Birds VR

<< Background >>Together with our NGO partner SEO/BirdLife in Spain, we applied for this project to engage educators, schools, and students in understanding the decline of bird species such as the Red Kite—an issue that had not previously sparked significant interest among young people. We saw a strong opportunity in bringing together BirdLife’s conservation expertise and Fox Media Documentaries’ experience with immersive storytelling: a meeting point where innovative digital media could help BirdLife communicate its mission to students, including those in remote areas. In return, Fox Media gained a meaningful real-world case from Spain that was ideal to explore through VR and educational design.The project also addressed a clear need for educational tools that align with the digital platforms students already use, as well as the need for learning experiences that feel relevant, authentic, and engaging. We wanted to strengthen students’ personal motivation by allowing empathy, curiosity, and problem-solving to drive their learning.By combining STEM-based tasks with the design of practical solutions, the project appealed to student groups not traditionally drawn to STEM subjects. This included more creative learners<< Objectives >>We set out to create a reality-based educational package consisting of two components: a learning manual and an immersive 360° VR film about the bird conservator Alfonso Godino. Our aim was to bring nature conservation into the classroom in a way that engages both intellect and emotion. VR was chosen because it offers something traditional film cannot—it surrounds the viewer, placing them inside a living landscape, where knowledge settles more deeply because the experience is felt, not just observed.The VR story focuses on the declining population of red kites in Spain, exploring how this local challenge reflects wider global threats to birds of prey, other species, and the climate at large. Through the combination of film and manual, we wanted students aged 12–16 to gain insight into conservation work and to begin imagining solutions of their own.SEO/BirdLife facilitated workshops with approximately 100 pupils, who tested the material in classroom settings. Their response was enthusiastic—they showed strong motivation to understand the role of conservators and to consider how they themselves could support the ongoing work of field technicians who operate daily in a fragile and changing natural world.<< Implementation >>We produced an immersive VR experience, WINGS OF DESIRE, that showed how real conservationists work. On top of this, we designed and wrote new learning materials that introduced basic scientific concepts and put the immersive experience into context. By following the conservator Alfonso Godino in the 360° film, students formed a relationship with Godino, which made them listen to and empathise with him.The learning manual to go with the VR experiences contains a suggested procedure to perform the workshops and provides the knowledge about red kites, conservation, awareness and education.<< Results >>The project delivered two concrete outputs.First, we produced the 360° VR experience WINGS OF DESIRE. Through this film, students encounter Alfonso Godino and his team working hands-on with red kite conservation in southwestern Spain. The VR format allowed viewers to observe fieldwork from within the landscape rather than from a distance, creating a more direct relationship with the topic and the people involved.Second, SEO/BirdLife developed a set of teaching materials to extend and deepen the learning experience beyond the headset. These resources were tested during summer camps, reviewed by teachers and educational specialists, and refined to ensure accessibility, clarity, and pedagogical relevance. A structured questionnaire—both quantitative and qualitative—was used to evaluate how students responded to the combination of immersive VR and analogue classroom tools.Beyond tangible outputs, the project also generated important insights. We gained a clearer understanding of how immersive media, when paired with guided reflection and contextual learning materials, can strengthen student engagement, emotional involvement, and comprehension of conservation issues.