Latest news with #AmericanOystercatcher
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kennebunk wildlife biologist had passion for conservation and community
Jun. 9—Shiloh Schulte's family often found him exploring the woods, binoculars in hand, when he was growing up. His childhood interest in wildlife turned into a career in biology and a love for birds that his family adopted. Though his parents and four siblings are spread out across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, they say one object outside of their homes ties them to Schulte: bird feeders. The 46-year-old from Kennebunk, who has worked on several projects across the country to preserve landbird, seabird and shorebird populations, died in a helicopter crash Wednesday while conducting conservation work in Alaska to survey and record birds. "It's just such a tragedy, there was so much more that he could have done for the world and would have done," his brother Jonah Schulte said. "All we can do is hope to be even a little glimmer of what he was at trying to help." Shiloh Schulte, who most recently worked for the Massachusetts-based research nonprofit Manomet Conservation Sciences, was known in the company for his efforts to restore the American Oystercatcher population by 45%, according to a statement posted to social media. On the day of the crash, Schulte and the helicopter pilot, who also died, were flying from Prudhoe Bay to a remote area of Alaska's North Slope, according to the Boston Globe. The crash occurred on the first day of the study. 'KENNEBUNK SURELY LOST A GOOD ONE' His friends and family said his passion for conservation and community was infectious. Schulte lived in Kennebunk with his wife, 15-year-old daughter Caelyn and 18-year-old daughter Lorien, as well as his sister, Jill, and her young children. When he wasn't traveling for work, Schulte made efforts to be involved in his community, whether it was hosting potlucks or making friends in running groups, his wife, Shevaun Schulte, said. Every spring, she said, he and his family threw neighborhood parties to collect and boil down maple sap. As a father, his wife said, Shiloh Schulte instilled a love of learning in his children, and the family often traveled and went camping together. Loved ones are seeking donations through GoFundMe to support his family. Lorien Schulte said her father enjoyed reading, and was especially fond of "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin. Even off the clock, she said, he loved to photograph birds and share them on his Instagram account. Schulte, an avid runner who completed the Boston Marathon several times and finished as the top Maine runner in 2019, also served on Kennebunk's select board from 2015-24. Residents will remember him as a "thoughtful, principled" leader, according to a statement posted to the town's Facebook page. "Shiloh was encouraging, courageous, genuine, even-tempered and fair," Select Board member Kortney Nedeau said in a statement Monday. "Kennebunk surely lost a good one." MAKING FRIENDS ACROSS THE WORLD While "tromping through the tundra" at a camp in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in 2019, Michael Boardman, of North Yarmouth, said he was surprised to meet Schulte, a "fellow Mainer in the middle of nowhere." Boardman, who was serving as an artist in residence for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said he appreciated that Schulte was willing to connect with him, even though he's not an expert in science. He said Schulte's willingness to teach others about the whimbrel, a type of shorebird, resulted in him putting more emotion into his field sketches and paintings. Schulte, he said, was passionate about raising awareness of some shorebirds, working to protect them along their long migration routes. "You may never go to the Arctic, but there's a lot of birds that you see during the course of the summer that do," Boardman said. "If they disappear, the world will be a lesser place." Jonah Schulte said his older brother had made friends across the world, from South America to the Eastern Seaboard. Since his death, he said it's been heartwarming to see comments and stories from people on social media and online who knew him. "There's people everywhere that knew Shiloh," Jonah Schulte said, "and were excited to see and hear from him just because they knew that if he was there, it meant there was a good reason to be there." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Prominent bird researcher from Maine killed in last week's North Slope helicopter crash
Jun. 9—The crash of a helicopter on a chartered flight over Alaska's North Slope last week killed a well-known East Coast shorebird researcher as well as the pilot. The pilot and sole passenger were killed in the crash, which occurred 25 to 30 miles southwest of Deadhorse. The Robinson R-66 helicopter was operated by Pollux Aviation. The helicopter took off from Deadhorse at 10:30 or 10:40 a.m., according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Pollux lost contact with its tracking signal just before 11 a.m. The pilot received a weather clearance before taking off, federal officials say. The Special Visual Flight Rules clearance is commonly used, especially in rural Alaska, to land in low ceilings or visibility. The crash occurred on flat, featureless, snow-covered terrain, NTSB Alaska chief Clint Johnson said Monday. An NTSB investigator reached the crash site by helicopter on Friday for an on-scene examination but the agency still needs to remove the wreckage, Johnson said. Bad weather "pushed them off the site" and back to Deadhorse on Friday, he said. The agency is hoping to get a helicopter out Monday to sling out the wreckage. The North Slope Borough has not publicly identified either the pilot or the passenger. A spokesperson on Monday morning said the borough was awaiting permission from family members. A Pollux representative on Monday declined to identify the pilot. Passenger Shiloh Schulte was identified by Manomet Conservation Sciences, the Massachusetts avian research nonprofit that employed him as senior shorebird scientist. The nonprofit is involved in research from Alaska to Argentina, according to its website. Schulte was conducting conservation work at the time of the crash, according to a statement from Manomet. He was coordinator for the American Oystercatcher Recovery Program. "Shiloh worked tirelessly and resourcefully, collaborating with partners along the Eastern Seaboard to help rebuild the American Oystercatcher population by 45%," the statement said. "Shiloh gave his life in the service of something greater than himself, dedicating himself to preserving the natural world for future generations." The nonprofit created an online memorial site that by Monday featured numerous accounts from friends and colleagues as well as several photos of Schulte in various aircraft conducting research. Schulte was from Kennebunk, Maine, according to local media reports. A separate GoFundme fundraising site set up by Schulte's family called him "a lifelong birdwatcher, conservationist and scientist whose passion for the natural world was infectious" and said he died while conducting remote field research in Alaska. "Shiloh was doing what he loved most — working in nature to protect the birds and wild places he cherished so deeply," it said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tybee Spring Shorebird Festival
TYBEE ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — Flock to the beach for THREE days of celebration, education, and action for our coastal feathered friends, hosted by Tybee Island Marine Science Center and Manomet Conservation Sciences. Through engaging panel discussions and a family-friendly festival on Saturday, February 22, 2025, attendees will learn how to play a critical role in shorebird conservation andmake a difference in their communities. The incredible migrations of shorebirds—some covering thousands of miles—connectecosystems across continents and play a key role in maintaining ecological balance. Recentstudies have revealed alarming declines in shorebird populations, with over half of NorthAmerican species experiencing a 50% reduction since 1980. Manomet Conservation Sciences has worked with partners to advance science-driven solutionsfor conserving shorebirds and their habitats. For example, the U.S. population of the AmericanOystercatcher has rebounded, and the Piping Plover shows promising trends. Manomet has ledthe Oystercatcher Recovery Working Group for over a decade, exceeding its original goal of a30% population increase by achieving a 45% rebound, demonstrating the impact of focusedconservation work. By protecting shorebirds and their habitats, we also safeguard biodiversity, ensure the health ofcoastal communities, and support economic benefits like ecotourism. Festival Schedule:Thursday, February 20 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 Biologist Panel DiscussionHear from renowned experts in shorebird ecology and conservation during this engaging paneldiscussion. Speakers include:● Abby Sterling, PhD, Director, Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Effort, ManometConservation Sciences● Allie Hayser, Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Specialist at ManometConservation Sciences● Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Panelists will share insights about shorebird ecology, their experiences in the field, and thepressing challenges facing these remarkable birds along Georgia's coast. A Q&A session willallow attendees to engage directly with the experts. Friday, February 21 | Noon – 2:00 Training and Bird WalkJoin Abby Sterling and Allie Hayser for an immersive bird walk and citizen science trainingsession. Learn to identify local beach birds and contribute to ongoing conservation efforts bycollecting data for the Georgia Coastal Bird Ambassadors program. This hands-on experience isperfect for those eager to help protect shorebirds and their habitats while connecting withnature. Birds and Brew Happy Hour @ Back River Brewery | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 other birders, check out resources, and chat about shorebirds with a beer and a bite atTybee Island's premier brewery. 401 1st St., Tybee Island Saturday, February 22 | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tybee's First Annual Spring Shorebird FestivalMeet the biologists, students, and community partners that work together on Georgia's coast toprotect these amazing birds. There will be crafts, music, food, partner tables, games, andactivities for all ages All events take place (except for Friday happy hour) at:Tybee Island Marine Science Center37 Meddin DriveTybee Island, Georgia 31328When:February 20-22, 2025Cost: FREE Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
