Like the "canaries in the coalmine", who fell from their perch to warn of invisible danger, the current situation also raises urgent questions about listening to our natural warning systems and awareness of ecological tipping points. Ever since Judith Schalansky presented her reflections on "Teetering Canaries" (Schwankende Kanarien) at the BuchBasel literary festival in autumn 2022, these pressing questions have held her in their grip. In dialogue with scientists and policymakers, and through the search for comparative models and striking forms of expression, the image of "teetering canaries" has evolved into an ongoing project, which Judith Schalansky, together with actress Nicole Coulibaly, presents in a staged reading.