Taiwan Documentary Series: The Pigeon Game & The Butterfly Code

The Pigeon Game
Professional pigeon racer Tsai Fong Chi has what it takes to make it big in the next pigeon games. He has the right birds and the right skills. His family is depending on him and much is at stake. With little success since his last big winning streak, his cash reserves have dwindled and he needs to win and win big. Taiwanese pigeon breeders believe that a bird's wings, tail, and eyes provide clues to its future performance. For Tsai, pigeon #13 is his number one pick this season. The descendent of a prized former champion bird, #13 shows promise with the right eyes and body shape. Can Tsai's favorite pigeon make it to the final races and bring home the grand prize?

The Butterfly Code
The Parantica sita, or chestnut tiger, is a butterfly that flourishes in East Asia. From an egg to a caterpillar and finally emerging as an adult butterfly, it's wired for one last mission—to reproduce and ensure another generation of its kind. One such creature may have carried its mission to the extreme, traveling nearly 1200km from the island of Taiwan to Japan, and sending shockwaves throughout Asia's scientific community.

Co-Hosted with the Elliott School of International Relations at George Washington University.