Latest news with #Shiek
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NFL Fan Base Announces Boycott Over Male Cheerleader Announcement
NFL Fan Base Announces Boycott Over Male Cheerleader Announcement originally appeared on The Spun. Some NFL fans are not happy that there will be male cheerleaders on the field during the 2025 season. The Minnesota Vikings will have a pair of male cheerleaders on the field during the 2025 season. The Vikings, who are expected to contend at the top of the NFC in 2025, made the announcement on social media. Unsurprisingly, it has been going viral. "The Minnesota #Vikings Cheerleaders have two male cheerleaders for the 2025 season," ML Football shared on X. "The team announced Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn have joined their dancing squad for the season." While many are praising the Minnesota Vikings for being inclusive - they are hardly the first NFL franchise to have male cheerleaders (the Rams had some in the Super Bowl - the announcement is sparking a lot of reaction. Some fans have announced that they would cancel their season tickets or boycott the team in response. "The Minnesota Vikings has a man as their new lead cheerleader. As if you needed another reason to avoid the NFL and Minnesota," one fan wrote. "This might be the dumbest move in NFL history. First male captains of a cheer squad… and talk of an all-male cheerleading division? Yeah, something smells off here," one fan added. "I'm done with this team," one fan added. One right-wing radio host spoke out on X, too. 'Imagine you buy front row season football tickets and when you sit down there's some man girating right in front of you,' Owen Shroyer wrote. Outsports had more on the situation: "Last season, seven teams had a total of 18 men on their cheer squads. Some are gay, some are bi, some are straight. The Carolina Panthers also had a trans cheerleader. I don't know how Shiek and Conn of the Vikings identify since I haven't asked, but male cheerleaders are so common that only someone with real insecurity issues would feel bothered by their presence. I also am bothered by Shiek and Conn — by their agility, gracefulness, athleticism and ability to dance, let alone their great hair. How can I expect to focus on J.J. McCarthy throwing deep to Justin Jefferson when these two attractive dudes distract me?" The Vikings are scheduled to open the year on a big stage, taking on the Chicago Bears on ESPN's "Monday Night Football." Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. E.T. on Monday, Sept. 8. NFL Fan Base Announces Boycott Over Male Cheerleader Announcement first appeared on The Spun on Aug 12, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bird species once only found in captivity lays first wild eggs in 40 years
HONOLULU (KHON) – The Sihek bird, an endangered animal recently returned to the wild, has laid eggs on their new home at Palmyra Atoll, an island in the Pacific. The eggs mark the first wild eggs from the species in approximately 40 years. Nine Sihek (also known as Guam kingfishers) were released at the Nature Conservancy's Palmyra Atoll Preserve in September 2024 by the Sihek Recovery Program, a collection of conservationists from around the world dedicated to the preservation of the bird species. The four female and five male Sihek birds quickly explored and adapted to their new home, building territories, nests and laying eggs together for the first time since their extinction from their native island of Guam in the '80s. 'We're delighted that all nine of the birds are not only surviving on Palmyra Atoll, they're already starting on the next stage of their journey as we work to reestablish a thriving and fully self-sustaining Sihek population in the wild,' said Dr. Caitlin Andrews, a bird conservation scientist. 'It's taken years of planning to get to this point, and it's wonderful seeing their instincts kick in as they've been catching geckos and spiders and excavating nests. Their strength provides hope they will one day be back on Guam.' Shiek is the name given to the birds by the native CHamoru people of Guam. The birds were eliminated when the invasive brown treesnake was accidentally introduced to the island in the '40s. The last wild Shiek was seen in 1988, and 29 Shiek were under human care by biologists in Guam. The birds were relocated to Palmyra Atoll because the island is largely predator-free and is fully protected. 'The Guåhan (Guam) Shiek continue to etch their story upon us, marking milestones with Tutuhan again at the forefront. Tutuhan was the first hatchling last year and now is the first to produce eggs. Her name means beginning and she showed signs of strength from the beginning, wanting to feed herself before being old enough to do so,' said Yolanda Topasña, a Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources program coordinator. To Topasña, the Shiek are more than a bird, representing a sense of ancestral pride for CHamoru people. 'The connection I feel with Tutuhan is a kinship I hope for all to feel. I envision our people, the CHamoru, those who dwell in our beloved Guåhan and those scattered across the vast oceans, to feel the same stirring of ancestral pride,' she said. Plans are currently underway for more young birds to be released at Palmya Atoll this summer, in hopes of further boosting the population. 'It has been the honor of my life to work with the Sihek, who embody the spirit of the CHamoru people, with their incredible resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity,' said Kayla Baker, a bird conservationist. 'Seeing the eggs in the nest for the first time left us all with tears in our eyes. Watching these birds show such strong parental instincts gives me great hope that the Sihek will continue to thrive both here on Palmyra Atoll and when they are returned to Guåhan.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Once-extinct bird species lays first wild eggs in 40 years
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Sihek bird, an endangered animal who recently returned to the wild, has laid eggs on their new home at Palmyra Atoll, an island in the Pacific. The eggs laid mark the first wild eggs from the species in approximately 40 years. Nine Sihek, also known as Guam kingfishers, were released at the Nature Conservancy's Palmyra Atoll Preserve in September 2024 by the Sihek Recovery Program, a collection of conservationists from around the world dedicated to the preservation of the bird species. Hawaii officials respond to death of Pope Francis The four female and five male Sihek birds were able to quickly explore and adapt to their new home in the Pacific, building territories, nests and laying eggs together for the first time since their extinction from their native island of Guam in the '80s. 'We're delighted that all nine of the birds are not only surviving on Palmyra Atoll, they're already starting on the next stage of their journey as we work to reestablish a thriving and fully self-sustaining Sihek population in the wild,' said Dr. Caitlin Andrews, a bird conservation scientist. 'It's taken years of planning to get to this point, and it's wonderful seeing their instincts kick in as they've been catching geckos and spiders and excavating nests. Their strength provides hope they will one day be back on Guam.' Shiek is the name given to the birds by the native CHamoru people of Guam, known in CHamoru as Guåhan. The birds were eliminated when the invasive brown treesnake was accidentally introduced to the island in the ' last wild Shiek was seen in 1988, with 29 Shiek under human care by biologists in Guam. The birds were relocated to Palmyra Atoll because the island is largely predator-free and is fully protected. 'The Guåhan Shiek continue to etch their story upon us, marking milestones with Tutuhan again at the forefront. Tutuhan was the first hatchling last year and now is the first to produce eggs. Her name means beginning and she showed signs of strength from the beginning, wanting to feed herself before being old enough to do so,' said Yolanda Topasña, a Guam Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources program coordinator. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news To Topasña, the Shiek are more than a bird, representing a sense of ancestral pride for CHamoru people. 'The connection I feel with Tutuhan is a kinship I hope for all to feel. I envision our people, the CHamoru, those who dwell in our beloved Guåhan and those scattered across the vast oceans, to feel the same stirring of ancestral pride,' she said. Plans are currently underway for more young birds to be released at Palmya Atoll this summer, in hopes to further boost the population. 'It has been the honor of my life to work with the Sihek, who embody the spirit of the CHamoru people, with their incredible resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity,' said Kayla Baker, a bird conservationist. 'Seeing the eggs in the nest for the first time left us all with tears in our eyes. Watching these birds show such strong parental instincts gives me great hope that the Sihek will continue to thrive both here on Palmyra Atoll and when they are returned to Guåhan.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
