share. When a species borrows too much and their “bank” is overdrawn, they no longer have the resources to survive. Natural selection will suffocate them because evolution is always happening and extinction is intertwined in that cycle. The pine beetle explains this theory by showing the ones who have the opportunity to expand with an optimal environment, will. He explains you need strength, large numbers, and a variety of characteristics to increase diversification and survival.

The fallen tree was another example of this same cycle. Even though it had finished its life, it created a new home for many other populations: sunrays for seedlings to germinate, decomposers to gain nutrients, mammals to create new resting grounds. It makes me wonder what our purpose is in the vast scheme of things; as Peter added, ecosystems make plans 2000 years in advance. I will take the most knowledge from the mountains. People need to take the time to experience what nature has to offer, even if it is just a gorgeous melody or scent. We need to understand that anything we do to the environment vibrates throughout other populations of species. If we don’t cooperate and participate, we will overdraw from our bank account. Thank you very much, it was a great interpretation.

Student Reflection #5 - Mathew Davidson

I found this presentation to be different from the norm and somewhat enlightening. What I gained most from this presentation was a new sense of where human beings are on the grander scale that the whole world is a part of. Although we may be more intelligent than many creatures on the planet, we are the part of the global ecosystem that disrupts everything else. We as a species need to take action against the deteriorating quality of nature.

All of the different creatures that were portrayed for us through the presentation gave me a good feel of biodiversity in the world. It helped me to think on a grander scale than my day to day life. Looking at the human race from another perspective helped me to make a more critical evaluation of our actions as a species.

I think that this video convinced me of the necessity of a new way for people to travel. The burning of fossil fuels is not working out so well. This video also helped me to see how much our culture is based on consumption without conscious thought.

I am different as a student only in that this video will work as a greater incentive to finish my degree in physics. The only way to create more efficient means of energy and transportation is through innovation in engineering.

Student Reflection #6 - Natasha Kelly

The legend of Eagle Eye is symbolic and representative of the biodiversity that exists within our world, but shows how global warming is affecting not only humans, but all the creatures and plants of the Earth.

I really liked how the phrase "Where have the people gone" was repeated over and over again, it reinforced the point that there once was something as great and vast as people, and now none of the animals can find them. I also found it interesting and quite fitting that each of the animals the daughter came across had a different personality, accent, and contribution to society. The presentation of the legend was quite well done with the sounds, expressions, background noises, and scenery. It showed that this was not just a story, but exists in nature and is all around us.

The part of the legend that best explained biodiversity was when the daughter came across the beetle in the red dead vast forest. He explained to her that a species has to be diverse in order to survive. If all are the same then when the same condition hits all of them, they will all die and become extinct. The snake showed her that speed is crucial in sustainability. Evolution is always happening, and innovation takes time.

I liked that the animals continued to repeat themselves, emphasizing the point of how important things like biodiversity, evolution, and global warming is, and the consequences that each of them can have. They themselves were diverse. I also like how everyone followed the boy who heard the tree fall, and how he understood that the tree was turning into soil and not rotting away. It seems that by the end of the legend the humans were more attuned to nature, and more knowledgeable.

As a student I was able to identify what each of the animals were saying about things like evolution, biodiversity, global warming because of school and what I have learned. As a citizen though I was able to relate to the people in the commentary how it may be all scientific but it is happening in our society, and getting worse every day. Everything is contingent on one another, it is a circle, a cycle, and if one thing breaks away then the cycle cannot continue. As humans right now we are endangering and impacting all the animals, creatures, and plants who do not have a say in it, we need to change.

Student Reflection #7 - JP Petterson

The eagle eye legend was a very interesting DVD that indirectly discussed the impact human industrial development has upon biodiversity in nature. The video itself was obviously geared towards a younger audience, but still had interesting points that hit home about the effects of global warming and the communal 'agreement' between different species of animals in preserving food sources. The pine beetle conversation was especially informative and very interesting since it provided an alternate view of the destruction of forests simply as through the thriving survival of a species. The expert commentary was definitely the most informative and discussed the cultural significance of the eagle eye legend as well as the web-like structure of biodiversity. I thought that the idea that the eagle eye character was unable to see the unnatural human condition, which was slowly changing the natural habitats, was very accurate and established a link between reality and the story. The eventual discussion of the need for change was an agreeable point and the facts presented about the Austrian and Swedish towns relinquishing the use of carbon emitting fuels were shocking and inspiring.

Student Reflection #8 - Kevin Bell

In my opinion biodiversity was best described in the conversation between the eagle and the other animals, because it shows that if environment is in balance many species can thrive alongside each other, but if the balance is disturbed it can have devastating consequences (e.g. pine beetle).

The expert commentaries will hopefully stimulate people to get off their as.... "behinds" and do something even if they don't seem to be directly affected (yet). Also it showed me that there definitely are ways to live more sustainable and it made me proud of being Austrian when it reminded me of Güssing. I personally think that too many Canadians just haven't realized what is coming towards them and I hope that this documentary will help to "wake them up", as long as Canada is still relatively unharmed. Once again the expert commentaries showed ways to make things more sustainable and more importantly stimulate thinking and encourage people to live more sustainable.

I am not living differently after watching the documentary since me and my family have always tried living more sustainable, but it did make me realize on how far back Canada seems to be compared to what I am used to from Austria. Although I have to add that I am sure that this will change in the near future, because sooner or later people will be forced to act. Hopefully this project will make people realize that NOW is the time to act and that procrastinating will make matters worse (unfortunately I had to learn that the hard way haha).

I am not sure if this is how you wanted the feedback to be, if not contact me and I will try to make my Germanish-English more clear.

Student Reflection #9 - Cody Willems-Kutz

Its very difficult to pick the best part of the legend, because the legend itself is just so deep and full of profound ideas. Its not so much what the legend teaches, but more on how it is taught, that makes it so effective. The legends many personalities gave rise to the many different ideas the movie portrayed, such as the crazy duck with the salmon egg. Though he came off as crazy, his analogy of the worlds was profound and deep. Biodiversity, and how it represents the stuff of life. I think the most useful thing I can get out of the commentary is that it pays to be a little more aware of our surroundings, of nature and the biodiversity of it all. I will definitely stop and look at nature in a whole new way. I'll try to do my part to preserve what’s left of the environment.

Student Reflection #10 - Theresa Beaton

I liked how it showed how the eagle daughter was learning how to fly. How she didn't learn right away, she fell to the ground. I liked it when she talked to the different birds flying to find out where the people went. I learned that extinction and evolution are always happening, that they are continuous. Also that life renews from death. There was some interesting ideas that I learned from the Expert Commentary. For instance I learned one of the people in the commentary said that it is more meaningful to find an eagle feather than to buy one. When you find an eagle feather it is so meaningful because you don't just find one anywhere, it feels like a gift from that eagle, when you see an eagle feather for sale it does not seem that special.

This commentary made me look at an eagle feather differently if I ever find one I will be grateful.