Latest news with #ManometConservationSciences
Boston Globe
8 hours ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Scientist at Plymouth conservation nonprofit dies in remote Alaska crash
Schulte had traveled to Alaska to conduct conservation work, the statement said. He and the helicopter pilot were flying west from Prudhoe Bay to an area where he planned to outfit shorebirds with recording devices when the helicopter crashed on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for Manomet Conservation Sciences. The region Schulte was visiting has become a flashpoint in the debate over balancing the nation's energy needs and confronting climate change. The oil company ConocoPhillips wants to establish an oil drilling venture known as the Advertisement Schulte had also planned to visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where he was to lead a crew tracking the migratory routes of whimbrels, another shorebird, with satellite transmitters, Manomet Conservation Sciences said. The Advertisement The crash occurred on the first day of the bird study about 20 miles west of Deadhorse in North Slope, the northernmost section of the state, Clint Johnson, chief of the safety board's regional office in Alaska, said Friday. 'It's in a very remote part of Alaska,' Johnson said. 'There's nothing there. It's treeless, barren, in the middle of no place.' Earlier in the week, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin toured parts of the North Slope to advocate for President Trump's desire to open parts of the Alaskan wilderness to drilling and mining. The helicopter had taken off at about 10:40 am. The pilot had received special weather clearance, known as VFR, or visual flight rules clearance, Johnson said. North-Slope Borough Search and Rescue traveled to the crash site on Wednesday and retrieved the victims' bodies and on Friday afternoon, NTSB investigators visited the scene, which is only accessible by helicopter, he said. An NTSB meteorologist and air traffic controller are working with investigators, who plan to transport the helicopter wreckage to Deadhorse to continue their work, according to Johnson. Officials plan to place the wreckage in a sling tethered to a helicopter for the journey back to Deadhorse, which has an airport, he said. Advertisement Last Saturday, Schulte shared photographs of Schulte coordinated an American oystercatcher recovery program which was launched in 2009 at Manomet Conservation Sciences. Conservation work by the program and its partners along the East Coast helped to rebuild the American oystercatcher population by 45 percent, the organization said. 'Shiloh gave his life in the service of something greater than himself, dedicating himself to preserving the natural world for future generations,' the group's statement said. In March, Schulte discussed progress in regrowing the population of the American oystercatcher, a striking shorebird with long, orange-red bills and black-and-white plumage who live along the Atlantic and Gulf coast, according to a news release from Manomet Conservation Sciences. In 2008, he said the population had dropped to fewer than 10,000 birds across the Americas, a 10 percent decline. Conservation efforts reversed that slide and there are now more than 14,000 birds. 'This success proves that when we commit to conservation, we can restore declining species,' he said in a statement on March 13. Following the devastating BP oil spill which released millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, Schulte led a crew of researchers enlisted by the government to document the spill's environmental impact on wildlife. Schulte's team was hired by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to locate resident oystercatchers in coastal Louisiana and outfit the oiled ones with radio transmitters to track their health, he told the Globe in 2010. Advertisement He earned a doctorate at North Carolina State University, where he studied American oystercatchers on the Outer Banks and helped to band and track the birds, according to his biography on the website for Manomet Conservation Sciences. As an undergraduate student, Schulte studied wildlife biology at the University of Vermont. He was a competitive distance runner and earned a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, the biography said. In April, he ran the Boston Marathon, finishing the race with a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 50 seconds. The time placed him 137th among 2,386 men between ages 45 and 49 who competed, according to results from the Boston Athletic Association. Laura Crimaldi can be reached at
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.
