Inside Thirteen Blogger: Fred Kaufman, Executive Producer, NATURE

Fergus Beeley, his real name, is a British wildlife producer with a unique ability to weave an engrossing story about wildlife and places. He can describe an ant walking on the ground and make it sound like a personal story of persistence and triumph. So, when Fergus speaks, I listen. Several years ago, he described a place that sounded more fairytale than real — an island in the Canadian Arctic with no trees, only rolling hills and high cliffs. The island is 75,000 square miles, with just 150 people. But the reason for going to Ellesmere is its wildlife — a collection of characters all dressed in white. A white falcon, called a gyrfalcon, is both stunning and threatening. There’s a beautiful white wolf, a snowy white owl with piecing eyes, and a bunch of white hares that comically jump around. For much of the year, snow covers the ground. But for a brief couple of months, this landscape comes alive with some of the most visually captivating creatures on our planet.

See preview:

The moving story of survival in one of earth’s timeless places is captured in NATURE’s season premiere, “White Falcon, White Wolf” this Sunday, October 26, at 8:00 pm (check local listings).