# LightHawk > Conservation Flying > Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.4, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. ## Posts ### [LightHawk Announces 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award Honorees](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-announces-2026-volunteer-pilot-award-honorees/) **Published:** October 24, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Excerpt:** LightHawk has announced its 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award honorees, recognizing five volunteers whose dedication and generosity help put conservation missions within reach across the country. This year’s honorees demonstrate the skill, flexibility and sustained commitment that make these missions possible. **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Otter-Creek.-Photo-by-J.Milne-LightHawk-1024x768.webp)*Otter Creek, seen from inside the aircraft of LightHawk’s 2026 President’s Award honoree Jamie Gamble during a conservation flight for Indigenous-led groups. Photo by Jonathan Milne.* ## ****Five awards recognize exceptional service to conservation through aviation**** **GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., October 24, 2026** – LightHawk has announced its 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award honorees, recognizing five volunteers whose dedication and generosity help put conservation missions within reach across the country. LightHawk volunteer pilots donate their time, expertise, aircraft and fuel to transport endangered wildlife, help researchers and journalists document changing conditions, and bring conservation partners above landscapes they are working to protect. This year’s honorees demonstrate the skill, flexibility and sustained commitment that make those missions possible. **Jamie Gamble \| President’s Award** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Gamble-1024x768.webp)*Volunteer pilot Jamie Gamble receives LightHawk’s highest honor, recognizing exemplary skill, contagious enthusiasm and volunteer service that goes above and beyond.* Since 2010, Gamble has flown conservation missions across New England, the Mid-Atlantic and as far west as Wisconsin. He has helped partners assess forest habitat in Vermont, document algal blooms on Lake Champlain and work toward protecting 78,000 acres in northwestern Maine. His commitment extends beyond the cockpit: through the Granby Land Trust, he has also helped permanently protect land in a developing part of Connecticut. **Alan Kinback \| Spirit of LightHawk Award** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Alan-Kinback-1024x684.webp)*Alan Kinback is recognized for outstanding service, substantial flight-hour contributions and dedication that represent the very best of LightHawk’s volunteer pilot community.* A LightHawk volunteer since 2007, Kinback has become an anchor for conservation missions in South Florida, flying for nearly every major LightHawk partner in the region. His missions have helped partners document algal blooms on Lake Okeechobee, development pressure on Florida panther habitat, and changes to coral habitat and coastlines affected by sea level rise. For nearly two decades, he has brought his aviation expertise and passion for conservation to this shared effort. **Lane Gormley \| Rockwell Award** ![LightHawk VP Land Gormely](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Gormley-1024x684.webp)*LightHawk volunteer pilot Lane Gormley receives the Rockwell Award for exceptional generosity, flexibility and a willingness to fly the extra mile for conservation.* Since joining LightHawk in 2015, Gormley has become one of its most active and reliable volunteer pilots in the Pacific Northwest. Whether committing to a single mission or a summer-long series, he adjusts his schedule to meet partners’ timelines and goes out of his way to get passengers to project sites. He also makes time for LightHawk pilot gatherings, even far from home. “He is simply a delight to work with on any LightHawk mission!” said Western Program Manager Betsy Daub. **Kenneth and Gabrielle Adelman \| Carpenter Award** *Kenneth and Gabrielle Adelman receive the Carpenter Award, recognizing the most volunteer flight hours donated in a pilot’s own aircraft.*   Flying as a duo, the Adelmans donated 45.6 flight hours to LightHawk this year. Many of those hours were in their Cessna Citation CJ2, transporting wolf pups and black-footed ferrets as part of endangered species recovery efforts. By shortening travel time, they helped these vulnerable animals reach their destinations with less stress than a long journey by ground. Their generosity with their time, aircraft and expertise makes them a valued and dependable part of LightHawk’s wildlife conservation work. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Adelmans-768x1024.webp) **Eric Berman \| Rookie of the Year** ![LightHawk Volunteer Pilot Eric Berman](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Eric-Berman_web-1024x682.webp)*LightHawk pilot Eric Berman is recognized as its 2026 Rookie of the Year for an exceptional commitment that made an immediate difference. Photo by Paul Pottinger* Since joining LightHawk’s volunteer pilot corps in 2025, Berman has flown 13 missions and offered his time for five more. In summer 2026, he was one of three pilots who committed to a series of flights for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, taking on the sustained responsibility of a recurring conservation project. In his first year, he has already become a dependable member of the LightHawk team. **About LightHawk** LightHawk is a nonprofit conservation organization that puts aviation to work across North America. Working alongside conservation organizations, scientists, journalists, Tribes and agencies, LightHawk plans and coordinates missions that provide access, aerial perspective and timely wildlife transport. Its volunteer pilots donate their expertise, time, aircraft and fuel to protect lands, water, and wildlife. To support this work, make a donation or learn more about LightHawk, visit [www.lighthawk.org](https://www.lighthawk.org). **Categories:** Media **Tags:** Awards, LightHawk, Volunteer Pilot --- ### [Low Snowpack Threatens Colorado River Water Supplies](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/april-2025-mission-of-the-month-snowpack-affects-millions-along-the-colorado-river/) **Published:** April 29, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lighthawk005-scaled.jpg) *Snowpack blankets the mountains of Western Colorado, storing water that will feed rivers and watersheds as it melts.* *Photo: Mark Henle \| Pilot: Steve Meyer* The snowpack in Colorado is a topic of great interest to the people of Arizona. Why? Because that snowpack is what feeds the Colorado River. The water travels down the basin, providing much-needed water to communities and farming operations across the American Southwest. Millions of people rely on that water. For years, the Colorado River Basin, and the West in general, have been suffering through a drought. Water levels in reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead have hit historic lows in recent years, rebounding slightly last summer thanks to record snowfalls in the 2023/2024 winter. This year however, the snowpack has taken a dramatic fall, with current projections indicating the streamflows into Lake Powell will only reach 67% of normal – sparking concern for water users throughout the basin. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lighthawk002-scaled.jpg) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lighthawk004-scaled.jpg) Earlier this month, LightHawk volunteer pilot Steve Meyer took journalist Mark Henle from the Arizona Republic up in his Cessna 206 to get an aerial view of the snowpack in Western Colorado. Taking off from Glenwood Springs, the flight lasted about an hour, allowing journalist Henle to capture images of the Colorado snowpack. After the flight, Henle shared, “The objective of the mission was to photograph the snowpack in the Elk Mountains of west-central Colorado. We waited at the airport for the weather to break, after about 90 minutes, we took off. Steve’s expertise piloting a plane for aerial photography made my job easy. We returned to the airport an hour later with photographs that exceeded my expectations. Thank you LightHawk.” Shedding light on the importance of conservation for the Colorado River water is a long-standing aspect of LightHawk’s work along the basin. We work with partners in every region to bring the powerful tool of aviation to their work, bringing urgency, visibility, and momentum to the issues affecting water levels and quality. Thank you to pilot Steve Meyer for donating this flight. The resulting photos and story will spotlight the importance of water conservation efforts across the West, helping inform policy decisions that affect millions. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lighthawk003-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lighthawk006-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lighthawk001-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lighthawk002-scaled.jpg) **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Climate, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Studying Nutrient-Rich Runoff in Florida with Flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-march-2026-featured-mission/) **Published:** March 30, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021086.webp)*Known for its clear water, Florida is facing challenges due to agricultural runoff. The nutrient-rich water flowing downstream has sparked an increase in both sediment plumes and algal blooms, devastating seagrass, a key food for marine wildlife. Photo by Jay Apt.* When you think of **Florida**, you picture clear blue water stretching beyond sandy beaches. But from above, a different story is unfolding. Across **Florida Bay**, sediment plumes and algal blooms are spreading, changing the color, clarity, and health of these waters. Working alongside scientists from **[Florida International University](https://www.fiu.edu/)**, LightHawk took to the air to help better understand the scale of these changes and where they are coming from. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021078.webp)The flight allowed researchers to observe and document sources of runoff that contribute to algal blooms. Photo by Jay Apt. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021084.webp)Storms increase the amount of water flowing through agricultural fields, creating larger amounts of runoff, sparking rapid growth of algal blooms. Photo by Jay Apt. Water quality decline is already having real consequences. Seagrass, a critical food source for species like manatees, is disappearing. With it, the stability of the broader ecosystem is at risk. What is driving it? In part, nutrients from agricultural runoff. Fertilizers support food production on land, but after heavy rains, those nutrients wash into waterways. Combined with a warming climate, they fuel rapid algal growth. Taking off from Miami Executive airport, **volunteer pilot Jay Apt** flew southwest toward Florida Bay. Our partners had requested flying over the north-central portion of the bay, specifically the Alligator and McCormick Creek Subestuaries. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021087.webp)Declines in seagrass are a threat to the survival of marine wildlife like manatees who feed on the aquatic plants. Photo by Jay Apt. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021090.webp)Large storms increase the amount of runoff, creating large sediment plumes that lower water quality and threaten seagrass. Photo by Jay Apt. During the flight, the team captured high-resolution imagery and video to help identify potential drivers of nutrient influx and their connection to algal blooms, while also providing important context on how water moves into the bay. Jay mounted a GoPro to his Beechcraft Bonanza , allowing scientists to record observations in real time and compare them with the aerial footage. After the flight, Laura Bauman said, “Jay was an exceptional pilot, very thorough and professional, and I appreciated him walking us through the whole process. The experience was fascinating and reassuring, and the imagery he captured was outstanding.” This information learned from the flight will be used in an ongoing study funded by Everglades National Park and South Florida Water Management District to help determine how nutrients are introduced into the water system, driving algal blooms. Understanding where nutrients are entering the bay will help guide current management in Everglades National Park with a long-term goal of decreasing algal blooms and increasing water quality in Florida Bay. When you can see the full picture from above, you can make better decisions on the ground. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021089.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021088.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021087.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021085.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021083.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021082.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021080.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021079.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021077.webp) *Photos by Jay Apt.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Climate, Focus: Oceans, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Twelve Glaciers. Two and a Half Hours.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) **Published:** October 1, 2026 **Author:** Clint Burson **Content:** ![Ice from a glacier is barely visible thanks to dirt and rocks covering the ice, blending it into the rock face.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03729.webp)*Covered in dirt and rock, this glacier is slowly shrinking as the climate warms and a decades-long drought persists. Photo by Harlan Ulmer.* Colorado’s glaciers and perennial snowfields are shrinking. Documenting those changes means reaching remote mountain sites and gathering photographs from many angles, work that once required long hikes across difficult terrain. LightHawk and [Colorado State University ](https://www.colostate.edu/)researchers are using flight to cover that ground more efficiently and test a new approach to measuring the changing ice. The CSU team combines photographs into detailed models of each glacier’s surface, allowing researchers to measure changes over time. Working with LightHawk, they are testing whether images taken from an airplane can provide the data they previously collected on foot. The collaboration began with an exploratory flight last year to test the aerial approach. This year, LightHawk volunteer pilot Evan Anderman returned with the CSU team to photograph 12 glaciers along Colorado’s Front Range, across Rocky Mountain National Park and the Indian Peaks. The route was planned to give researchers views of each glacier from multiple angles. ![An airplane flies over a rock glacier located on the side of a mountain in the Rocky Mountain Range.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_5_GX050033.MP4.10_30_38_00.Still004-edited-1024x768.webp)*The team documented rock glaciers – glaciers composed primarily of rock with ice mixed in underneath the surface – as part of their research. Photo by Evan Anderman.* ![A glacier rests between two rock faces high on a mountain peak.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Andrews_2026-edited-1024x768.webp)*A small glacier remains high on a Colorado peak, partially protected by a north facing rock face. Photo by Dan McGrath.* Many of these sites lie deep in the backcountry, far from roads. Photographing them from the ground requires hiking to each glacier and climbing the surrounding peaks to capture different angles. “We couldn’t have covered all of Colorado’s glaciers without LightHawk,” said Harlan Ulmer, a student working with the research team. “Ground-based photogrammetric surveys are possible, but hiking to each glacier generally requires an entire day’s worth of time.” Researcher Dan McGrath put the difference in concrete terms: “These surveys would not be possible without the support of LightHawk — accessing a single glacier to collect repeat photographs is typically at least a 10-mile round trip hike and full day endeavor, while we surveyed them all in 2.5 hours!” The team will compare models created from this year’s imagery with those from previous surveys to measure changes in the glaciers’ surface elevation. Those comparisons will help researchers understand how much snow and ice has been lost over time. ![A pilot looks out the side cabin window to navigate around a glacier while passengers photograph it through the open window.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Front_13_GX130698.MP4.09_41_31_25.Still001-1-1024x576.webp)*Volunteer pilot Evan Anderman circled glaciers as the CSU team photographed them to measure their size and rate of retreat. The flight’s altitude required him to use supplemental oxygen. Photo by Evan Anderman.* ![An airplane flies over the peaks of Colorado's Rocky Mountains along the Continental Divide.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Tail_High_04_GX040699.MP4.10_21_01_14.Still002-1-1024x576.webp)*High in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, these glaciers are difficult to reach on foot. Flying allows researchers to document multiple glaciers in less time and accelerate data collection. Photo by Evan Anderman.* “All of these glaciers are on a one-way street to their eventual disappearance,” McGrath said to *Outside*. “The rate of melting is variable. Some years you may see them only thin by a few inches, but the overall trend is one-way.” At St. Mary’s Glacier, the team encountered a stark example of that loss. The snowfield, long a destination for summer skiers, had melted completely for the first time on record. McGrath plans to present findings from the two surveys at the Geological Society of America meeting in Denver in October. The team is also working toward a peer-reviewed manuscript for submission to the Journal of Glaciology. Working alongside CSU researchers, LightHawk is helping establish a practical way to document changes across Colorado’s remote glaciers. Flight connects sites that would otherwise require separate days of hiking, making repeated surveys more feasible. That sustained record can help researchers understand how these mountain landscapes are responding to a changing climate. [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_5_GX050033.MP4.10_30_38_00.Still004.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_5_GX050033.MP4.10_30_38_00.Still004.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Lake_Agnes_Rock_Glacier_2026.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Lake_Agnes_Rock_Glacier_2026.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Back_15_GX150696.MP4.08_57_25_09.Still001.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Back_15_GX150696.MP4.08_57_25_09.Still001.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Arapaho_2026.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Arapaho_2026.webp) **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Climate **Tags:** Climate, Colorado, glacier --- ### [Pilot’s View: Above Colorado’s Changing Glaciers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) **Published:** October 1, 2026 **Author:** Clint Burson **Content:** ![The plane flies above glaciers along Colorado's Continental Divide.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_4_GX040033.MP4.10_14_56_09.Still005-1024x576.webp)*Flying along Colorado’s Continental Divide gives researchers access to remote glaciers to document shrinking snow and ice fields. Photo by Evan Anderman.* Following a year of record-low snowfall, [Colorado State University ](https://www.colostate.edu/)researchers are documenting how the state’s glaciers are changing. To capture the images they need, they returned to the air with LightHawk volunteer pilot Evan Anderman. The researchers combine photographs taken from multiple angles to create detailed models of each glacier’s surface. Before they began flying with LightHawk last year, collecting those images meant hiking to the glaciers and around the surrounding mountains for different views. From the air, they can gather the images more efficiently and reach places that are difficult to access on foot. Evan, who also serves on LightHawk’s Board of Directors, volunteered again for this year’s flights. “I did the first flight last year with them, and it seemed like a good fit with my airplane. There were a couple of researchers, and they wanted to fly over the Continental Divide. With the turbo in my airplane, I thought it would be a good mission to take on. Plus, I have a background in geology. I wanted to see what they’re looking at.” ![Dirt and rocks covering a small glacier on a Colorado peak.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Arapaho_2026-1024x682.webp)*What remains of a Colorado glacier is covered by rocks and dust, making it difficult to spot. Photo by Dan McGrath.* ![A glacier rests between two rock faces high on a mountain peak.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Andrews_2026-1024x682.webp)*A small glacier remains high on a Colorado peak, partially protected by a north facing rock face. Photo by Dan McGrath.* For Evan, the flights have been a chance to see the CSU team test a new way to document glaciers. “I’ve learned tons about it the whole way. It was so cool because they were trying to prove this new method would work,” he said. “I think it’s great that we could step in and give them the platform to get these pictures efficiently.” Flying near the Continental Divide required careful planning to navigate the terrain safely. Before departure, Evan worked with the researchers to identify their photography sites and the altitudes needed to stay clear of the rocks. On both years’ flights, winds from the west at about 30 knots brought turbulence beginning roughly five miles before the Divide. “Last year they were kind of nervous about that,” he recalled of the researchers. Once over the Divide, Evan focused on staying crabbed into the wind and “trying to anticipate how it was pushing the airplane to the east.” To photograph glaciers near the peaks, the team flew at 14,000 to 15,000 feet using supplemental oxygen. Even then, they were only 1,500 to 2,000 feet above ground level. Evan was watching for updrafts and downdrafts and had considered where he could turn if needed. “It’s pretty low, but I knew it was a constant wind. We weren’t getting a lot of updrafts or downdrafts, and if there was an issue, you just turn away and go downhill.” The climb from Colorado’s Front Range gave Evan and the researchers time to talk. Once they reached the glaciers, the researchers photographed through the open window on the right side of the airplane, while Evan circled to give them the view they needed. “I couldn’t always see the glacier because the cabin was in the way,” he said. He relied on the researchers to guide each pass. “I would just listen to what they were saying,” he explained. He adjusted his distance and bank angle so they could photograph nearly straight down, making multiple passes as they refined the view they needed. ![Researchers point cameras out the side of the airplane to capture images of the glaciers below.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Back_10_GX100696.MP4.08_34_18_07.Still001-e1790709969326-1024x768.webp)*Colorado State University researchers captured aerial images to create glacier elevation models for future analysis. Photo by Evan Anderman.* ![A rock glacier stands out above a mountain lake in Colorado's Rocky Mountains.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Lake_Agnes_Rock_Glacier_2026-edited-1024x768.webp)*Above Lake Agnes in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, rock and ice form a slowly moving mass known as a rock glacier. Photo by Dan McGrath.* This year, the team also expanded the route to St. Mary’s Glacier. When they reached it, the snowfield had melted completely for the first time on record. After the flight, Evan reflected on the satisfaction of flying with the CSU team and the larger questions their work raises. “I had a great time. It’s always good to be able to do what the partner needs done,” he said. “It’s interesting to think, what’s the problem to society of the glaciers disappearing?” He thought about their beauty, the people who ski them, and “how the climate’s changing and how quickly it’s changing in the last 10 years or so.” Asked what flying for LightHawk means to him, Evan said, “It’s a great way to use your skill as a pilot and your airplane to do good things, hopefully for the environment and for all of us. It can be challenging, too, which is good.” Since joining LightHawk in 2023, Evan has completed 25 flights and serves on the Aviation Committee. Thank you, Evan, for bringing your skill and curiosity to this mission and so many others. [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Front_13_GX130698.MP4.09_41_31_25.Still001.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Front_13_GX130698.MP4.09_41_31_25.Still001.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Isabelle_2026.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Isabelle_2026.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Tail_High_04_GX040699.MP4.10_21_01_14.Still002.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Tail_High_04_GX040699.MP4.10_21_01_14.Still002.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03940.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03940.webp) **Categories:** Focus: Climate, Pilot View **Tags:** Climate, climate change, Colorado, glacier, glaciers --- ### [Tracing the Causes of Algal Blooms in Florida Bay](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/march-2024-mission-of-the-month-aerial-perspective-provides-insight-on-florida-bay-region/) **Published:** March 29, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MofM-March-2024.jpeg) *Researchers survey Florida Bay from above, gaining a landscape-scale view of the waterways, mangroves and coastal systems that may be contributing to persistent algal blooms.* *Photo by Jay Apt/LightHawk*. Earlier this year, Florida International University researchers partnered with LightHawk to gain a broader view of Florida Bay and better understand the changes reshaping the ecosystem. Over the past century, the bay has experienced significant ecological shifts. The loss of seagrass, combined with powerful storms, has contributed to a transition from historically clear waters to conditions increasingly marked by sediment plumes and algal blooms. Researchers are working to understand what drives Florida Bay’s persistent algal blooms, which often grow larger and more intense following major storms. After a historic rainfall event across South Florida in November 2023, the team collected water-quality samples and conducted aerial surveys across north-central Florida Bay. By combining these observations, researchers can better understand how stormwater, nutrients and other inputs may contribute to the extent and intensity of algal blooms. The flight provided researchers with high-resolution photos and video showing the broader connections between Florida Bay, surrounding waterways and potential sources of nutrients contributing to algal blooms. Combined with water-quality data, the imagery will support an ongoing study funded by Everglades National Park and the South Florida Water Management District to better understand where those nutrients are coming from and what is driving persistent blooms in the bay. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a5lPC00000002rSYAQ-medium.jpg) *Snake Bight at low tide showing water flow throughout* north central *Florida Bay. Photo by Jonathan Rodemann.* During the flight, researchers viewed and photographed multiple areas across southwestern Florida Bay, gaining a broader perspective on the connections shaping the ecosystem. Professor Jennifer Rehage reflected on the value of seeing the region from above: “The flight was amazing and so useful for our research. It is just so useful to have a landscape perspective of an environmental problem we are trying to fix. I think seeing a process from the air influences the way we think about the problem, the scale and connectivity and is just invaluable. We are so grateful for this opportunity. Pilot Jay was amazing and so kind! Thank you so much for this.” – Professor, Jennifer Rehage Post Doc Jonathan Rodemann added, “As scientists, it is crucial to understand your system as a whole in order to make conclusions about specific parts of that system. In this flight, we were trying to accomplish just that: identifying potential sources of nutrients contributing to algal blooms in Florida Bay by looking at the entire coastal ecosystem. Through LightHawk, we were able to visualize the sheer connectivity of this system and better conceptualize how seemingly unrelated things such as dead mangroves on land and algae in the water column may be interacting. The information gained through this flight will lead to better hypothesis generation to answer the question “What is causing the algal blooms in Florida Bay?” Special thanks go out to pilot Jay Apt who provided the opportunity for Jonathan and Jennifer to experience the flight and capture important photos and video for their ongoing research. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a5lPC00000002rRYAQ-medium.jpg) *Creek leading out of dead mangrove zone, illustrating possible nutrient mobilization into Florida Bay. Photo by Jonathan Rodemann.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Climate, Focus: Oceans, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Protecting Bull Kelp in the San Juan Archipelago](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/august-2024-mission-of-the-month-preserving-bull-kelp-beds-with-samish-indian-nation/) **Published:** August 29, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IMG_8310-scaled.jpg) *LightHawk partnered with the **Samish Indian Nation** on a test flight to prepare for monthly aerial monitoring of **bull kelp beds in the San Juan Archipelago**.* For the [Samish Indian Nation](https://www.samishtribe.nsn.us/), protecting these waters is both a cultural responsibility and a conservation priority. The Tribe combines traditional knowledge with modern science and works alongside state and federal agencies to protect natural and cultural resources throughout its ancestral homelands. The aerial monitoring will provide another tool for understanding changes in bull kelp habitat and supporting its long-term conservation. **Bull kelp beds are biodiversity hotspots.** They provide habitat for a variety of marine species including fish, invertebrates and algae. Kelp beds are a place where animals can find food, breed and hide from predators. Many juvenile fish and invertebrates use them as nurseries, offering a protected place to grow before venturing into open waters. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IMG_8282-scaled.jpg) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IMG_8288-scaled.jpg) Bull kelp beds are also important for carbon sequestration and coastal protection through wave energy mitigation. They’re also vital for cultural and economic reasons. Fisheries depend on them as many commercially valuable fish species utilize kelp forests at some point in their life cycle. Among Indigenous cultures, kelp has cultural, economic and spiritual importance. Rising ocean temperatures and changing conditions within the oceans due to climate change are threats to kelp beds, leading to their decline in some areas. Protecting the beds is crucial for maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. The test flight was focused around **exploring the use of a [MAPIR Near Infrared Camera](https://www.mapir.camera/)**. The MAPIR is a multi-spectral imaging camera in a format similar to today’s action cameras like a GoPro. These cameras can be mounted to wings or struts and collect data as our volunteer pilots fly pre-planned routes over areas to be studied. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024_0723_104959_196-scaled.jpg) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024_0723_103137_118-scaled.jpg) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024_0723_102020_036-scaled.jpg) LightHawk has been exploring multi-spectral imagery use with multiple conservation partners and we’re excited to begin testing equipment with the Samish Indian Nation. **Sophia Ammons**, with the Tribe, found the flight to be a success. She said, “This flight was very useful for Samish DNR (Department of Natural Resources) as we will be able to monitor kelp bed sizes around the San Juan Islands. This will also be included in an ArcGIS storymap for outreach.” We would also like to extend our tanks to **volunteer pilot David Riffle** for providing this flight in Washington. **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Climate, Focus: Oceans --- ### [Documenting Colorado’s Changing Wildfire Landscape](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/october-2024-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** October 29, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Anderman01-e1730224245979.jpg)In early October, a trio of LightHawk volunteer pilots met with a group taking part in the Colorado Wildland Fire Conference in Snowmass, CO. These flights were arranged in partnership with Fire Adapted Colorado, a nonprofit working to build support for wildfire mitigation work in areas closest to communities and critical infrastructure. Their work is aimed at administrative and policy decision-makers. Over the past several years, states across the west have seen a significant increase in the size and intensity of wildfires. Thanks to climate change, fire seasons start earlier and end later. This comes at a significant cost, both financially and ecologically. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_7097-scaled.jpeg)Financially, the U.S. Government spends billions of dollars each year to fight wildfires. In most years, the costs range from $2-$4 billion though in an intense fire year, those costs can go even higher. In most years, Colorado’s state government spends between $40-$60 million. In high fire years like 2020, that number can double. From an environmental perspective, wildfires have huge impacts. The smoke and particulate matter created by fires can travel hundreds of miles and creates conditions that are hazardous for the health of communities – especially vulnerable individuals like those with respiratory issues like asthma. In an ironic twist of fate, wildfires, increasing in frequency and intensity thanks to climate change, further contribute to the problem by releasing large quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. The loss of forested landscapes further increases the problem by removing trees (carbon sinks) from the environment. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_7103-scaled.jpeg) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_2081-scaled.jpeg) LightHawk flights like these allow partners and passengers to see the effectiveness of mitigation efforts and appreciate the scale at which wildfires occur. Since they can cover thousands of acres, it can be incredibly difficult to grasp the scope of the problem from the ground. Only from the air can you understand how far-reaching they can be. As the climate continues to warm, wildfires will continue to be a problem facing states in the West. It is vital that states and communities build resilience to wildfires in order to protect infrastructure and the health of those in the region. LightHawk and those in the region will continue to fly in order to show decision-makers the importance of taking action and addressing both wildfire preparedness and climate change. Thanks to LightHawk volunteer pilots Michael Schroeder, Evan Anderman and Rick Turley for donating flights for this project! ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_7104-scaled.jpeg) **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Climate, Focus: Wild Places --- ### [Aerial Insight into a Proposed Montana Data Center](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-january-2026-featured-mission/) **Published:** January 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3465.webp)*The town of Broadview, Montana is home to fewer than 150 people. It is also the site of a proposed 5,000 acre date center to serve AI, internet searches and streaming services. The data center’s impact on the environment has some in the state concerned. Photo by Chris Boyer.* When LightHawk volunteer pilot and staff member **Chris Boyer** took off earlier this month, his destination was a small agricultural town in central **Montana**. Broadview is home to about 150 people – farmers mostly. Their small town is attracting a lot of attention these days. A proposed 5,000-acre AI data center has raised concerns among local residents and conservation experts at our partner organization, [Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC)](https://www.meic.org), about its potential impact to the area. Data centers are warehouse–sized facilities filled with thousands of computers. They provide the computational muscle behind AI, internet searches and streaming services, butthey also require substantial resources. Powering the servers inside a data center uses immense amounts of electricity – often generated by fossil fuels in Montana. Data centers also are major users of water to cool the servers and can consume as much as five million gallons a day. Broadview already lives with drought. Over the past two decades, with the community has faced ongoing water issues that impact agricultural operations. The proposeddata center and its immense water usage raise red flags for the community. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3428.webp)Date centers use massive amounts of electriciy. It Montana, much of the electricity is provided by coal-fired power plants, meaning a data center’s demand would increase the impact on climate change. Photo by Chris Boyer. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3530.webp)Broadview, Montana is a small community centered around agriculture. The water and electricity demands of a massive data center would likely impact the entire community. Photo by Chris Boyer. Our flight over Broadview captured imagery of the proposed site and the surrounding landscapes, documenting current conditions before any construction begins. The photos illustrate the community’s agricultural heritage and the area’s largely intact landscapes. Anne Hedges, Executive Director of MEIC, raised concerns about the proposal’s environmental impact, “Right now, Montana is a free-for-all. Any data center who wants to come here has very few rules,” Hedges said. “If all of these facilities that want to get built are going to rely on fossil fuels, we’regoing to see more rain in winter months moving forward.” Hedges hopes Montana will pursue legislation regulating artificial intelligence data centers. In 2025, 40 states proposed legislation related to AI data centers, including 16 states considering legislation focused on water usage. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3529-Edit.webp)The white outline seen in this photo illustrates the size and location of the proposed data center. Compared with the town of Broadview (in the foreground), the aerial perspective shows just how massive the facility would be. Photo by Chris Boyer. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3382.webp)The unique landscape would be heavily impacted by the 5,000 acre data center. Conservationists in Montana are urging state leaders to consider regulation around such facilities to protect the environment and nearby communities. Photo by Chris Boyer. The imagery collected during this flight will help MEIC and others put a face on the area under consideration. The aerial perspective helps illustrate how a facility like the one proposed could impact surrounding lands, includinglocal water resources and climate impacts tied to fossil fuel use. LightHawk’s flight and the images collected will supporteducation efforts with legislators and the Broadview community, informing discussions about data center regulation to protect Montana communities and the state as a whole. Chris is a unique member of the LightHawk community. He serves as Program Manager for the Northern Rockies region and is also a volunteer pilot who has been flying with us for 20 years. An accomplished aerial photographer, Chris hasextensive experience flying exactly these kinds of photo missions. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3535.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3535-Edit.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3529-Edit.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3489.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3484.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3452.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3382.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3409.webp) *Photos by Chris Boyer* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Climate, Focus: Waterways, Focus: Wild Places --- ### [Pilot View: Flying Over a Proposed Data Center in Montana](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-flying-over-a-proposed-data-center-in-montana/) **Published:** February 11, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3452.webp)*The town or Broadview, Montana is home to fewer than 150 people. It is also the site of a proposed 5,000 acre date center to serve AI, internet searches and streaming services. The data center’s impact on the environment has some in the state concerned. Photo by Chris Boyer.* Taking off from his home airport in Bozeman, Montana, LightHawk Northern Rockies Program Manager and Volunteer Pilot Chris Boyer pointed his plane east toward the small rural community of Broadview. With the stiff tailwind, the flight took just over an hour. Chris was flying over Broadview to collect imagery of the location of a proposed 5,000-acre data center. LightHawk conservation partner Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) was interested in the imagery for presentations and advocacy efforts around regulating resource-intensive data centers within the state. Data centers are a crirical part of internet infrastructure, supporting services like video streaming, online searches and AI tools used bypeople around the globe. They’re also heavy users of both electricity and water. That’s why MEIC is concerned about ensuring regulations are in place to protect Montanta’s resources. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3529-Edit.webp)*The white outline marks the proposed data center near Broadview, visible in the foreground. The aerial perspective reveals the enormous scale of the facility compared with the surrounding community. Photo: Chris Boyer* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3511.webp)*Data centers require enormous amounts of electricity. In Montana, where much of that power comes from coal-fired plants, a large new facility could increase greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change. Photo: Chris Boyer* Chris noted that winds aloft that day were in the high 30s (mph) at his cruising altitude of 8,000 to 9,000 feet, which ensured a quick trip to Broadview. As he crossed over the Bangtail Mountains and into the northern part of the Paradise Valley. He described the turbulence as “all hell had broken loose and feeling like the wings are going to fall off.” He made it through safely, arriving over Broadview where he flewe a couple of circuits to determine the best options for photographing the area. Because of the high winds that day, there was a lot of dust in the air, creating hazy conditions and making shots into the sun problematic. His circuits allowed him to take in views of the Bull Mountains to the north, the Crazy Mountains about 70 miles to the west and the Absarokas to the south. Chris made a few passes at 2,500 feet AGL, capturing imagery of the property that is being considered for the data center along with the nearby community to provide perspective on the scale of the project. He then dropped down to around 1,000 feet to capture a few more shots of the community and nearby electrical substation. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3535-Edit.webp)The a*rea noted with the white outline is shows the boundary lines of the property proposed as a location for a future data center. The property spans 5,000 acres and dwarfs the nearby town of Broadview, Montana. Photo by Chris Boyer.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3409.webp)*Broadview is a rural community surrounded by large ranches – open spaces – with no significant surface water sources. Water for data center cooling would draw from the same aquifer that supplies the community’s wells. Photo by Chris Boyer.* Transmission lines from that substation run east toward the Colestrip coal-fired power plants, which provide a significant portion of Montana’s electricity supply. The proposed data center would draw at least some of its power from the existing grid, likely through this substation connected to the Colstrip plants. After collecting a bevy of images, Chris pointed his Cessna back to the west toward Bozeman. The tailwinds from his trip to Broadview became a stiff headwind on the return trip, adding roughly a half hour to his flight. Despite the turbulent ride, Chris said that he was glad to be back in the air after being grounded by Montana’s winter weather. He shared that he enjoys flying over eastern Montana for its subtle beauty, a contrast to the craggy, icy mountain terrain he calls home. Chris has been flying with LightHawk for 20 years and joined the staff last year as Northern Rockies Program Manager, helping us rebuild LightHawk’s presence in the Northern Rocky Mountains. A professional aerial photographer and a highly-experienced pilot, Chris brings expertise and a strong commitment to conservation from the air. We’re fortunate to have him as part of the LightHawk team. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3382.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3465.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3484.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3530.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115_Boyer_3535.webp) *Photos by Chris Boyer* **Categories:** Focus: Climate, Focus: Waterways, Focus: Wild Places, Pilot View --- ### [Aerial Tours Expose Mine Risk to Bitterroot Watershed](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/aerial-tours-expose-mine-risk-to-bitterroot-watershed/) **Published:** August 1, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Painted-Rocks-Reservoir-1024x768.webp)*Painted Rocks Reservoir, along Montana’s West Fork of the Bitterroot River, is part of a watershed that could be affected by pollution from a proposed mine. LightHawk worked with Bitterroot Water Partnership to give local leaders and media an aerial view of the area and the potential risks posed by the proposal. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* The Bitterroot River winds through a picturesque valley in Western Montana, its meandering path carving a winding streambed across the landscapes and depositing rich soils that have served family farms for generations. The area’s beauty served as the backdrop for the Dutton Ranch in the TV series Yellowstone. The Bitterroot River’s West Fork headwaters have been attracting attention long before the show, drawing fly-fishing enthusiasts from across the country and around the world. Lately, those headwaters have been drawing a different kind of attention: government officials are considering a proposed rare earth mine in the Sheep Creek area, and developers are hoping to fast-track its approval. Opponents of the mine warn of its threat to the Bitterroot River, a waterway that communities throughout the valley depend on. Pollution from toxic chemicals or fuel spills could travel downstream, threatening the health of the river along with the ground water, soil and streams that feed into it. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bitterroot-Water-Partnership-1024x768.webp)*Bitterroot Water Partnership assembled a group that included media, elected officials and local stakeholders to take part in the aerial tour. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bitterroot-Valley-1024x768.webp)*The Bitterroot Valley’s agricultural operations are a significant portion of its economy and depend on clean water from the Bitterroot River. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* To help decision-makers and the public understand what’s at stake, LightHawk worked with local partner **[Bitterroot Water Partnership](https://bitterrootwater.org/)** to conduct aerial tours of the area. Volunteer pilots Chris Boyer and Ray Lee flew into the Stevensville, MT airport and guided passengers over the valley and the proposed mining site. From the air, passengers could see the site’s proximity to the river and how pollution runoff would travel throughout the valley, a view that put the risk to thousands of homes and businesses into sharp perspective. “We wanted to give people an opportunity to see it from the sky, because it might sound like something that’s far away to drive or hike out there,” said Heather Barber, executive director of the Bitterroot Water Partnership. “But, if you can see it from the sky, you can have such a better sense of what the devastating impacts really could be for the Bitterroot.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Bitterroot-River-1024x768.webp)*The Bitterroot River (foreground) winds through the valley supporting wildlife and fishing that attracts tourists from around the country. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Meandering-Bitterroot-River-1-1024x768.webp)*The Bitterroot River winds through the forested mountains of western Montana, linking high-elevation headwaters with communities, farms, and habitat downstream. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* After the flight, Montana state representative David Bedey said, “I’ll tell you the most amazing thing about the flight, and I could understand this from my own experience on the ground and looking at maps, but what’s amazing here is just how close this particular mining activity is to the Upper West Fork of the Bitterroot River. It’s very difficult to see how a mining operation could take place here without significant and catastrophic harm to the river.” Boyer and Lee each completed two flights through the valley, carrying a total of 10 local leaders and media members. The stories and understanding that came out of these flights are exactly why LightHawk was founded, and why it exists today. That understanding is made possible by the dedication and generosity of volunteer pilots like Ray Lee and Chris Boyer, and by people like you. **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Pilot View: Flying Montana’s Bitterroot Valley](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-montanas-bitterroot-valley/) **Published:** August 18, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/West-Fork-of-the-Bitterroot-1024x768.webp)*The West Fork of the Bitterroot River in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley lies downstream from a proposed rare earth minerals mine,* *raising concerns about potential impacts to water, wildlife, communities, and agricultural operations. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* **“Ray Lee is a true professional.”** That’s how Northern Rockies Program Manager Chris Boyer described Lee after a recent LightHawk mission through **Montana’s Bitterroot Valley**. Lee and Boyer teamed up to provide aerial tours of a proposed mine site near the Headwaters of the Bitterroot Valley – a winding waterway that flows through picturesque country featured in TVs Yellowstone drama series. The mission brought elected officials, journalists, and community stakeholders into the air with the [**Bitterroot Water Partnership**](https://bitterrootwater.org/) to see a proposed mine site near the headwaters of the Bitterroot River and better understand its potential impacts on the surrounding landscape. With 10 participants, one aircraft wasn’t enough. Boyer flew his own plane and recruited Lee and his Cessna 182 to help. For Lee, that meant an early departure from Wyoming and a roughly 250-nautical-mile trip north to the Stevensville Airport in Montana. Preflight planning required a little more thought than a typical local mission. Lee had roughly 250 nautical miles to cover just to reach Stevensville, making weather, timing and efficiency especially important. “You’re doing a full 2 to 2.5-hour flight, and you want to make sure you’re able to get in at the time you’re committed to,” Lee said. “So it’s a bit more planning than a local flight.” The weather cooperated on the way north. The return trip was another story. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bitterroot-Water-Partnership-1024x768.webp)*Bitterroot Water Partnership assembled a group that included media, elected officials and local stakeholders to take part in the aerial tour. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pilot-and-passenger-by-plane-1-1024x768.webp)*Volunteer Pilot Chris Boyer speaks with a passenger ahead of the aerial tour. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* “We’re flying in the summer, in the afternoon, in the mountains, so you’re always going to get something there,” Lee said. “It was a little rough going back.” From Stevensville, Lee and Boyer flew south through the valley and up the West Fork of the Bitterroot River toward the proposed mine site. Passenger assignments were planned in advance based on aircraft capacity and weight, with the two pilots completing two rounds of flights. The Bitterroot Valley missions were out-and-back flights from Stevensville Airport. Lee and Boyer flew south through the valley before following the West Fork of the Bitterroot River to the proposed mine site. With 10 participants, the pilots divided passengers between their two aircraft based on weight and capacity. Lee carried three passengers in his Cessna 182 and Boyer carried two, requiring two rounds of flights. “We had the flight leader in my aircraft, talking about where we were flying, what we were seeing, and where we were going next. We broadcast that to both aircraft, and everyone had headsets. I was able to fly close enough to Chris that both planes were essentially looking at the same things at the same time.” “We flew from Stevensville to the mine site, probably 70 miles. Once there, we dropped into the canyon to get a closer look at where the mine and its supporting activities would be located.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Bitterroot-River-1024x768.webp)*The Bitterroot River (foreground) winds through the valley supporting wildlife and fishing that attracts tourists from around the country. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Painted-Rocks-Reservoir-1-1024x768.webp)*Painted Rocks Reservoir, downstream of the proposed mine site, is a major source of water for the entire Bitterroot Valley. Photo by Keila Szpaller.* That closer view helped passengers understand the potential scale of the project and the impacts of moving equipment and materials into and out of the site. “It was a pretty typical group. We had a newspaper columnist, people from the Bitterroot Water Partnership, and a couple of county commissioners. That’s how I like to see LightHawk missions come together, with people bringing different perspectives and seeing the same things at the same time. It gives everyone a chance to talk through what’s happening and hopefully come to a better understanding.” “Going in and out, we were probably about 2,000 feet above ground level,” he said. “They’re both small aircraft and don’t climb all that well at that altitude, so you want to give yourself a little bit of room.” Summer heat added another consideration, with higher density altitude affecting aircraft performance. He explained the thinking further: “They’re both small aircraft and don’t climb all that well at that altitude, so you want to give yourself a little bit of room.” Summer heat added another consideration, with higher density altitude affecting aircraft performance. After the flights, passengers had time to talk and ask questions. Lee said the response was encouraging.“People wanted to get additional information. We got to see everything the group wanted to see, and there was a lot of business card exchanging, with people saying, ‘I want to learn more about this.’” Given the travel to and from Stevensville, Lee logged about seven hours of flight time that day: four hours commuting and another three flying the two missions through the valley. Looking back, he called it “a picture-perfect LightHawk flight.” “They put together a really good group. We had a filmmaker, a journalist, and a couple of county commissioners. Sometimes elected officials will say, ‘I’m too busy,’ but these guys showed up interested. From that point of view, I thought the flights went very well.” Lee felt the aerial perspective helped passengers understand both the character of the landscape and the potential reach of the proposed mine. “I think people got the idea that this is a pretty special place,” he said. “A mine of the size being discussed could have a very significant impact on the entire valley.” Daily Montanan journalist Keila Szpaller echoed that after the flight: “I was offered a chance to see the Bitterroot Valley and the West Fork in a way that puts a proposed mine in a wider context. I don’t believe this would be possible without the support of LightHawk. I saw where the water comes from and where it flows, and where a mine might be placed in relation to the headwaters.” Ray Lee is a wildlife biologist by profession, and that background shapes why he flies for LightHawk. “Wildlife, wild areas, conservation and resource management are important to me. LightHawk is very effective at showing decision makers things they simply can’t see from the ground. Being able to give people that perspective is one of the great things about LightHawk and the mission it fulfills.” After 25 years of flying for LightHawk, Ray is still helping people see conservation challenges from a different perspective. We’re grateful for his extraordinary commitment to LightHawk and conservation flying, and glad he’s not done yet. *Photos by Keila Szpaller and Shelley Irwin.* **Categories:** Pilot View --- ### [NOTAM: Special Edition](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-june-2026-san-diego-fly-in/) **Published:** June 11, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## Bringing LightHawk Volunteer Pilots Together at San Diego Fly-In ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_6868.webp)*Attendees at LightHawk’s San Diego Fly-In gained a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the SoCal TRACON.* **Written by Jim Becker** LightHawk held the first of our 2026 Regional FlyIns in San Diego and it was a smashing success, enjoyed by all who attended. The gathering started Friday May 8th at the Hilton Garden Inn in San Diego. Several pilots flew into nearby Montgomery-Gibbs, KMYF, which was just a few miles from the Hilton. Pilots and several spouses gathered during the afternoon and happy hour commenced at 5:00. The discussion ranged from what is happening with AOPA to the hockey playoffs, to the price of avgas and to comparison of the many LightHawk missions this group of pilots has flown. The camaraderie of this group of experienced and motivated aviators was clearly evident. Dinner followed at the Hilton and while the size of the group strained the capacity of the kitchen, it gave us more time to enjoy each other’s company. In all, 24 registered for the FlyIn, including several who registered a day or two before the event. Pilots from California and the Southwest attended. Board members: Will Worthington, Evan Anderman and Ben Cohen were there with Evan flying commercial from Denver and Ben riding Delta in from Boston. It was a great mix of pilots with both some of our longest serving and some of our newest Volunteer Pilots showing up. Evan Anderman is overseeing our Regional FlyIn program and Mike Jesch arranged for both the tour of the SoCal TRACON and one of the speakers, Barry Knuttila. Of course, the Western Program Manager, Betsy Daub was there. Chelsea Baird, LightHawk’s Office Manager and chief administrator did her usual excellent job finding the hotel and arranging the logistics. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0332.webp)*Attendees learned from incredible aviation and conservation presenters throughout the morning.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0337.webp)*LightHawk Volunteer Pilot Rhon Williams speaks on aging and how it can affect a pilot’s performance* Some conversations went late into Friday evening, but most of us turned in early to be ready for the main event on Saturday which was split between three speakers in the morning and a tour of the SoCal TRACON in afternoon. Both parts of the day turned out to be exceptional. The first speaker was longtime LightHawk Volunteer Pilot Rhon Williams. Rhon is a FAASTeam member and involved in several aspects of GA safety. You may remember the great presentation on risk analysis that Rhon did at the Bend OR Fly-In. This time Rhon’s topic was aging pilots; something that is of strong interest to a good portion of LightHawk’s Volunteers. Rhon discussed many of the physiological and psychological effects of aging and how they can affect a pilot’s performance. The more encouraging part of Rhon’s presentation was how to prevent and mitigate some of these problems and continue to be a safe and effective pilot. The discussion continued well into the coffee break after Rhon’s talk. The next presentation was given by Anne Middleton, the Associate Director of WILDCOAST COSTASALVAJE, a long time conservation partner with LightHawk. Anne talked about the various projects WILDCOAST is working on to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and address climate change. LightHawk had worked with WILDCOAST when the California Marine Protected Areas were established and supported some of their work in Baja, Mexico. Anne is also a guitar player and talked about her role in stopping the illegal logging of ebony that was decimating protected forests in Africa. Anne is an excellent presenter, and it is always encouraging to hear of successes in the conservation world. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0341.webp) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0344.webp) Barry Knuttila, the CEO and part owner of King Schools, Inc. gave the third talk of the morning discussing various aspects of aviation safety. Almost all the Volunteer Pilots in the room have taken at least one King School course so it was great to hear from the guy at the top. Barry started by disproving the old saying, “driving to/from the airport is the most dangerous part of the flight”. Barry presented data that General Aviation’s safety record is barely as good as that of motorcycle riders. Sobering indeed. Barry described various procedures to improve safety including the IMSAFE and PAVE mnemonics. Again, the discussion continued long after the presentation. We really appreciated Barry taking time for LightHawk on a Saturday morning. After a gourmet box lunch, we drove to the Southern California TRACON, SoCal, which is the busiest TRACON in the United States, perhaps in the world, handling over 2.2 million aircraft operations annually. Jared Gregg, a 20+ year veteran controller, gave us an outstanding briefing and then led a tour of the facility where we were allowed to quietly walk around the darkened room where the on-duty controllers were busy working the aircraft traffic in the Southern California area. Jared briefed us on many aspects of the air traffic control world and it was eye-opening. ATC starts 1,800 students a year at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma and eventually 200 finally make it as full time controllers. It is an incredibly demanding job and the amount of information the controller must recall in an instant is staggering. Once a new controller starts at SoCal, it is 3 to 5 years before they are considered proficient. We all came away with a greatly enhanced respect for air traffic controllers and a better understanding of the work they do. After the tour, it was time to say goodbyes and depart. The most frequent question asked was, “when are we doing this again next year”? ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0334.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0335.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_6867.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_6864.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_6862.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_0336.webp) **Categories:** NOTAM --- ### [Meet Myrtle: One Abalone with a Big Role in Recovery](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/november-2024-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** November 27, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_8488-Large.jpeg)At Bodega Marine Laboratory, Myrtle brings new hope to white abalone recovery through the genetic diversity she can contribute to the captive breeding program. Myrtle is no ordinary LightHawk passenger. She is one of just 10 wild-origin white abalone living in captivity, making her an important part of the effort to save the species. LightHawk volunteer pilot Michael Baum flew Myrtle from Long Beach to UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, where she joined the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program. Traveling by air shortened her journey to just a few hours, reducing the stress and risk associated with a much longer trip by road. White abalone once played an important role in rocky reef ecosystems from Point Conception, California, to Baja California, Mexico. As grazers, they helped support the diversity and stability of kelp forest habitats. After disease, overharvesting and habitat loss caused their population to decline by more than 99 percent, the species became one of the most endangered marine animals in the United States. Recovery now depends on a network of specialized facilities working to breed white abalone, maintain genetic diversity and raise young animals for eventual release into the ocean. As one of the few remaining animals born in the wild, Myrtle brings valuable genetic diversity to that effort. Her participation in the breeding program could help strengthen future generations of white abalone and improve the species’ chances of recovery. Since 2020, LightHawk has provided rapid, coordinated transportation for the White Abalone Recovery Program, moving adults, juveniles, embryos and larvae between facilities across California. These flights allow fragile animals to reach their destinations within narrow biological windows while reducing travel time, stress and risk. Myrtle’s journey shows why every animal matters in the recovery of a species this close to extinction. We are grateful to Michael for donating his expertise, time, aircraft and fuel to help move this vital recovery effort forward. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_4746-scaled.jpeg) ###### *Flying over Southern California en route to Bodega Marine Laboratory.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_4734-scaled.jpeg) ###### *With Myrtle safely secured in a cooler, LightHawk volunteer pilot Michael Baum flies her to the next stop in her recovery journey.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_4798-scaled.jpeg) ###### *Myrtle is one of just 10 wild-origin white abalone in captivity. Photos by Nora Joy Frank.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_2168-scaled.jpeg) ###### Volunteer pilot Michael Baum, copilot Matthew Baum and partner Nora Frank during the flight. Photo provided by Nora Joy Frank. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_4829-e1732665830655.png) ###### Volunteer pilot Michael Baum copilot Matthew Baum and conservation partners from the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program, UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab. Photo by Nora Joy Frank. **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Capturing a Condor's Story of Survival](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-february-2026-featured-mission/) **Published:** February 26, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CS4A5431.jpg)*A California condor soars above Northern California. The species was reintroduced to the region as part of a project with the Yurok Tribe. Photo by Len Necefer.* The return of California condors to Northern California is a story best understood from both the ground and the air. Their vast range stretches across rugged forests, mountains and coastline, connecting landscapes that are difficult to comprehend from any single vantage point. LightHawk recently flew conservation partner **[Natives Outdoors](https://www.natives-outdoors.org/)** over Redwood National and State Parks to capture aerial imagery for a documentary about the condors’ reintroduction. The footage will help audiences experience the landscape from a condor’s perspective and better understand what their recovery requires. According to the National Park Service, the [Yurok Tribe](http://www.yuroktribe.org) made restoring California condors to Yurok Ancestral Territory a top priority in 2003. Five years later, the Tribe’s wildlife program secured funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether the condors’ historic habitat could support them once again. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CS4A4681.jpg)*The flight documented California condor habitat and range in Northern California. Photo by Len Necefer.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CS4A4660.jpg)*Volunteer pilot Rick Utermoehlen points out areas of interest while flying a film crew over Redwood National and State Parks. Photo by Len Necefer.* That work grew into the Northern California Condor Restoration Program, a collaboration among the Yurok Tribe, government agencies and conservation organizations. In spring 2022, the first condors were released from a facility in Redwood National Park, returning the species to the region after more than a century. LightHawk continues to work with the Yurok Tribe on aerial monitoring flights that help track the region’s growing condor population. That same aerial perspective is also helping share the condors’ story with a wider audience. Departing from Eureka, **volunteer pilot Rick Utermoehlen** flew the Natives Outdoors film crew over the Redwood Coast near Redwood National and State Parks. From the air, the crew captured imagery of condor habitat and range, along with sweeping views intended to show the landscape from a condor’s perspective. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CS4A4858.jpg)*LightHawk flew partner Natives Outdoors to document the return of California condors to Northern California. The footage will also support exhibits at a planned visitor center north of Orick. Photo by Len Necefer.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CS4A4820.jpg)*The home range of Northern California’s condors includes Redwood National and State Parks. The flight allowed the film crew to capture the landscape from a condor’s perspective. Photo by Len Necefer.* The imagery and video captured during the flight will appear in the Natives Outdoors documentary and in interpretive exhibits planned for a new visitor center north of Orick, California. Working alongside Natives Outdoors, LightHawk helped provide an aerial perspective to show audiences how condors move through this landscape and why protecting habitat across their historic range remains essential to their recovery. **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [From 1,300 Miles on Foot to One Powerful View from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) **Published:** September 4, 2026 **Author:** Clint Burson **Content:** ![A Lake Powell marina sits next to a boat ram that no longer reaches the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-6.webp)*Lake Powell reflects the Colorado River’s water crisis, with some boat ramps no longer reaching the water or the marinas they once served. Photo by Andrew Robb.* Starting high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River winds south through some of the most dramatic and heavily used landscapes in the American West before reaching toward the delta in Mexico. This summer, **ultra-marathon runner Mina Guli** has been following that same path on foot. Working with partner **[Keep the River Running](https://keeptheriverrunning.com/)**, Guli is taking on a 2,000-mile journey along the Colorado River to draw attention to a system that millions of people depend on for drinking water, electricity, agriculture and more. As she runs, Guli is telling the story of a river under growing pressure from drought, overuse and competing demands. After more than 1,300 miles on foot, LightHawk helped give Guli and her team a very different perspective on the journey: a view from above. ![LightHawk volunteer pilot John Anson at the controls.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-11-1024x684.webp)*LightHawk volunteer pilot John Anson flies his aircraft along the Colorado River, giving Guli an aerial perspective on the terrain she is running. Photo by Andrew Robb.* ![Hoover Dam](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-7-1024x684.webp)*Hoover Dam provides electricity for millions of homes in Nevada but is threatened by record low water levels. Photo by Andrew Robb.* LightHawk Volunteer Pilot **John Anson** flew Guli and a photographer in his Cessna 210 above portions of the Colorado River and its major reservoirs, allowing them to see the river across hundreds of miles. From the air, shrinking shorelines, sprawling reservoirs, agricultural lands, desert communities and the river itself come together as one interconnected system. Guli is documenting the run as she logs the miles, using social media to share the river as she experiences it. ([Watch her flight experience on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/DbELhg1gAqx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)) Guli’s journey tells the story of the river step by step. The aerial view connected those individual experiences to a broader picture, while giving Guli and her team imagery to help audiences understand the scale of the challenges facing the basin and the communities, landscapes and livelihoods tied to its future. ![A marina on Lake Powell sits at the end of a long boat ramp that does not reach the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-12-1024x684.webp)*Boat ramps that once well into the lake, no longer touch the water. Photo by Andrew Robb.* ![Desert mountains rise above a small city along the Colorado River.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-4-1024x684.webp)*Cities throughout the desert southwest rely on the Colorado River for water to drinking, recreation and agriculture. Photo by Andrew Robb.* For LightHawk, that is the value of working alongside conservation partners: bringing aviation into the work when a broader perspective can help people understand the scale of a challenge, document change and communicate what is at stake. The Colorado River supplies water to more than 40 million people and supports agriculture, energy production, wildlife, recreation and communities throughout the Southwest. This is not just about protecting a river. It is about the future of a resource that much of the American West depends on. Guli is telling that story one step at a time. LightHawk is proud to work alongside Mina and Keep the River Running, bringing a view from above that shows how all those miles connect. ![Lake Mead water levels at record lows.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-5.webp) ![Ultra runner Mina Guli captures images on her phone during a LightHawk flight.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-15.webp) ![The Colorado River winds through a canyon.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-14.webp) ![Lake Powell's shoreline reveals the record low water levels.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-10.webp) ![A sediment plume enters Lake Powell at a river confluence.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-13.webp) ![Water levels at Hoover Dam at record lows.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-8.webp) *Photos by Andrew Robb.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways **Tags:** Colorado River --- ### [Pilot View: Flying to Document Ancient Gardens in Arizona](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-july-2025/) **Published:** July 24, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## July 2025 ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9696.webp)*Ancient gardens that date back 1,000 to 1,200 years are still visible from the air in the desert landscapes of Arizona. A LightHawk flight collected images of the waffle gardens for publication in an upcoming issue of Archeaology Southwest. Photo by Jonathan Bailey.* Along the Gila River in Arizona exist ancient gardens dating back 1,000 to 1,200 years. From the ground, you may never know the small dirt berms shaping the rolling terrain were once walls dividing sections of these gardens. But from the air, the bigger picture comes into view, you can clearly see the waffle-like patterns created by the region’s early inhabitants. Longtime volunteer pilot, **Will Worthington**, provided the flight that allowed [Archaeology South](https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/)west partners to capture stunning imagery of the ancient garden formations. The photos will help illustrate an upcoming article about these remarkable archaeological formations. Will volunteered for the flight despite some doubts. “The flight was an interesting one over an area that I’m quite familiar with in Arizona,” he said. “When I learned the purpose of the flight, I was questioning and a bit skeptical because I’ve flown over that part of Arizona many times and was completely unaware of the presence—the existence—of any archaeological features out there, right on the banks of the Gila River.” The flight began early in the morning in Tucson, following an hour-long ferry flight from the Phoenix area where Will keeps his plane. Will shared that the early start was for two main reasons: first, to avoid the thermal turbulence created by the Arizona summer. “If you can complete the flight by 9 a.m.,” he noted, “you can avoid most of the turbulence, keeping passengers comfortable.” The second reason was to provide photographers with the lighting and shadows they preferred for capturing imagery. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9622.webp)*The terrain surrounding the gardens is rugged making the flying challenging. Photo by Jonathan Bailey.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9701.webp)*From the ground it would be easy to miss the gardens. From the air, the garden layout becomes readily apparent. Photo by Jonathan Bailey.* The partners had marked the areas of interest in Foreflight with tightly spaced waypoints. As the flight progressed, Will called out distance warnings—5 miles, 1 mile and arrival each waypoint. He was so focused on navigating the irregular flight path at relatively low altitude that he only had brief moments to glance at the ground being photographed below. Flying such a precise route left little time to take in the view himself. The group flew up Aravaipa Canyon, beginning at the San Pedro River and heading east through rugged, mountainous terrain. They maintained an altitude of about 1,000 feet above ground level. Will noted that this kind of flying “requires you to draw on experience in mountainous areas.” To reach the Gila River Valley, they also had to cross a mountain ridge, which he said calls for a solid understanding of wind patterns and terrain hazards. Flying at low altitude while following the requested flight path required Will to concentrate fully on the task of flying, rather than observing the ground below. He was able to catch parts of the conversation between passengers over the intercom, but he didn’t see the gardens himself during the flight. Upon returning to the airport, Will asked the passengers if they felt the flight had been a success. They responded with enthusiasm, sharing how thrilled they were with the experience. Still, he remained a bit skeptical, having seen nothing particularly remarkable from his seat. But that skepticism quickly faded. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9690.webp)*Images collected during this flight will help decision-makers preserve these ancient gardens as a monument to the ancient inhabitants of Arizona. Photo by Jonathan Bailey.* Later, the partners shared their images with Will and the LightHawk staff. When he saw them, he was struck by how vivid and dramatic the gardens appeared. “My impression is that from ground level, the little berms that make up the waffle are probably only a foot or so high,” he said. “It would be very easy to walk through them and not realize there is anything there. But when you see it from the air, it just jumps out at you.” Will came away from the flight deeply satisfied, knowing he had helped the partners capture imagery for an important article soon to be published in an archaeological journal. He also reflected on what keeps him flying for LightHawk after two decades of service: a passion for flying, a commitment to the environment, and a genuine appreciation for the people he meets along the way. “You get to work with some very interesting people on these flights,” Will said. “You don’t go flying for no reason at all. Sure, I could jump in my airplane today and just go bore some holes in the sky—but there’s not much satisfaction in that. You need a purpose. That’s what makes it worth the effort, the time, and the fuel.” Will has been flying with LightHawk for 20 years and has generously donated hundreds of flights. He also serves on LightHawk’s Board of Directors and leads our Aviation Committee. We’re incredibly grateful for his unwavering commitment to conservation—and for the wisdom, skill, and heart he brings to every mission. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9695.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9693.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9606.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9578.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9548.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0Q7A9687.webp) *Additional images from the flight. Photos by Jonathan Bailey.* **Categories:** Focus: Wild Places, Pilot View --- ### [Webinar Recording: King Tide Flights](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/webinar-recording-king-tide-flights/) **Published:** August 5, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** LightHawk and [Surfrider Foundation](http://www.surfrider.org/) hosted a webinar in July 2019 to show how we plan to **raise awareness about sea level rise** during [King Tide events](https://www.surfrider.org/press-center/entry/surfrider-and-lighthawk-join-forces-during-king-tides-for-glimpse-into-futu), and how your group can participate. King Tides provide a sneak peek into what normal high-tides will look like due to sea level rise in the near future. These flights draw attention to coastal areas of concern through media coverage, powerful aerial imagery, citizen science photography efforts, and provide a platform to engage key decision-makers. King Tides are predicted in late July/early August 2019 on the East coast and in January 2020 on the West coast. We heard from Stefanie Sekich-Quinn with Surfrider and Jonathan Milne, Esther Duke, and Audrey Ek-Psomas from LightHawk for details on the issue, and [**how to request a flight from LightHawk**](https://lighthawk.my.site.com/portal/s/login/). **Categories:** Webinars **Tags:** king tide --- ### [LightHawk Transports 15 Gray Wolves to Colorado for Release](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-transports-15-gray-wolves-to-colorado-for-release/) **Published:** January 22, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Excerpt:** Completed over three flights by a LightHawk volunteer pilot, the mission carried endangered gray wolves and their handlers from British Columbia to Colorado, where Colorado Parks and Wildlife released them into the wild. **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_2536-scaled.jpeg) *A gray wolf peers out from its crate during a LightHawk transport flight from British Columbia, Canada to Colorado for reintroduction. Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife* ## **LightHawk Transports Endangered Gray Wolves to Colorado for Release** January 22, 2025 (Grand Junction, CO) – LightHawk, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, completed the successful transport of fifteen endangered gray wolves from British Columbia, Canada to Colorado on January 16, 2025. This critical mission, completed over three flights by LightHawk volunteer pilots, ensured the safe transport of the wolves and their handlers. Upon arriving in Colorado, the wolves were transferred by Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff for their reintroduction into the wild. “This collaborative effort reflects the invaluable role aviation can play in conservation,” said Jim Becker, CEO of LightHawk. “By minimizing stress and facilitating efficient transport, we support critical conservation efforts for the recovery and long-term survival of these and other endangered species.” This marks the second transport mission by LightHawk as part of Colorado Park and Wildlife’s wolf reintroduction plan, mandated by voters in Colorado. Previous flights in December 2023 involved the relocation of ten gray wolves from Oregon to Colorado, with the animals later released back into their natural habitats. As the leader in conservation aviation, LightHawk collaborated with CPW to ensure the safe and efficient transport of the imperiled wolves. LightHawk’s volunteer pilot donated over 30 hours of turbine aircraft time to facilitate the movement of the 15 wolves to Colorado. These flights are part of LightHawk’s broader nationwide commitment to supporting endangered species recovery and promoting ecosystem health through the strategic use of aerial resources. For over 45 years, LightHawk has partnered with scientists, researchers, journalists and state and local agencies across North America to advance the conservation of natural resources. This includes transporting and monitoring threatened and endangered species, documenting natural and human impacts in ecosystems, and increasing public awareness through aerial imagery. LightHawk has transported a wide variety of endangered species, including Mexican and red wolves, black-footed ferrets, white abalone, California condors, whooping cranes, masked bobwhite quail, and more. **About LightHawk** LightHawk is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using the transformative power of flight to advance environmental conservation. Since 1989, LightHawk has partnered with conservation organizations, policymakers, journalists, and communities to tackle critical challenges impacting lands, waters, and wildlife. Supported by a network of over 270 volunteer pilots and a dedicated team, LightHawk provides unique aerial perspectives, accelerates conservation efforts, and promotes sustainable stewardship across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. To support this work, make a donation or learn more about LightHawk, visit [www.lighthawk.org](https://www.lighthawk.org). ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-4.jpg) *The transport team carefully unloads a wolf crate after one of three LightHawk flights, each capable of transporting up to five gray wolves per trip. Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-2.jpg) *A look inside the cargo area of a LightHawk flight showing carefully secured transport crates, each housing an endangered gray wolf. Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-1-scaled.jpg) *A Pilatus PC-12 completes a LightHawk conservation mission, transporting endangered gray wolves to Colorado as part of reintroduction efforts. Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife* **Categories:** Media --- ### [On The Wing News: Winter 2026](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-winter-2026/) **Published:** March 20, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Jim-Photo_cropped.png) In this edition of On The Wing, we look at LightHawk’s role in the long-term recovery of the Mexican wolf, including collaboration with partners working directly on the ground. The other wildlife mission focuses on aerial monitoring, showing how a small aircraft can provide the perspective needed to understand changing conditions across landscapes and shorelines. A successful endangered species recovery program is something to celebrate. The recovery of the Mexican wolf is certainly a success: 11 Mexican wolves in existence in the 1970s, now 200-plus in the wild and nearly the same amount in breeding facilities around the country. The story featured in this edition illustrates one small example of LightHawk’s contribution to this success and highlights our cooperation with a “boots on the ground” conservation partner. If one needs to know what is going on on the ground, or shoreline, the best vantage point you can have is in a small plane, 1,000 to 4,000 feet above the ground. The second story illustrates one of the hundreds of monitoring flights LightHawk performs each year. LightHawk’s critical work could not move forward without your continued support. Thank you for making this all possible. Best, **Jim Becker** *LightHawk Chief Executive Officer* ### FEATURED MISSION ## **A Journey West for Mittermeier, the Mexican Gray Wolf** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0149-cropped.webp)*Mittermeier, a Mexican gray wolf, surveys his new surroundings after a cross-country flight as part of ongoing recovery efforts for the species. Photo by Joanna Weitzel.* Taking off from **Portsmouth, New Hampshire**, a Mexican gray wolf named **Mittermeier** began a journey west toward a new home and, potentially, a future mate. The flight was arranged at the request of the **Association of Zoos and Aquariums**’ Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program, which asked LightHawk to transport the wolf from **Zoo New England** in **Boston, Massachusetts**, to **Albuquerque, New Mexico**. Mexican gray wolves are endangered, and adult wolves are sometimes moved between captive breeding facilities to strengthen the population’s genetic diversity. Commercial airline travel and air freight can add unnecessary stress, so partners look for safer, more direct transport options whenever possible. That is where LightHawk’s volunteer pilots can make a meaningful difference. Longtime LightHawk volunteer pilot **Tom Haas** flew the mission in his **Pilatus PC-24**, an aircraft well-suited for cross-country wildlife transports. Its large cargo door makes loading a crate easier and safer, while the cabin provides room for those accompanying the animal. On this flight, LightHawk **Eastern Program Manager Jonathan Milne** and **Chief Advancement Officer Joanna Weitzel** were also aboard, with Weitzel documenting the mission. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_9369_web.webp)*Securing Mittermeier’s transport crate in the Pilatus PC-24 before takeoff. Photo by Joanna Weitzel.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0091.webp)*A view above the winter clouds at 41,000 feet. Photo by Joanna Weitzel.* Flights like this can significantly reduce both travel time and stress for the animal. Because LightHawk can often operate from smaller airports closer to partner facilities, wolves like Mittermeier spend less time in a crate and in transit, making each transfer safer. Once in New Mexico, Mittermeier was unloaded and transported to **ABQ BioPark**. After a flight spanning nearly two-thirds of the country, the crate door opened and the wolf sprang out, quickly beginning to explore the new enclosure. Jonathan Milne reflected on the experience: *“It has been nearly 14 years since I first participated in a transport flight, and I was unprepared for the feeling of accomplishment that swept over me when the wolf was released into its enclosure in New Mexico. In that moment, we had given this species another chance to strengthen its numbers across its range. After nearly 37 years in conservation, seeing that wolf spring from the crate gave me real hope. It also reminded me of the extraordinary work LightHawk carries out year after year.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/joanna_square.webp) **[Click here to read Joanna’s firsthand account from the journey.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/above-beyond-march-2026/)** In the coming weeks, Mittermeier will be introduced to a potential mate, with the goal of producing pups that can strengthen the population’s genetic diversity. Some captive-born pups may eventually be cross-fostered into wild dens, supporting future recovery efforts. For LightHawk and our volunteer pilots, flights like this show how aviation can directly support species recovery when timing, distance, and care all matter. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0023NoTailNumber-scaled.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0035NoTailNumber.png)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0131_small_compressed.gif)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-6641-cropped-1.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/both-wolves.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/crate-in-enclosure.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0152-cropped.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0069-preview-scaled.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Above-Beyond-Flight-scaled.jpeg) *Photos by Joanna Weitzel.* ### PARTNER SPOTLIGHT ## **Endangered Wolf Center** *A carefully timed flight can give wolf pups a chance at life in the wild.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/EWC-2020-Horizontal-Color-Logo_Padded_1736881455.png.png) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Wolf-Pup-in-Backpack-2.webp)*Photo by New Mexico Division of Game & Fish* Located in **Missouri**, the **Endangered Wolf Center** has been a key LightHawk conservation partner for more than a decade, working to preserve and protect Mexican wolves, red wolves, and other wild canid species. Over that time, LightHawk has helped transport Mexican and red wolves between breeding facilities across the country, supporting new breeding pairs and strengthening genetic diversity. Many of these flights support the Mexican wolf cross-foster program, a remarkable effort in endangered species recovery where timing matters. Pups born in captive facilities are flown west by LightHawk pilots in temperature-controlled carriers to the species’ native range. Once in the release region, biologists carry them into the backcountry and place them in wild dens with pups of similar age. There, a wild mother raises them as her own, giving these pups a chance to grow up where they belong, in the wild. LightHawk’s volunteer pilots help make this work possible by flying quickly between breeding facilities and release regions during narrow windows where every hour counts. ### CLIMATE CORNER ## **What Seagrass Can Tell Us** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Seagrass.webp)*Aerial imagery helps partners locate and assess seagrass habitat along the coast. Photo by Jonathan Milne.* Seagrass may not grab attention the way forests or wildlife do, but it tells an important story about the health of an estuary. It helps store carbon, protect shorelines, and support the broader web of life that depends on healthy coastal waters. When seagrass declines, it can signal deeper environmental stress. That is why monitoring seagrass matters in **New Hampshire** and **Maine**, where levels remain well below historic conditions. To help guide that work, LightHawk partnered with the **Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP)** on an overview flight across multiple seagrass locations. Flying in a Cessna 172 with LightHawk CEO and volunteer pilot **Jim Becker**, PREP staff gained a broad-scale view of vegetation patterns across the estuary, helping them plan summer fieldwork with a drone contractor. That next phase will help distinguish between seaweed, eelgrass, and widgeon grass, each of which offers different clues about water quality, pollution, and environmental change. Flights like this help partners start with the big picture, making follow-up work more targeted, efficient, and cost-effective. ### 50 IN 50 CHALLENGE ## **50 FLIGHTS. 50 DAYS. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.** Between **May 4** and **June 22**, LightHawk’s volunteer pilots will take to the skies to complete 50 conservation flights in just 50 days. --- Some missions are already coming into focus. Others will unfold in real time as partners respond to urgent needs. --- A few flights will return to familiar landscapes. Others will take us somewhere entirely new. Each one has the potential to change what happens next on the ground. #### FOLLOW THE CHALLENGE **Follow along on social media and the Mission Map to see how the season unfolds, where and who we fly, and what becomes possible from above.** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DAF-hand-heart.png) #### Give With A DAF If you give through a [**Donor-Advised Fund**](https://www.lighthawk.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/), please consider LightHawk as you plan your charitable grants. Your support helps keep conservation missions flying to protect wildlife, waterways, and landscapes. **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Newsletters --- ### [A Flight I’ll Never Forget: A Mission of Hope](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/above-beyond-march-2026/) **Published:** March 3, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0149-cropped.webp)*LightHawk transported Mexican wolf Mittermeier to the ABQ BioPark in New Mexico, where he was introduced to a female in hopes of forming a new breeding pair and contributing to the species’ recovery. Photo: Joanna Weitzel* *This month’s **Above & Beyond** features a special perspective from Chief Advancement Officer Joanna Weitzel.* The morning began in the quiet stillness of a small airport in Portsmouth. Snow covered the ground, and for this Southerner, it was a chilly morning. My colleague Jonathan Milne and I met one of the pilots, who slid open the hangar doors to reveal the aircraft that would carry us—and our passenger—across the country: a Pilatus PC-24. It was an impressive sight. We were transporting an endangered Mexican wolf, and he would be making the journey in remarkable safety and speed. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0035NoTailNumber.png)The Pilatus PC-24 is moved out of the hangar by ground crew before the wolf’s crate is loaded for the trip to New Mexico. Photo by Joanna Weitzel. My role at LightHawk is to help connect people to this work. For nearly three years, I’ve worked alongside our program team and volunteer pilots, sharing stories and building support for the missions that make conservation from the air possible. But this was different. This time, I was on the flight. And this time, the passenger was a species fighting for its survival. #### **Looking Into His Eyes** Before we departed, I found myself standing near the crate. Having spent much of my career in wildlife care and conservation—working with a variety of species from hummingbirds to bobcats—I knew the unspoken rules. Move calmly. Stay quiet. Give them space. Don’t add to their stress. Still, I couldn’t help but look. Through the door of the crate, I saw him. Mittermeier is his name. Alert. Quiet. Beautiful. I knew he was stressed, even if he appeared calm. Wild animals don’t understand the care behind human actions. They don’t know the distance being shortened for their safety. They only know they’ve been taken from what’s familiar. And yet, this journey was part of something larger. He was being flown to ABQ BioPark in New Mexico, where a potential mate was already waiting for him. With just over 250 Mexican wolves left in the wild, every pairing matters. Every pup matters. #### **The Power of Flight** When we lifted off, I was struck by the speed of it all, the ground falling away beneath us. Inside, there was space to breathe, talk, and reflect. Pete Costello, an assistant curator from Zoo New England accompanying the wolf, told us more about the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)’s Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program. Tom Haas, our volunteer pilot, shared his interests and what keeps him flying for wildlife, while another pilot, Brian Dawson, graciously answered my many questions, deepening my understanding of aviation. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-6641-cropped-1.webp)Mittermeier settles into his crate ahead of the flight to his new home. Photo by Tom Haas. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0069-preview-scaled.webp)LightHawk volunteer pilot Tom and his copilot monitor instruments during a cross-country mission. The Pilatus PC-24 provides an ideal platform for transporting endangered species safely and efficiently. Photo by Joanna Weitzel. I’ve spent most of my career in nonprofit conservation, and aviation was not part of my world before LightHawk. Now I see it differently. Aviation isn’t just transportation. It’s access. It’s connection. It’s time saved when time matters most. It’s a tool that allows conservation to move at the speed recovery demands. #### **A New Beginning** When we arrived in New Mexico, ABQ BioPark staff carefully transferred the crate from the plane to a behind-the-scenes enclosure at the Mexican Wolf Conservation Facility. I found myself wondering how the wolf would react when released. Would he bolt? Or freeze in fear? ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WebP-Image-Compressor.webp)ABQ BioPark staff members move Mittermeier’s crate into the enclosure before releasing him into his new home. The door opened. Mittermeier hesitated for a mere second. Then he ran. Mittermeier sprinted into his new home, alive with instinct and awareness. In the neighboring space, his future mate ran as well—circling, watching, sensing the change. Eventually, they approached the shared fence, meeting in the only way they could for now. If their introduction succeeds, their pups will one day be candidates for release into the wild. And because they were born here, they may never need a flight like this one. Standing there, I felt a mix of emotions I struggle to fully describe. Sadness, knowing how close we’ve come to losing this species entirely. Gratitude for the people who dedicate their lives to preventing that loss. And hope—real, tangible hope. #### **More Than One Wolf** This was my first LightHawk mission, and it resonated with me in a way I didn’t expect. With my background in animal care, I felt the weight of it. Knowing this one wolf could help bring new pups into the world made it real. Being there to document it was special. Conservation is complex. It requires people with different skills, perspectives, and expertise. It requires those who care for animals, those who study them, those who protect and restore their habitats, those who advocate for them, and those who make it possible to move them safely across a country when their survival depends on it. And sometimes, it requires a plane. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-IMG-0023NoTailNumber-scaled.webp)The crate sits near the aircraft ahead of the cross-country flight. Photo by Joanna Weitzel. This was one moment in a much longer journey. The challenges facing Mexican wolves, and so many other species, are ongoing. But on that cold morning in New Hampshire, and later, on that windy afternoon in New Mexico, I saw what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose. **One flight at a time.** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Above-Beyond-Flight-scaled.jpeg)LightHawk staff with partners from Zoo New England and ABQ BioPark after Mittermeier’s introduction into his new home. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [On The Wing News – Winter 2024](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-winter-2024/) **Published:** February 26, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/OTW_Header.jpg) # **Solutions from the Sky** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JRB-Face-shot-4.jpg) ### **Expanding Wildlife Conservation** Welcome to the first edition of **On the Wing**, LightHawk’s quarterly newsletter, highlighting our growing conservation work. In this issue, we look at LightHawk’s wildlife program, where our unique aviation capabilities are playing a vital role in preventing endangered species, like California condors, Bobwhite quail, black-footed ferrets, whooping cranes, white abalone, and others, from slipping into extinction. LightHawk’s airborne transport initiatives are vital for saving **endangered wolf populations**. We provide high-speed, quick response transport for young Mexican wolf pups from captive breeding facilities nationwide for cross fostering into wild dens. This has helped wild populations grow from near extinction to over 200 wolves in the Southwest. Our efforts also extend to transporting adult Mexican and red wolves between breeding facilities to maintain genetic diversity among breeding pairs. And most recently, LightHawk’s Volunteer Pilots facilitated the essential transport for the mandated **reintroduction of gray wolves into Colorado**. \[pdf-embedder url=’https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/OTW\_Winter2024\_Final.pdf’\] [DOWNLOAD PDF](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/OTW_Winter2024_Final.pdf) Expanding beyond transport, LightHawk’s general aviation aircraft play an essential role in **wildlife monitoring**. Our airborne capabilities gather crucial data on animal behavior, migration patterns, and population dynamics for various species, including birds, island foxes, harbor seals, pronghorn antelope, and manatees. Pilots may attach antennas to their aircraft for tracking animals with transmitters or transport scientists for observation and data recording. In the current era of accelerating **climate change** and habitat loss, the potential for extinction is rising sharply, making LightHawk’s wildlife initiatives even more critical. With your generous support, LightHawk is expanding our impact on the conservation and recovery of our most endangered species. Thank you for your continued confidence and support of LightHawk. Jim Becker LightHawk CEO #### **UPCOMING FLIGHTS** - WildEarth Guardians in Idaho - Scripps News in Arizona - Quail Transport from Florida to Pennsylvania - American Rivers and the Sonoran Institute - Trout Unlimited in Oregon and California - Florida International University algal bloom study in Florida - The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey - Great Bay Watershed Educational Tour in New Hampshire - Naushon Island Forest Health Assessment in Massachusetts - Pine Barrens Stakeholder Education in Massachusetts - ConservSWFL Corkscrew Swamp in Florida - The Trustees of Reservations Forestry Assessment in Massachusetts - Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Massachusetts --- # **Gray wolves land in Colorado for release** In 2020, Proposition 114 was approved by Colorado voters. It directed the **Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission** to “develop a plan to restore and manage gray wolves in Colorado, using the best scientific data available”. The statute directed the Parks and Wildlife Commission to take the steps necessary to begin **restoration of gray wolves** in Colorado west of the Continental Divide no later than Dec. 31, 2023. It is anticipated that the efforts will require the transfer of about 30 to 50 wolves over a 3-5-year time frame. Starting December 15, biologists began efforts in Oregon to locate and capture the first wolves for transport. The initial group included five wolves. Oregon and Colorado Parks & Wildlife veterinarians evaluated each of the wolves to determine if they were fit for relocation to Colorado. The evaluation looked at things like age, sex, health and body condition of each animal. After their capture, CPW vets and biologists weighed and measured the wolves. They also collected genetic material – tissue and blood samples – before fitting each with a GPS satellite collar for tracking upon release. ![Gray wolf being released into the wild. Empty crate and people in the background.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wolves-photo-CPW.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_0204-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/144e55a8-a253-8019-8b08-18b2ef20b50d.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_0064-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_0109-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_0082-scaled.jpg) Then, the wolves were given vaccines and placed in crates to be flown to Colorado for release back into the wild. Once cleared for transport, the wolves were taken to the airport where **LightHawk pilot Warren Dean** waited with his Pilatus PC-12. The wolves were loaded onto the plane and joined by CPW staff for the trip. After arriving in Colorado, the wolves were handed off to Colorado Parks & Wildlife officials and were transported to their release location in Grand County. Colorado Governor Jared Polis took part in the historic release alongside officials from CPW. As the crates were opened, **the wolves sprang forward**, dashing into their new habitat. Over the following days, Oregon captured another five wolves, four of which were transported by **LightHawk pilot Jack Long** and delivered to Colorado and subsequently released. **Eric Odell (Colorado Parks & Wildlife)** said, “We could not have accomplished this task as simply as we did without the cooperation and donated flights from LightHawk. What would have been 13-plus hour drives through the night was accomplished in 2.5-3 hour flights during daylight hours. Wolf and human safety was paramount for this project and the collaboration with LightHawk made this possible. We learned how simple and fast the transport could be accomplished, we learned about the sincere interest from the pilot in this project. Accomplishing the preliminary goal of getting wolves reintroduced by 12/31/23 was due in large part to the collaboration with LightHawk. We hope to be able to continue this partnership for the coming years.” LightHawk Program Manager, Brooke George, worked with CPW for the last year to build a strong plan and partnership to support the wolf reintroduction efforts in the state. **LightHawk extends its appreciation and gratitude** to volunteer pilots Warren Dean and Jack Long for donating the flights for this historic and important conservation project. Their contributions ensured the safe and efficient transport of 9 gray wolves from Oregon to Colorado by air, greatly minimizing stress on the animals. --- #### **Climate Corner** ## **Manatee Conservation with LightHawk** In the heart of Florida’s waterways, LightHawk is taking flight to protect an iconic marine mammal, **the manatee**. Although declared endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, these majestic animals still confront a host of dangers, with boat collisions claiming about 20% of manatee lives. But **climate change** also brings its own challenges to the declining species, with unpredictable water temperatures and extreme weather wreaking havoc on manatee populations. Add to that the loss of vital habitat and food sources due to urban development, and the situation becomes urgent. **That’s why LightHawk is stepping up its game.** Our monitoring flights are not just about observation; they’re about action. By gathering essential data on manatee movements and the encroachment of urban development, we’re arming conservationists and decision-makers with the insights needed to protect these gentle giants. With our collaborative partnerships and steadfast commitment, LightHawk is flying to a brighter future in manatee conservation. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/a5lC0000000Tu3ZIAS.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/a5lC0000000Tu7tIAC.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/a5lC0000000Tu80IAC.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/a5lC0000000TtQwIAK_web.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/a5lC0000000TtQxIAK_web.jpg) --- ## **Romeo November lands spot in Wild & Scenic Film Festival** LightHawk’s **“[Romeo November: A LightHawk Story](https://www.lighthawk.org/romeo-november)”** film was selected for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. The [**South Yuba River Citizens League’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival** ](https://wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/)inspires environmental activism and a love for nature – through film. The 5-day flagship festival is held annually in Nevada City and Grass Valley, California. Featuring 100+ films, workshops, visiting filmmaker and activist talks, family-friendly programs, art exhibitions, parties, and more. Considered one of the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festivals, this year’s films combine stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography, and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation. Romeo November: A LightHawk Story was produced in collaboration with **American Rivers and Trout Unlimited**. Click **[HERE](https://wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/festival/howtofestvirtual/)** if you would like to attend the film festival virtually. ## **Partner Spotlight: Ventanna Wildlife Society** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/VWS-Logo-copy.png) The [Ventana Wildlife Society](https://www.ventanaws.org/) has become a strong partner with both Pinnacles National Park and LightHawk. These partnerships have made a significant difference towards restoring the population of California condors in central California. VWS co-manages the condor population in Pinnacles National Park. Together, they have called on LightHawk to help transport condors and conduct aerial telemetry flights to locate condors within the park. The importance of this work has increased in the past year due to a high number of condor deaths from avian flu or lead poisoning, a leading cause of fatality among the birds. LightHawk is proud to be part of this vital conservation work with [**Ventanna Wildlife Society**](https://www.ventanaws.org/) and we look forward to future collaboration to preserve these majestic creatures. ## **Flight Towards Sustainability: A Visionary Commitment** Addressing our planet’s biggest issues demands a broader, forward-looking perspective and a strong commitment. As a **Conservation Visionary**, your monthly gift empowers LightHawk to take flight and confront nature’s most pressing challenges head on. From biodiversity loss to climate change, your steadfast support propels us into action to protect our natural world – today and tomorrow. Join us as a **Conservation Visionary** in the flight towards a sustainable future and ensure a lasting impact on both people and nature! **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Newsletters --- ### [Documenting a Historic Return to a Free-Flowing Klamath River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/mission-of-the-month-documenting-the-removal-of-dams-on-the-klamath-river/) **Published:** February 26, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** LightHawk is helping document a historic moment for free-flowing rivers and salmon recovery in the Pacific Northwest. For more than a century, four dams along the Klamath River in southern Oregon and northern California degraded water quality and blocked salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey from reaching more than 400 miles of spawning and rearing habitat. Now, in the largest dam removal project in American history, the structures will be, one by one, destroyed, allowing the river to return to a more natural flow. It is a major win for local tribes and environmental groups who are hopeful salmon will return. Last May, LightHawk and Trout Unlimited began a multi-year project to document the dam removals and the transformation of the Klamath River’s riparian landscape as the river returns to a more natural flow. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Copco-Dam-8-scaled.jpg)*As the reservoir above Copco Dam drains, the Klamath River begins to reemerge through newly exposed sediment, marking a dramatic step in the river’s restoration. Credit: Evan Bulla, Trout Unlimited.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_3162-scaled.jpg)*Evan Bulla (Trout Unlimited) and Lane Gormley (LightHawk).* **Credit: Evan Bulla** The first flight captured the Klamath River before removal began, with the dams still in place and reservoirs holding back its natural flow. When LightHawk returned in February 2024, one dam had already been removed and the remaining reservoirs were being drawn down, exposing vast stretches of newly emerging riverbed. Volunteer pilot Lane Gormley flew Trout Unlimited’s Evan Bulla over the changing landscape in his Cessna 182, documenting a river in transition. Throughout 2024, LightHawk continued flying the Klamath to document dam removal and the restoration unfolding along the river corridor. Together, these flights created a visual record of the largest dam removal project in U.S. history and the beginning of a new chapter for the Klamath, as habitat reconnects and salmon once again gain access to hundreds of miles of historic spawning grounds. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/JC-Boyle-Dam-3-scaled.jpg)*The Klamath River winds through newly exposed mudflats behind JC Boyle Dam as the reservoir is drawn down, revealing a landscape beginning its transition back to a free-flowing river. Credit: Evan Bulla, Trout Unlimited.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Iron-Gate-Dam-1-scaled.jpg)*A Klamath River dam and reservoir before removal, capturing the engineered landscape that would soon begin a historic transformation. Credit: Evan Bulla, Trout Unlimited.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Small Passengers, Big Stakes for Mexican Wolves](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/june-2024-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** June 28, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0070-scaled.jpg) In early May, LightHawk once again took part in one of North America’s most remarkable species recovery efforts, flying Mexican wolf pups for cross-fostering into wild dens. Mexican wolves came perilously close to disappearing from the wild in the United States and Mexico. Their recovery began with a captive breeding program founded with just seven wolves. Since reintroduction efforts began in 1998, cross-fostering has become an important tool for strengthening the wild population and increasing its genetic diversity. Limited genetic diversity remains one of the greatest challenges to the Mexican wolf’s long-term recovery. Introducing genes from the captive population is essential, but releasing adult animals proved difficult, with many struggling to adapt. Cross-fostering offered a better solution. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1128-scaled.jpeg) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_1124-scaled.jpeg) That challenge led to the development of cross-fostering. Wolf pups born in captivity are placed in wild dens with pups of a similar age, where they are raised by wild mothers as part of the pack. This approach helps avoid many of the difficulties adult captive wolves can face when released, while introducing new genetics into the population and strengthening the long-term recovery of Mexican wolves in the wild. This flight carried five pups from the Wolf Conservation Center in New York to New Mexico, where they continued by ground to their wild den. LightHawk flights are especially well suited for these time-sensitive transports. Handlers can remain with the pups throughout the journey to feed and monitor them, while flexible routing allows flights to land as close to the den site as possible. That means less time on the ground and a shorter journey before the pups are placed with their new wild family. LightHawk has supported the cross-foster program since it began in 2016. Since then, the wild population has grown from 97 to at least 257 Mexican wolves at the end of 2023. During those years, LightHawk volunteer pilots transported more than 100 Mexican wolves, including both pups and adults, helping make these complex, time-sensitive recovery efforts possible. Volunteer pilot Ken Adelman transported the wolf pups and their handlers on this flight. Ken and his wife, Gabrielle, have supported a remarkable range of LightHawk wildlife missions, transporting Mexican wolves, black-footed ferrets, cheetah cubs and other species. We’re grateful for their extraordinary commitment and the role they continue to play in endangered species recovery. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0024-scaled.jpg) **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Bringing Bobwhite Quail Back to Pennsylvania](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/may-2024-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** May 22, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1362-scaled.jpeg) In March, several masked bobwhite quail took an important step toward returning to the wild, traveling flight from Florida to Pennsylvania for release. LightHawl Volunteer pilot Benjamin Cohen, joined by his son Casey, transported the birds in his Beechcraft Bonanza, where [Pennsylvania Game Commission ](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc)officials met them for the final journey to their release site. This flight is part of a project to reestablish Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) to the state of Pennsylvania. The species is native to Pennsylvania and was listed as a species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) until they were determined to be no longer within the state. It is a high priority of the state wildlife agency (Pennsylvania Game Commission, PGC) to reestablish this species. LightHawk will be working with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to continue transporting quail as part of this reintroduction plan. Tall Timbers Research Inc. is a nonprofit research and conservation organization with a proven history of relocating bobwhite quail and working with state wildlife agencies. Staff with Tall Timbers Research, Inc captured the wild bobwhite quail in one night using baited walk-in funnel traps. Casey Cohen took part in this part of the operation as well! The captured quail were fitted with a necklace-style UHF transmitter which actively transmit a UHF radio signal. This was done so that the bobwhite quail did not need to be handled at the release point but could be released without the additional stress of handling. Researchers from the University of Delaware will monitor survival of the translocated bobwhite quail to monitor project success. The bobwhite were secured in wooden transport boxes with holes for ventilation. Flights for this project reduce stress on the bobwhite quail and prevent our partner from having to transport them via vehicle. Without the ability to move these birds with LightHawk, staff would have to drive the entire route in one shot, as the birds can not be held for more than 24 hours. Alex Jackson from Tall Timbers Research, Inc. said this about the flight, “Minimizing holding time during bobwhite translocation is extremely important to the survival of the birds. Traveling from Florida to Pennsylvania by vehicle would have greatly increased holding time, could have increased mortality, and would have been dangerous for our employees, as they would have needed to leave immediately after trapping the birds in the middle of the night. This project was very important to reestablish wild bobwhite to the state of Pennsylvania and demonstrate successful partnerships with state agencies. We hope this project will be a catalyst for future translocations on state and federal lands. LightHawk was instrumental in protecting the birds and allowing us to release them in a fast and effective manner.” Thank you to volunteer pilot Benjamin Cohen for providing this flight and Casey Cohen for capturing photos of the bobwhite quail transport! ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/D4D3A63F-9E7C-4A95-9EAC-3D608CA670CF-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/D0994E6F-90D2-4027-9D52-3B983894DED6-scaled.jpeg) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image000000.jpeg) **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife **Tags:** bobwhite quail, endangered species, Pennsylvania --- ### [Flying for the Santa Cruz, One of America’s Most Endangered Rivers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/april-2024-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** April 29, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthawk-Flight-Stills_Julius-Schlosburg_20240271-scaled.jpg) The Santa Cruz River cuts through southern Arizona’s desert landscape, where restoration efforts have brought wildlife back even as water scarcity continues to threaten its future. *Photo by Julius Schlosburg.* LightHawk conservation partner [American Rivers ](https://www.americanrivers.org)recently released their list of the most endangered rivers in the United States. The Santa Cruz River in Arizona was named as the Number Four Most Endangered River on the list for 2024. We are partnering with American Rivers with flights to document and highlight the threats to this precious desert river system. The history, present and future of the Santa Cruz River could be summed up as, “The Bad News, Good News, Bad News, and Possible Good News!” **The Bad News/Good News:** Once a life-giving desert river oasis, carefully used and stewarded by Tohono O’odham and other indigenous peoples, the health of the Santa Cruz River steadily declined following western expansion in the 1800s. The next century saw massive groundwater withdrawals that brought the once perennial flows to an end. In addition, wastewater discharges into the river created harmful aquatic conditions for humans as well as for the natural environment. But in 2008, upgrades in wastewater treatment facilities along the river improved water quality. Native fish, birds, reptiles and vegetation began to return to the area. State, federal, private and university efforts leveraged financial resources for the river and fostered a community reconnection to it. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthawk-Flight-Stills_Julius-Schlosburg_20240274-scaled.jpg) *Photo by Julius Schlosburg* **The Bad News/Possible Good News:** Continued progress in restoring the river corridor is now threatened. For a river to be a river, there must be water – and that is not a condition that is assured in the face of climate change. Temperatures continue to rise, periods of drought are lengthening, and demand for the desert’s scarce water is only increasing. A strategy to protect and provide for water in the river is needed. And that is what is behind the effort of several environmental organizations who are advocating for a “Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge.” The Sonoran Institute and the Wilderness Society are two organizations calling for this designation. Such a designation would entail identifying protected areas and potential future acquisition areas – which would help ensure water inflows. This – as well as the American Rivers’ listing – brings important visibility for the river. In February 2024, LightHawk partnered with American Rivers and the Sonoran Institute on a flight to capture images of the river as part of that awareness-raising campaign. The Santa Cruz River is also part of the Colorado River Basin, and LightHawk has an ongoing focus to highlight the water scarcity issues across the Basin. LightHawk volunteer pilot Chuck Schroll provided the flight for our conservation partners. Thanks to Chuck for this and the many other flights he donates throughout the year. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthawk-Flight-Stills_Julius-Schlosburg_20240275-scaled.jpg) Partners from American Rivers pose for a photo with volunteer pilot Chuck Schroll. *Photo by Julius Schlosburg* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lighthawk-Flight-Stills_Julius-Schlosburg_20240272-scaled.jpg) Santa Cruz River. *Photo by Julius Schlosburg* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways --- ### [On The Wing News – Spring 2024](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-spring-2024/) **Published:** July 24, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Header.png) # **Uncovering the hidden realities of wild places** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/joannaweitzel.jpg) Recently, as I sat on a plane cruising at 30,000 feet above the Earth, I couldn’t help but think about the total solar eclipse people were witnessing below. Although I missed viewing it firsthand, the remarkable images I saw afterward reminded me of nature’s constant ability to amaze us. Just as with the solar eclipse, there are hidden marvels all around us – things we may not always see but which hold immense wonder and purpose. In this edition of On the Wing, we highlight how LightHawk is using the aerial perspective to uncover the hidden realities of our wild places and provide an unmatched view of their beauty and significance. Collaborating with partners at the Wildfire Resilience Funders network, we’re working to protect landscapes and enhance wildfire resilience to climate-related risks in the western regions. Meanwhile, on the eastern side of the country, The Trustees of Reservations are overseeing 393 Conservation Restrictions, spanning over 20,000 acres. LightHawk’s flights are providing crucial support to their small stewardship team in monitoring these extensive lands. Together, we are revealing the delicate balance of ecosystems and the close connections between humans, nature, and the climate. By doing so, we highlight how working with nature benefits us all and inspire people to take action. Thank you for soaring with us on this amazing journey, especially on Earth Day, as we strive to care for and protect our natural world. Warm regards, **Joanna Weitzel** *Director of Advancement* --- ## **Protecting wild places from future development** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a5lPC00000002LBYAY-copy-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a5lPC00000002LCYAY-copy-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/unnamed.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a5lPC00000002LDYAY-copy-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a5lPC00000002LEYAY-copy-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a5lPC00000002LEYAY-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/a5lPC00000002MnYAI-scaled.jpeg) ## Upcoming Flights - Donor flight in Mexico with partner Restauramos el Colorado. - Photo/video flight in Alaska with partner Native Village of Dot Lake - A flight to document coastal conditions in Oregon with partner Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition - Aerial shorebird survey in the Colorado River Delta with partner National Audubon Society - Video flight over the Colorado River for documentary with partner Finch No Worries - Flight to survey old corn fields to bring back dry-land farming methods in Arizona with partner To Nizhoni Ani - Video flight over the Butte Creek watershed in California with partner Friends of Butte Creek - Aerial imagery camera equipment test flight with partner Samish Indian Nation - Flight to observe critical areas for grizzly bear survival and movement in Montana with Partner Yellowstone to Yukon - Donor flight in California with partner Greenbelt Alliance - Multiple masked bobwhite quail transport flights with partner George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center - Aerial survey of black-backed woodpeckers in the Oregon Cascades region with partner Oregon State University - Multiple Mexican wolf cross-foster flights with partner Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan - Photo flight to document conditions of Paulina Lake/Dam in New Jersey with partner The Nature Conservancy - Multiple aerial survey flights along sections of Cape Cod, MA with partner Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences - Multiple algal bloom monitoring in Florida with partner Rivers Coalition - Test flight for multispectral imaging system in New Hampshire with partner University of New Hampshire - Flight to provide overview of ongoing wetland restoration work across the Florida Everglades with partner Everglades Foundation - Whooping crane nesting survey flight in Wisconsin with partner International Crane Foundation - Multiple King Tide videography flights across the East Coast - Educational flight for stakeholders of the largest pine barrens in New England with partner Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens Partnership #### Climate Corner ## **An aerial view of climate change** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Lighthawk2-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240417_162840.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1809-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1810-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_1823-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5019-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5026-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5028-scaled.jpg) Sometimes LightHawk conservation efforts can get a little bit complicated. This April, it took three pilots and three planes to pull off a mission to assess the impacts of climate change on Colorado forests. For this effort, we partnered with the Wildfire Resilience Funders Network, the Climate Resilience Fund, and Coalitions and Collaboratives, Inc. The Wildfire Resilience Funders network (WRF) is an affiliate group of more than 75 philanthropic and partner organizations that focus on addressing wildfire resilience issues in the western United States. The Climate Resilience Fund hosted the network as one of their programs focused on community and landscape resilience to climate-related risks and impacts. In April, WRF members traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado to learn about recent regional experiences with wildfire, and to explore opportunities for collaboration. LightHawk and Coalitions and Collaboratives organized a flyover of two significant wildfire burn areas close to their meeting site, to provide learning opportunities about the Cameron Peak and High Park fires. Guides from knowledgeable organizations and agencies accompanied the members on the flight. To accommodate the many passengers, LightHawk pilots Warren Dean, Evan Anderman and Rick Turley provided their time, skills and airplanes. #### Partner Spotlight ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GreenbeltAllianceLogoSocialShare-copy-2.png) ## Greenbelt Alliance Since 2021, LightHawk has joined forces with San Francisco’s Greenbelt Alliance, working together to further their mission of educating, advocating, and collaborating to enhance the resilience of the Bay Area’s lands and communities in the face of climate change. With more than 3.3 million acres of natural lands protected from sprawl development, LightHawk has utilized our unique aerial resources to support the Greenbelt Alliance in illustrating the impact of sea-level rise on local communities, emphasizing the importance of preserving marshlands and promoting climate-smart growth. LightHawk’s donor flights have also provided a unique bird’s-eye view of Greenbelt Alliance’s Resilience Hotspots, contributing to a generous donation exceeding half a million dollars for their organization in 2023. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Greenbelt Alliance as we join forces to support their efforts in safeguarding wild lands within the region. ### **Be part of history with LightHawk’s 50-In-50 Challenge!** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Logo-in-circle.png) From June 15 to August 3, 2024, LightHawk is launching a groundbreaking mission: 50 Conservation Flights in 50 Days. Over 50 days, we will conduct 50 conservation flights with partners, highlighting some of the most urgent conservation issues across the country. We need your help to make this ambitious goal possible. Thanks to a generous $100,000 matching gift, your support will play a crucial role in leveraging this match, doubling the impact of your contribution! Be part of history in the making by joining us in this ambitious and innovative nationwide conservation initiative – 50 Conservation flights in 50 days! **Visit the [50-in-50 Challenge page](https://www.lighthawk.org/50-in-59/) to be part of the first ever 50-In-50 Challenge!** --- ### **Lead the Charge: Become a Conservation Visionary** Ready to soar as a Conservation Visionary with LightHawk? Our mission: saving the Earth, one flight at a time! As a Visionary, your monthly support fuels our commitment to fly and safeguard wild landscapes, advance scientific research, and document environmental threats unlike any other. Even modest donations make a big impact, empowering collaboration and shaping policies that drive meaningful change for our planet. Join us now, and let’s take flight on a greener path! **Categories:** Focus: Wild Places, Newsletters --- ### [Documenting Transmission Line Impact to Arizona’s San Pedro Valley](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/july-2024-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** July 26, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-11-1_web.png) Earlier this month, LightHawk took to the sky with conservation partner **[Archeology Southwest](https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/)**. The flight aimed to assess the SunZia transmission line and document its impacts on cultural and natural resources. Volunteer pilot Michael Schroeder provided the flight for seven passengers to gain an aerial perspective on the issue. The transmission line construction runs right through the **San Pedro Valley in Arizona**, considered one of the most culturally intact landscapes in Southern Arizona. The area is home to 12,000 years of human history. Those in opposition to the transmission line project believe it would be better routed through power line corridors that already exist rather than going through the San Pedro River Valley. The flight took off from Ryan Airfield in Tucson, Arizona and flew up the San Pedro Valley along the SunZia transmission line before returning south via the San Pedro River. Along the way, passengers were able to view the project and gain a greater understanding of its impacts on the land. They also collected photos in support of future media coverage. Kai Staats, a photographer on the flight, commented, “The total experience was professional, safe, and expertly conducted. The pilot gave us great confidence, and was able to guide the craft where we needed for the best photographs.” Reporter Paul Ingram from the Tucson Sentinel said, “Tucson Sentinel has covered the SunZia transmission line project, but we’ve been reliant on imagery from the Center of Biological Diversity. Being able to obtain our own photos and review the project at the altitude and speed of our flight will make for better coverage. We could throw a drone up to see a few sites, but getting the scope of the project across the San Pedro Valley wouldn’t have been possible.” Thanks to volunteer pilot Michael Schroeder for providing the flight for Archeology Southwest. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/7N0A0589_web.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/7N0A0596_web.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-11-2_web.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-11-4_web.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-07-11-5_web.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/7N0A0591.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/7N0A0683.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240710_094424-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_2546-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_2558-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/KIMG1373.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/KIMG1381.jpg) **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wild Places --- ### [On The Wing News – Fall 2024](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-fall-2024/) **Published:** November 22, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## **Watershed Conservation** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/LightHawk-IMG-0238-copy-scaled-e1732299622436.jpg) At LightHawk, we know that the future of our watersheds is closely connected to the health of our ecosystems, communities, and cultural heritage. Every flight we take is a step toward safeguarding these precious resources, and we’re proud to be part of the important work happening across the country to protect them. In this edition of On the Wing, we highlight some of our impactful partnerships tackling the pressing challenges facing our waters, including our collaboration with Trout Unlimited to document the historic dam removals along the Klamath River. This massive project will restore over 400 miles of critical habitat for species like Chinook and Coho salmon and significantly improve water quality. Our flights have captured the transformation from above and supported one of the largest river restoration projects in U.S. history. In Florida, we continue our important work with the Rivers Coalition, documenting the St. Lucie River and the challenges it faces from pollution and harmful algal blooms. Our missions provide the coalition with crucial data that informs their public outreach and advocacy efforts. It’s partnerships like these that allow us to help raise awareness of the urgent issues affecting watersheds across the country. Our mission also takes us to the Colorado River, where we recently collaborated with Natives Outdoors on a film series for Outside Magazine. The series highlights the pressures on the Colorado River, from drought and climate change to agricultural demands. Our unique aerial perspective helps illustrate the true scope of these challenges while amplifying the voices of those working to protect this critical resource. None of this would be possible without you. Your generosity allows us to fly these critical missions and collect the data, imagery, and insights needed to make a real impact on the ground. Together, we’re helping to restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and create a brighter future for our waterways. Thank you for standing with us in our mission to protect the environment from above. We’re excited about what we can achieve together in the months ahead. With gratitude, **Joanna Weitzel** Chief Advancement Officer ## **Documenting Historic Klamath River Dam Removals** ![Copco 1 Dam on the Klamath River being removed as seen from a LightHawk flight earlier this year.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Copco-Dam-11-scaled.jpg) *Copco 1 Dam on the Klamath River being removed as seen from a LightHawk flight earlier this year. Photo by Evan Bulla.* Over the past year, LightHawk has partnered with **Trout Unlimited** to document the historic removal of four dams along the **Klamath River: Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2, and J.C. Boyle**. This is one of the largest river restoration projects in U.S. history, holding major ecological and cultural importance for the river’s ecosystems and the Native American tribes who rely on its resources. As part of this mission, we have flown photographers, donors, and other stakeholders over the river, capturing its ongoing transformation and showcasing the positive impact of restoration from an aerial perspective. ![Klamath River returning to its natural channel after removal of dams.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JC-Boyle-Upper-4-scaled.jpg) The dam removals will reopen over 400 miles of habitat for fish species, including **Chinook and Coho salmon**, as well as **steelhead trout** – species that are both culturally and economically vital to the region. Coho salmon are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and stand to benefit greatly from the restored habitat. The improved access will support spawning and help replenish fish populations that have been blocked for over a century. ![Deconstruction of the Iron Gate Dam on the Klamath River.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iron-Gate-Dam-1-scaled.jpg) Removing the dams will further improve water quality. By slowing water flow, the dams have contributed to warmer water, lower oxygen levels, and the growth of harmful algal blooms. The free-flowing river will improve circulation, lower temperatures, and create healthier conditions for aquatic life. Other benefits include restored ecosystem connectivity and increased resilience to climate change. This project can serve as a valuable model for future dam removals, showing how similar efforts could help revive other river ecosystems. We are grateful for the dedication of LightHawk Volunteer Pilots (VP’s) who have flown photographers and other stakeholders over the Klamath River, providing crucial data and imagery throughout each stage of this restoration. Their contributions not only support this project but also inspire future conservation efforts. Each mission provides powerful images and data that empower our partners on the ground to share the story of this monumental achievement and advocate for similar projects that positively impact our natural resources. #### Partner Spotlight ## **Conserving the St. Lucie River with Rivers Coalition** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rivers-Coalition-2.jpeg) The **St. Lucie River** continues to suffer from polluted freshwater discharges into its north and south forks, with runoff from agriculture and residential developments carrying fertilizers, biosolids, pesticides, chemicals, and now harmful algae. Addressing these issues has become a central focus of LightHawk’s partnership with the **Rivers Coalition**. Starting in February, LightHawk has flown recurring photo and video missions over the river to document the spread and intensity of algal blooms from a perspective only possible from the air. This aerial view provides a comprehensive picture of the river’s condition, making it possible to capture large-scale patterns and changes over time. These images and videos are invaluable for coalition members, enabling them to identify critical areas for intervention, share the data with policy makers, and effectively educate the public on the scope and urgency of the issue. The Rivers Coalition works to educate the public, engage in dialogue with state and federal agencies, and advocate for redirecting millions of gallons of water south to **the Everglades**, where it is needed most. LightHawk’s flights are an essential part of this mission, providing clear, compelling visual evidence that supports both educational outreach and advocacy efforts. We are proud to partner with the Rivers Coalition and to provide an aerial perspective that enhances their ability to document, understand, and act on these critical waterway challenges. Together, with other partners across the region, we are making meaningful change in the conservation of **Florida’s waterways**. #### CLIMATE CORNER ## **Traveling the Colorado River for Outside Magazine** LightHawk’s strength lies in its ability to reveal the true scale of conservation challenges – spanning thousands of miles and multiple countries. One of our major areas of focus is the **Colorado River**, where we partner with conservation organizations to spotlight issues impacting this critical water source. Earlier this year, we teamed up with **Natives Outdoors**, supporting their six-part film series for **Outside Magazine’s streaming channel, Outside+,** on the current state of the Colorado River. Over three days, we flew with host Len Necefer and the film crew over key areas, including the **Colorado River Delta, California’s Imperial Valley, and the Salton Sea**. Our aerial perspective allowed them to document the scale of this water crisis and how it impacts communities and ecosystems. Climate change has triggered an unprecedented drought along the Colorado River, straining water reserves throughout its vast basin. Longer, hotter summers are increasing water demand in desert communities, while warmer winters and reduced snowpack are causing less water to flow into the river. Wildfires in the headwaters region add further stress to the rivers and streams that feed the Colorado. As a result, reservoir levels have fallen to historic lows, creating an array of ecological and human challenges. The series begins at the Colorado River Delta, where Len meets with LightHawk partner **Restauremos el Colorado** to discuss the impact of pulse flows, which are strategic water releases designed to reconnect the river to the sea. These flows are already fostering recovery, demonstrating the river’s resilience and the potential to revitalize the Delta’s ecosystems and traditional practices when water is allowed to reach it. Heading north, Len travels to the Imperial Valley, one of the nation’s most productive agricultural areas, to understand the essential role of water in farming and food production. Here, he learns about innovative methods to increase water-use efficiency in agriculture, which accounts for about 80% of the river’s water usage. In the third episode, Len visits Las Vegas to explore the city’s conservation efforts. Despite being one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., Las Vegas has taken significant measures to limit water consumption in the middle of the desert. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-078.jpg) The Colorado River Delta, the final reaches of the Colorado River. *Photo by Angus Morton* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_2037-scaled.jpeg) LightHawk volunteer pilot Bill Rush with Len Necefer and videographer. *Photo by Angus Morton* Future episodes will continue to follow Len’s journey upstream to the river’s headwaters, where he meets conservationists and stakeholders who rely on the river’s flow. As the series continues, we look forward to working with Len and his team, leveraging our aerial perspectives to highlight the critical importance of water conservation across the Colorado River system. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-125.jpg) Coastline in Baja California, Mexico. *Photo by Angus Morton* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-158.jpg) The aerial perspective provides a better understanding of the scale of conservation issues. *Photo by Angus Morton* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-117.jpg) Agriculture along the Colorado River provides food for millions in the U.S. *Photo by Angus Morton* ## Upcoming Flights - Sonoran Institute – Baja Mexico - Trout Unlimited – Oregon - The Redford Center – Baja Mexico - Red Wolf SAFE Transport – North Carolina-Florida - King Tide Videography – Maine - King Tide videography – Florida - King Tide videography – New Jersey - Naples Illustrated – Florida - Brickell Magazine – Florida - King Tide videography – Massachusetts - King Tide videography – New Hampshire - King Tide videography – Maryland - Lake Champlain algal bloom – Vermont - Tug Hill Tom Land Trust – New York **Categories:** Focus: Waterways, Newsletters --- ### [15 Wolves. Three Flights. One Historic Return to Colorado.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/featured-mission-january-2025/) **Published:** January 31, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Facebook-Image-from-LightHawk.jpg) An endangered gray wolf looks back after being released into the Colorado backcountry. *Photo by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.* In early January, LightHawk volunteer pilots once again took to the skies in support of a historic conservation effort, transporting gray wolves to Colorado as part of the state’s voter-mandated reintroduction program. For the second time, LightHawk partnered with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to safely deliver wolves to their new home. This year’s mission involved three flights over several days, ferrying a total of 15 wolves from British Columbia to Colorado. These additions bring the state’s wolf population to 29 in the ongoing effort to restore this iconic species. Each flight presented challenges, including headwinds up to 100 knots, but our pilots were successful in ensuring the wolves arrived with minimal stress. Given the complexity of these missions, every detail had to align perfectly, from coordinating with multiple agencies to clearing customs for international transport. Months of planning paid off, and thanks to the dedication of our pilots, these wolves are now back into the wild roaming the mountain landscapes. Our heartfelt thanks go to the incredible volunteer pilots who donated their time and aircraft to make this mission possible. They have chosen to remain anonymous, but their impact speaks volumes. This mission is just one example of the critical work LightHawk pilots contribute to conservation. From wolves and black-footed ferrets to whooping cranes and white abalone, our flights are helping restore endangered species across North America. Please join us in celebrating all of our dedicated volunteer pilots who make these missions possible. Their passion and generosity fuel conservation from the skies! ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-4.jpg) *The transport team carefully unloads a wolf crate after one of three LightHawk flights, each capable of transporting up to five gray wolves per trip. Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-IMG-7293.jpg) *A Pilatus PC-12 waits on the ramp for wolves to be loaded before heading to Colorado to meet with state wildlife biologists. Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-2.jpg) *A look inside the cargo area of a LightHawk flight showing carefully secured transport crates, each housing an endangered gray wolf. Photo credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Pilot View: Flying Gray Wolves to Colorado for a Historic Reintroduction](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-january-2025-featured-mission/) **Published:** February 4, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-4-1024x683.jpg)*LightHawk CEO Jim Becker assists Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff remove a wolf crate from the plane upon arrival in Colorado.* LightHawk CEO Jim Becker helps Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff unload a gray wolf following its flight to Colorado, part of the state’s historic effort to return the species to the wild. *Photo by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.* ## **A Wolf Transport Mission – The Pilot’s Perspective** ### **Mission Planning** The mission was to transport 15 gray wolves from British Columbia, Canada to Colorado to assist Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in fulfilling their mandate to bring 30 to 50 wolves into Colorado to reestablish a wolf presence in the State. British Columbia has more than 10,000 wolves so they were happy to cooperate. Brooke George, LightHawk Wildlife Program Manager, ran the operation for LightHawk and recruited longtime Volunteer Pilot, Jack, to provide the airlift capability with his Pilatus PC12 operating out of Prince George, British Columbia (YXS). The wolf capture teams operated out of Mackenzie Airport (YZY) a single runway airport about 55.30N. They chased each wolf from a helicopter, dropped a net over it and then landed and tranquilized the wolf. The original plan was to have the PC12 fly from Prince George to Mackenzie to pick up the wolves and then head south to Colorado. It was quickly realized that that short pick-up flight added considerable risk to the mission. Approach minimums at YZY were 600’ and it sits on a large river that generates a lot of morning fog. That idea was dropped and the five wolves in their crates were driven the 90 miles from Mackenzie to Prince George the morning of the transport flights. Jack has flown his PC12 all around the world, literally, and came prepared for a serious cold weather scenario as the temperature at YXS had dropped to -40 degrees F the previous January. There was no hanger space available, so Jack brought low wattage heaters, wing covers, an engine blanket and a small deice kit. He also consulted with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police pilots who fly PC12s out of Prince George. The FBO, Bid Air, had start carts and could arrange for the de-ice boom truck. After all that, except for the first day, the temperature was above freezing the whole time. Bringing the wolves into the U.S. requires clearing both U.S. Customs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Initially Eagle County (KEGE) was chosen as both those functions were available and Eagle was convenient to where CPW wished to release the wolves. KEGE is more than a 1,000 NM from YXS so even at the roughly 250kts cruise of the PC12 the flight legs were 4+ hours headed southbound and five hours headed north, into the winds. With the short days, only one flight per day was practical and with five wolves per trip, this mission would take at least six days. Jim Becker, LightHawk CEO, was enlisted as load master and copilot to fly with Jack. With all the variables; wolves, weather, aircraft, pilots, international boundaries and distance, this was one of the most complex missions LightHawk has ever undertaken. ### **The Flights** On Friday, Jan 10, it was a 9 hour flight to Prince George, with a stop in Ft Collins, Colorado to pick up empty crates. CPW had captured three wolves by late Friday so the first transport flight was postponed a day. Saturday CPW captured two more wolves so, on Sunday at 7 a.m., Jack and Jim started getting the PC12 ready. There had been a heavy frost that night and the temperature was still slightly below freezing. They took the wing covers off and the wings were clean but within 10 minutes the frost had reformed. Jack called for the deicing truck. At 7:45 a.m., the CPW crew arrived with the five wolves in crates and started loading. The five crates took up every inch of cabin space and the wolf handler had to crawl over the crates to get into their seat. After deicing, the flight headed south. Jack’s preflight planning said FL270 was optimal. The weather was spectacularly clear with a smooth ride to Eagle and incredible scenery over the Rockies. The approach into Eagle is quite interesting with high terrain in all quadrants, but the Eagle weather was CAVU so it was not a problem. After clearing in, the wolves were unloaded and CPW took them to their new homes. Monday, it was a five-hour flight back to YXS battling headwinds the whole way. Tuesday morning, Jack and Jim loaded the next five wolves and departed. There was a bit of IMC on the way up to FL290 with some moderate icing but the PC12 easily handled it. The team decided not to go back to Eagle but the next closest airport that had both U.S. Customs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was Denver International (KDEN), a very busy Class B airport. With its parallel runways, east and west sides and multiple towers, it’s a busy approach. The weather was clear and with turboprop speeds the PC12 fit right in. They cleared at KDEN and then hopped over to Grand Junction, CO to offload the wolves and spend the night before another five-hour flight back to YXS on Wednesday. For the last transport flight, Jack decided to clear Customs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife at Great Falls, MT due to their availability at the airport and the fact that fuel was half the price it was at the busy Colorado airports. After unloading the wolves at Grand Junction and spending the night there, Jack headed home and picked up a 150kt tailwind headed south. A small reward for a mission well executed. For LightHawk pilots looking to get involved in similar missions, Jack has simple advice, “Be flexible. Wildlife doesn’t work on a set schedule, and neither do these flights. But if you can adapt, the work you do is incredibly important. Jack’s new nickname, “Wolf Man Jack” is firmly recorded in LightHawk’s records. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-2.jpg) *Five crates with endangered gray wolves are loaded into the aircraft for transport. The flights were conducted with passenger seats removed in order to make room for the crates. Photo by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/LightHawk-IMG-1850.jpg) The paws of one of the wolves during pre-flight health checks. Photo by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Facebook-Image-from-LightHawk.jpg) *One of the wolves looks back after being released into the wild. Photo by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/LightHawk-IMG-7293.jpg) *The plane stands ready for the next round of transports. Photo by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.* **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Pilot View --- ### [Water, Lithium and the Future of Utah’s Red Rock Country](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/featured-mission-february-2025-protecting-iconic-landscapes-with-the-aerial-perspective/) **Published:** February 25, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![Mining evaporation ponds in front of beautiful red rock landscapes.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003209_web.jpg) Evaporation ponds from potash mining stand in stark contrast to Utah’s red rock landscape, with the La Sal Mountains in the distance. *Photo by Cody Perry* Technology is a double-edged sword. While it enhances our daily lives and increases productivity, the process of extracting the metals needed for batteries to power our electronics can be devastating to the environment. This month, we highlight a mission in Utah to document potential drill sites near breathtaking red rock formations. Earlier this year, conservation partner **[Rig to Flip](https://www.rigtoflip.org/)** teamed up with LightHawk to document Utah’s landscapes at risk from industrial development. Four exploratory drill sites for lithium and potash have been proposed on the eastern portion of Labyrinth Canyon. These wells would require immense amounts of water, and if full-scale operations proceed, demand will rise dramatically. With water in the Colorado Basin already overallocated, its demand outpacing supply most years, a prolonged drought has only deepened the crisis, forcing tough decisions across the region. To shed light on these threats, the flight captured high-resolution photos and video of the iconic Redrock terrain currently in the crosshairs of extraction and expansion. The flight focused on collecting digital imagery, both photos and video, highlighting iconic Redrock terrain currently in the crosshairs of extraction and expansion. The flight route took passengers along the border of Arches National Park, offering a striking aerial perspective of the threatened landscape. LightHawk volunteer pilots Lee Gerstein and John Priscu departed from Moab Airport with passengers coordinated by Rig to Flip. Along the way, the passengers captured photos and video of the region’s natural landscapes, rivers, and nearby drilling and mining operations. Among the passengers was County Commissioner Trisha Hedin, who shared her perspective on the experience: *“This flight allowed me a large-scale overview of the landscape and those areas that might be impacted by future proposed lithium mining. It also allowed me to see the proximity of these explorations in correlation to other existing industries. The pilot and the plane were amazing!”* Social media influencer “**[Western Water Gal](https://www.tiktok.com/@westernwatergirl?lang=en)**” (Teal Lehto) was also on the flight, using her platform to amplify the message. She produced a video discussing the issue and featuring video from the flight for her 64,000 [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@westernwatergirl?lang=en) followers and another 10,000 on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/westernwatergirl/). The imagery collected on the flight will be used for outreach materials and press coverage to highlight the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decisions regarding land use. The group intends to focus on the proposed drill sites and their impact on water resources. As one of the nation’s most beautiful and iconic landscapes, situated along one of our most vital waterways, it’s important to bring attention to the threats the proposed drill operations pose to the area. The aerial perspective makes the issue clear, revealing how drilling could put scenic rock formations and the river at risk. Thank you to volunteer pilots **Lee Gerstein and John Priscu** for generously donating their time and expertise to make these flights possible. ![Two men standing in front of a small, high-wing aircraft.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/image001-scaled.jpg) Photo by John Priscu ![Group of six people standing in front of a small aircraft.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1002905-scaled.jpg) Photo by Cody Perry ![A red rock landscape with large rock cliffs in front of a snow-capped mountain range.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003145_web.jpg)![Mining ponds with bright blue and green water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003255-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1002997-scaled.jpg)![A fracking drill as seen from the air surrounded by reddish brown landscape.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1002922-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1002974-scaled.jpg)![A mining refining site as seen from above.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1002966-scaled.jpg)![Iconic red rock landscapes of Utah in front of a snow-capped mountain range.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003164_web.jpg) *Photos by Cody Perry* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways --- ### [On The Wing News – Winter 2025](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-winter-2025/) **Published:** March 4, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## **Conservation Is About Connection** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/LightHawk-IMG-0238-copy-scaled-e1732299622436.jpg) Have you ever watched a flock of birds shift and turn in perfect unison, as if they share one mind? Or stood by a river, knowing that the water at your feet has traveled for miles through forests, grasslands, and wetlands before reaching you? Nature is all about connection. Every species, every habitat, every action influences the next. And from the air, those connections become even clearer. From above, we can see how rivers carve through the land, how forests and wetlands create lifelines for wildlife, and how species move across a landscape that is constantly changing. It’s a view that makes it impossible to ignore both the beauty and the challenges facing our natural world. This winter, as we reflect on another year of conservation, we think about the stories that remind us why this work matters: stories of both hope and urgency. In Colorado, gray wolves are returning to a landscape where they’ve been absent for decades. A species that was once erased is being brought back through the will of the people. Out west, thousands of grebes complete their annual migration to Mono Lake, a journey that has played out for generations, yet one that depends on continued conservation efforts like aerial surveys to monitor and protect their future. At the same time, we see the cost of imbalance—like Florida’s toxic red tide, stretching over a hundred miles, a stark warning of nature pushed too far. These stories, though different, are all connected. When species disappear, when habitats are damaged, when natural cycles are disrupted, we don’t just lose wildlife — we lose parts of the world that make life richer, in ways both measurable and deeply felt. At LightHawk, we fly because conservation is about connection — between species and landscapes, past and future, those who care and those who take action. Because seeing the world from above reminds us, time and time again, that these connections matter. This is why we fly. And we’re so grateful to share these stories of connection—stories that you make possible. In appreciation, Joanna Weitzel *Chief Advancement Officer* ## **LightHawk Flies Wolves to Colorado for Reintroduction** ![Copco 1 Dam on the Klamath River being removed as seen from a LightHawk flight earlier this year.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Facebook-Image-4-scaled.jpg) *One of the transported wolves looks back before running into the Colorado backcountry. It was one of 15 wolves relocated from British Columbia, Canada to Colorado as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to build a gray wolf population after voters mandated the reintroduction. Photo by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.* In mid-January, over 6 days, LightHawk successfully transported 15 gray wolves from British Columbia, Canada, to Colorado for partners at **Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)** as part of a voter-mandated reintroduction effort. The wolves, accompanied by handlers, arrived safely and were transferred to CPW staff for release into the wild. This complex, multi-flight mission required extensive coordination between LightHawk, CPW, and Canadian wildlife officials. Over the course of three flights, **a single LightHawk volunteer pilot (VP)** donated more than 30 hours of turbine aircraft time in a Pilatus PC-12 to ensure the wolves’ safe transport. Joining him in the cockpit was LightHawk CEO and co-pilot, Jim Becker. The international nature of the operation, combined with the need to minimize stress on the wolves and navigate cold-weather conditions, made this a challenging mission—but one LightHawk was uniquely equipped to handle. ### **Careful Planning for a Critical Mission** Transporting wild animals across an international border required months of careful planning. LightHawk staff worked closely with CPW to identify suitable airports, coordinate customs clearance, and synchronize operations between the teams on the ground and in the air. Meanwhile, CPW biologists in British Columbia had just two days per trip to locate, capture, and prepare five wolves per flight—a number chosen to maximize transport capacity while prioritizing animal welfare. The effort required close collaboration with all partners to safely secure and clear the wolves before each flight. LightHawk’s volunteer pilot played a key role in executing the mission, not only by flying the aircraft but also by adapting to harsh winter conditions. Subfreezing temperatures required extra preparation, including insulating the engine cowling, acquiring heaters for avionics, and utilizing deicing procedures. Thoughtful flight planning also ensured that each transport route minimized stress on the wolves while maximizing efficiency. ### **A Pilot’s Perspective on Conservation Flights** This was not the first wolf transport flight for our VP, who has previously transported Mexican gray wolves, both adults and pups. He finds these flights rewarding because of the unique challenges they present, noting that the planning and execution of complex conservation missions is fulfilling in itself. Beyond the technical aspects, he values the chance to contribute to conservation efforts in a meaningful way, sharing, “Taking part in LightHawk flights and making a positive difference in conservation is something I truly appreciate.” LightHawk’s volunteer pilot played a key role in executing the mission, not only by flying the aircraft but also by adapting to harsh winter conditions. Subfreezing temperatures required extra preparation, including insulating the engine cowling, acquiring heaters for avionics, and utilizing deicing procedures. Thoughtful flight planning also ensured that each transport route minimized stress on the wolves while maximizing efficiency. ### **A Continuing Commitment to Conservation** This transport marks LightHawk’s second series of flights in support of CPW’s gray wolf reintroduction plan. The first mission, completed in December 2023, by another LightHawk volunteer pilot, relocated nine of ten gray wolves from Oregon to Colorado, ensuring the state met its voter-mandated deadline. Each flight reinforces the invaluable role aviation plays in conservation. By minimizing stress and ensuring safe, efficient transport, LightHawk helps advance the recovery and long-term survival of endangered species. Across the country, we remain committed to using aviation to support conservation, restore ecosystems, and protect wildlife. These historic missions would not have been possible without the dedication of our volunteer pilots, the collaboration of our partners, and the support of everyone who believes in this work. Thank you for making a difference in the future of gray wolves and the landscapes they call home. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LightHawk-Image-4.jpg)![Airplane with engine blanket sits in the cold.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Plane_NoTailNumber-scaled.jpg)![A large live animal crate sits next to a plane before wildlife biologists load it into a waiting airplane.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/LightHawk-IMG-0298-225x300.jpg) #### Partner Spotlight ## **Mono Lake Committee takes flight for Eared Grebes** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Mono-Lake-Committee-Logo.png) Founded in 1978, the **Mono Lake Committee** is a nonprofit citizens’ group dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mono Basin ecosystem, educating the public on the environmental impacts of excessive water use, and promoting cooperative solutions that safeguard Mono Lake while addressing real water needs. For the past few years, LightHawk has partnered with the Mono Lake Committee to enhance their monitoring efforts by providing aerial surveys of the Eared Grebe population at Mono Lake. These flights offer an efficient and comprehensive way to gather population data on a species that relies heavily on this unique ecosystem. Eared Grebes (EAGRs) use Mono Lake, CA, and Great Salt Lake, UT, as key staging areas where they molt their body and wing feathers after breeding. The fact that nearly the entire North American population of EAGRs concentrates at just two geographically restricted sites is highly unusual for any migratory species. This makes EAGRs an ideal candidate for monitoring outside the breeding season. LightHawk’s aerial support plays a key role in expanding the scope and efficiency of these surveys, providing a broader and more accurate dataset for long-term monitoring. The Mono Lake EAGR dataset is expected to serve as an essential baseline for future conservation work. Findings from these surveys could inform a much larger initiative to tag EAGRs across their breeding range, leading to a more robust understanding of their migration patterns and affiliations at a continental scale. Additionally, EAGRs may serve as indicators of wetland health for other species that share these habitats. The data gathered through this collaboration will contribute to peer-reviewed research, scientific conferences, and conservation planning efforts, furthering the understanding and protection of Mono Lake’s ecosystem. LightHawk is proud to support the Mono Lake Committee by using aviation to advance research that informs future management strategies for Eared Grebes and the fragile habitats they rely on. #### CLIMATE CORNER ## **Documenting Red Tides from Above the Florida Coast** Red tide is a growing problem, made worse by climate change and pollution. As waters warm, conditions become more favorable for these toxic algal blooms. Add in fertilizer runoff from industrial farms, and the result is a perfect storm—harmful algae flourish, creating serious risks for marine life. These algae release toxins called brevetoxins, which don’t just affect fish. They build up in seagrass beds and ocean sediment, making their way into the food chain and impacting sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. According to **Captains for Clean Water**, a big part of the problem comes from Lake Okeechobee’s water releases. When the lake gets too full, water managers dump massive amounts of polluted water into canals leading to the coasts. This fuels red tide, damages estuaries, kills marine life, threatens human health, and devastates local economies. To help bring attention to this crisis, LightHawk took to the skies with Captains for Clean Water earlier this year, flying over the red tide bloom off Sanibel Island, FL. From above, the scale of the bloom was clear. The team captured photos and videos to share across social media, helping educate the public and build support for solutions. One solution is the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. This project would store and treat polluted water before it reaches the coast, allowing it to flow naturally through the Everglades instead, restoring habitat and protecting wildlife. LightHawk will continue working with **Captains for Clean Water**, the **Everglades Foundation**, and other partners to document the impact of red tide and support conservation efforts. By using aviation to capture the big picture, we help raise awareness and drive action to protect Florida’s fragile ecosystems. ![Image taken from the cabin of a small airplane of red tide growth.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Photo-020870-scaled.jpeg) **The red tide documented** on this flight stretches for nearly 100 miles along the coast. Images collected during the flight will be used to engage the public to support clean water conservation efforts. *Photo by Jay Apt.* ![Videography capturing imagery through the window of a small aircraft flying over the coast of Florida.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Photo-020867-scaled.jpeg) **A videographer records imagery** of an expansive red tide along the Florida coast off Sanibel Island. *Photo by Jay Apt.* ## Upcoming Flights - Flight in Florida to document drivers of algal blooms - Washington flight in support of wolverine recovery - Colorado flight to educate law students on natural resources management issues - Flight in Idaho to document snow machine use in grizzly habitat - California flight to educate new DPC staff on the landscape, agriculture, communities and watersheds of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. - Texas flight to document impacts of border wall on wildlife - Flight starting in Georgia to transport masked bobwhite quail to Pennsylvania - Multiple flights in Vermont to collect aerial imagery - Massachusetts flights to detect shorebird activity and horseshoe crab spawning events - Flight in Iowa to collect imagery along the Mississippi River - A media flight in Floriday to highlight Everglades restoration - Flight in Missouri to capture imagery of the Mississippi River ## SAVE THE DATE ### **50 Flights. 50 Days. One Planet to Protect** **Connecting people, projects, and places to inspire action and drive real change across North America.** **May 26 – July 14** [**LightHawk.org/50-in-50**](/50-in-50) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/50-in-50-Logo-v1.png) **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Newsletters --- ### [Pilot View: Flying Utah’s Red Rock Country for Conservation](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/march-2025-notam-featured-mission/) **Published:** March 17, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![Mining ponds with bright blue and green water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003209_web.jpg)*From the cockpit, Utah’s red rock landscape and existing industrial development come into view, giving passengers a clearer sense of the scale and proximity of proposed drilling near Moab.* LightHawk partnered with[ Rig to Flip](https://www.rigtoflip.org/), a group that produces amazing videos about Western rivers, to fly 7 people to see the potential impact from mine drilling operations next to the Green River near Moab and Arches National Park. The passengers included photographers, Trisha Hedin from the County Commission, and a social media influencer, [Western Water Gal](https://www.instagram.com/westernwatergirl/?hl=en), and Rig to Flip co-founder Cody Perry. Given the number of passengers involved, two Volunteer Pilots were recruited to fly this mission. **John Priscu** flying his Maule MT-7-235 and **Lee Gerstein** flying his Bonanza B36TC. John is a recently retired Professor of Ecology at Montana State University, now splitting his time between Hurricane, Utah and Bozeman, Montana. He is still active in ecology research and after this mission was headed to the high arctic to work on a NASA project. John is also a very active RAF pilot – no surprise given that he has the perfect airplane for back country flying. He flies out of IL8, General Dick Stout Field, a 3300’ GA airport in Hurricane, UT. John is very positive on his LightHawk flying describing it as “donating my time to a good cause,” and “these flights are an adventure.” Lee Gerstein flies out of Salt Lake City, (KSLC), enjoys life in the Rocky Mountain West and loves the desert and red rocks of Utah. Lee also flies for Angel Flight, making good use of his traveling machine, a turbocharged Bonanza. He commented that flying for LightHawk is, “a great use of a small plane” and that it is, “a great excuse to fly doing something that is very worthwhile.” Lee added, “If you take up a policy maker, a journalist, a scientist… they will get a sense of the area they are interested and involved in that they will never get by driving around in a truck for six hours. It’s totally different.” A perfect description of LightHawk’s mission. ![Mining ponds with bright blue and green water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003255-scaled.jpg)![A mining refining site as seen from above.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1002966-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1002974-scaled.jpg)![A red rock landscape with large rock cliffs in front of a snow-capped mountain range.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003145_web.jpg)![Iconic red rock landscapes of Utah in front of a snow-capped mountain range.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/P1003164_web.jpg) *Photos by Cody Perry.* The mission launched from Canyonlands Regional Airport (KCNY). It was a 160 nm ferry flight for Lee but a 195 nm ferry for John and he ran into strong headwinds on the way up. He did however, fly over Zion National Park and some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, a small compensation for a slow groundspeed. Given the number of passengers, John and Lee decided they each would make two flights spreading the load. John would fly low, about 500’ AGL with the photographer at about 70kts while Lee would fly high cover at 1,500’ and about 120 kts. They devised a clever way to allow the passengers in both airplanes to communicate and discuss what they were seeing in real time. All the passengers had headsets and both John and Lee set their No. 2 radios on an interplane frequency and set up the audio panels so everyone could communicate. That allowed Cody Perry, who led the trip, to describe what they were seeing. Both pilots could keep an eye on the other’s location using ADS-B. Each flight took about an hour. The weather was perfect, CAVU, with little turbulence and no other traffic in the airspace. Lee mentioned that the FBO at Canyonlands, Red Tail Jet Center, was very accommodating and a pleasure to work with. Both Lee and John felt that it was a very successful flight; supporting press coverage of industrial use of the land in and around world-renowned Utah landscapes and providing an opportunity for local elected leaders to gain a unique aerial perspective of the landscape. Surely an excellent use of a GA aircraft. Two of the passengers also commented on the flight. Trisha Hedin, of the Grand County, County Commission, said, “This flight allowed me a large-scale overview of the landscape and those areas that might be impacted by future proposed lithium mining. It also allowed me to see the proximity of these explorations in correlation to other existing industries. The pilot and the plane were amazing!” The Western Water Gal has already posted her video on TikTok. Watch it below! [Watch the video produced by Western Water Gal!](https://www.tiktok.com/@westernwatergirl/video/7471047446722907434?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7447260181526087210) > [@westernwatergirl](https://www.tiktok.com/@westernwatergirl?refer=embed "@westernwatergirl") Replying to @Shiva Rajbhandari generic caption so the algo gods are pleased [\#grwm](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/grwm?refer=embed "grwm") [\#ootd](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ootd?refer=embed "ootd") [\#longhair](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/longhair?refer=embed "longhair") [\#selfie](https://www.tiktok.com/tag/selfie?refer=embed "selfie") [♬ original sound – Western Water Girl](https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7471047426334411566?refer=embed "♬ original sound - Western Water Girl") **Categories:** Focus: Wild Places, Pilot View --- ### [Looking for Loons In All the Frozen Places](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/march-2025-conservation-flyer-featured-mission-looking-for-loons-in-all-the-frozen-places/) **Published:** March 31, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Loon-Mission-Picture-Jan-15-2025-1.jpg) *Flying over Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire to search for loons stranded by winter ice. From above, LightHawk helped partners scan the frozen lake for birds in distress and identify where rescue efforts might be needed. Photo by Harry Vogel.* Life as a loon is filled with challenges. One of the most deadly? Mistaking a small piece of lead fishing tackle for food. For loons, ingesting lead is almost always a death sentence, with most dying within just 2 to 4 weeks. Or you might have to deal with shoreline development, which takes away valuable habitat and forces you to find a new place to live. Loons build their nests on the shorelines or islands of lakes and ponds; the same areas people often develop for homes or recreation. And if lead or development doesn’t get you, there’s still climate change. High temperatures can stress loons while they’re nesting, and heavy rains can flood their nests entirely. And if you make it through all of that, winter comes along and strands you in the middle of a partially frozen lake. Loons take off by running across the surface of the water while flapping their wings to create lift. Unfortunately, they cannot do this on land. Their legs are positioned too far back on their bodies, making them unable to walk on solid surfaces. As ice forms, the water runway for a loon shrinks. If it becomes too small, a loon can become stranded, unable to take off. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_6017-scaled.jpg) *Flying over a frozen river looking for stranded loons. Loons need open water in order to be able to take off since their legs are not meant for walking on solid ground. Photo by Harry Vogel.* This LightHawk flight allowed the Loon Preservation Committee to survey most of Lake Winnipesaukee in central New Hampshire for stranded Common Loons. Approximately 35,000 acres of lake surface were covered during this flight, and fortunately, no loons were found to be stranded. Harry Vogel of the Loon Preservation Committee said: *“Finding and rescuing loons is most difficult on large lakes like Winnipesaukee, where much of the lake is not visible from shore and cannot be easily accessed due to stretches of thin ice. Flying over these areas is the only way to locate loons in need of rescue in these remote sections. The information gained during this flight will allow us to focus our efforts on the remaining areas of open water. Thank you, LightHawk, for helping us fulfill this vital part of our mission to help loons!”* Thank you to Volunteer Pilot Mike McNamara for donating his time and skills for this flight, helping to protect our fellow flyers. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_6048-scaled.jpg) *Looking at a frozen lake searching for loons stranded by ice. Doing this work by air allows the Loon Preservation Committee to cover more than 35,000 acres of lakes and ice in a short amount of time. Photo by Harry Vogel.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250115_1005400-scaled.jpg) *Volunteer pilot Mike McNamara with a member of the Loon Preservation Committee in front of his Beechcraft Bonanza. Photo by Harry Vogel.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Tracking Yosemite’s Elusive Fishers from the Air](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/may-2025-mission-of-the-month-tracking-yosemites-elusive-fishers-from-the-air/) **Published:** May 29, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_122713-scaled.jpg) *Flying over Yosemite National Park conducting aerial telemetry with park staff to locate a missing endangered fisher. Photo by Joe Medley.* When a young fisher known as M19 was released back into **Yosemite National Park** last year after recovering from injury, biologists outfitted him with a small tracking collar to monitor his movements and survival in the wild. But when M19’s signal went silent in December, Yosemite biologists and LightHawk quickly launched an aerial telemetry flight to help locate him. Fishers are small, tree-dwelling carnivores that once thrived throughout Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. Today, they survive in only two isolated populations in California—one near the California/Oregon border and the other in the southern Sierra Nevada. Habitat loss, development, intense wildfires, vehicle strikes, disease, and exposure to toxic rodenticides have all contributed to their decline. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250508_145843.jpg) Antenna’s mounted to the wing strut can pick up signals from a fisher’s radio collar when they’re nearby. Flying a search pattern allows staff to cover ground quickly and efficiently. Photo by Joe Medley. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_105723-scaled.jpg) Partner Joe Medley and LightHawk volunteer pilot Mark Dedon work together in the search for the missing fisher. Photo by Joe Medley. Biologists are working to better understand fisher behavior and habitat use, especially in areas affected by fire and tree mortality. Aerial telemetry plays a key role in this research, allowing teams to cover large, rugged areas quickly and efficiently. The data gathered helps inform land management strategies, including the use of prescribed burns to improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. In early May, LightHawk volunteer pilot Mark Dedon once again flew over the park with a telemetry antenna mounted to his aircraft, scanning the landscape for signs of M19. Although M19 was not located during this flight, LightHawk is working closely with Yosemite National Park staff to schedule additional flights. The team also hopes to locate six other fishers whose collars have recently gone silent. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_123930-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_123953-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_124011-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_125810-scaled.jpg) Flying over Yosemite National Park provides some stunning views, like this waterfall. Despite teh goregous landscape, the flight provided valuable data for scientists tracking fishers in the park. Photo by Joe Medley. This mission highlights the value of aerial monitoring in advancing species recovery. LightHawk flights help stretch limited resources and provide essential data to guide smarter conservation decisions. LightHawk is saving time, saving resources and saving fishers! Thank you to volunteer pilot Mark Dedon for lending your time and skills to this effort. Your support continues to play a vital role in protecting wildlife from above. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250508_155031.jpg) Fishers can be in rugged terrain, making locating them from the ground difficult or even impossible. Using aerial telemetry allows scientists to cover the same area quickly and safely. Photo by Joe Medley. **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Pilot View: Searching Frozen Lakes for Stranded Loons](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-featured-mission-aerial-survey-flight-for-stranded-loons/) **Published:** May 12, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Loon-Mission-Picture-Jan-15-2025-1.jpg) *An early, rapid freeze on Lake Winnipesaukee raised concerns that loons could become trapped by ice before migrating south. A LightHawk survey flight found no stranded birds, a welcome sign that the loons had already moved on to warmer waters. Photo by Harry Vogel.* #### **The Issue** Loons are built for water, not land. Their legs sit so far back on their bodies that walking is nearly impossible. To migrate south each winter, loons need a long stretch of open water to take off. When lakes freeze early, they can become trapped and unable to reach the open water they need to survive. That’s where our partners at the Loon Preservation Committee come in. With help from LightHawk volunteer pilot Mike McNamara, they took to the sky over Lake Winnipesaukee to search for stranded loons. #### **The Flight** Mike flies a Beechcraft Debonair based out of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. For this mission, he traveled to a small, snow-covered airport near the lake. The runway was windswept and quiet, with only a locked building onsite. Fortunately, Mike was familiar with the area, including Alton Bay, which transforms into a plowed ice runway in the winter months. When the Loon Preservation Committee team arrived, Mike briefed them on what to expect. Snow and cold temperatures were in the forecast, so he warned of possible turbulence. The team had a few concerns—mainly about whether they could cover enough ground and stay warm during the flight. Mike assured them his plane was fast enough to efficiently survey the lake at a slower speed and that the engine put out plenty of heat to keep the cabin comfortable. He also gave a few photography tips: set the camera focus to infinity and avoid pressing the lens against the window, since vibrations can cause image blur. Mike initially planned to fly at 1,000 feet, but bumpy air led him to climb to 1,600 feet, where conditions were smoother. From above, the team could see areas that are difficult or impossible to access from the ground. While parts of the lake are visible from public access points, much of the shoreline is private and hidden from view. That’s why this flight was so valuable. Most of the lake had already frozen, earlier than expected. That raised concern that loons may have been caught before they could migrate. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Loon-Mission-Picture-Jan-15-2025.jpg) *Pilot Mike McNamara had both passengers sit on the right side of the plane, then made all of his turns to the right, allowing them unobstructed views of the lake despite being in a low-wing aircraft. Photos by Harry Vogel.* #### **Flight Details and Reflections** Mike typically cruises faster, but for this mission he held his speed at around 100 knots—well above the 70-knot landing speed, but ideal for safe and steady aerial observation. To provide optimal views, he had both passengers sit on the right side of the plane. He then made a series of right-hand turns around the lake, giving them clear lines of sight for their search. Despite the Debonair being a low-wing aircraft, it performed well for this kind of survey work. On the return, a strong crosswind meant the plane wasn’t pointed directly at the runway. This crabbing technique into the wind made the passengers nervous at first, but Mike calmly explained that things would smooth out on final approach and that, despite appearances, they were aligned for a safe landing. The flight lasted about 30 minutes and included several passes over Lake Winnipesaukee and a nearby smaller lake. The team took many photos for further review. While no loons were spotted, the absence of birds was good news. It suggested that the loons had managed to migrate before the lake froze over. If stranded birds had been found, it would have triggered a difficult and risky ice rescue effort. Instead, volunteers could focus resources elsewhere, confident that the early freeze had not trapped any birds. Mike shared that one of the things he enjoys most about flying for LightHawk is learning about new conservation challenges. He gained a new appreciation for loons during this mission and was inspired to learn that both of his passengers work full-time on loon conservation. Before leaving, he promised to visit them at their base this summer. Thank you to volunteer pilot Mike McNamara for making this mission possible and for sharing your reflections. Just as Mike enjoys learning from our partners, we are always grateful to hear from the pilots who help bring LightHawk’s conservation missions to life. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250115_1005400-scaled.jpg) *Volunteer pilot Mike McNamara and a passenger from the Loon Preservation Committee standing next to Mike’s Beechcraft Debonair. Photo by Harry Vogel.* **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Pilot View --- ### [Pilot View: Searching for Yosemite’s Elusive Fishers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-june-2025-featured-mission-the-pilots-perspective-tracking-yosemites-elusive-fishers-from-the-air/) **Published:** June 26, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_123953-scaled.jpg) *TThe search for missing fisher M19 took volunteer pilot Mark Dedon and passenger Joe Medley over Yosemite National Park, with Half Dome rising prominently in the foreground. *Photo by Joe Medley.** Yosemite’s towering forests are home to one of California’s most elusive carnivores: the Pacific fisher. Once on the brink of disappearance in the Sierra Nevada, these agile, tree-dwelling mammals are slowly making a comeback thanks to intensive conservation efforts. LightHawk is playing a vital role in supporting this work from above—helping biologists monitor movements and search for missing animals. When the signal from a young male fisher known as M19 went dark, **Yosemite National Park** staff turned to LightHawk for help. The mission: fly a radio telemetry survey to search for signs of the missing animal before his collar’s battery died completely. For volunteer pilot **Mark Dedon**, a former wildlife biologist himself, it was a chance to combine his passion for aviation with a commitment to species recovery. Here’s Mark’s account of that flight: #### **The Planning** For volunteer pilot Mark Dedon, flights like this are more than just time in the air—they’re a return to his roots. A former wildlife biologist with PG&E, Mark is especially drawn to missions that support species recovery. When Yosemite biologists reached out about M19’s missing signal, he was quick to answer the call. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_124011-scaled.jpg) *The flight was over rugged, though beautiful terrain. Yosemite is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country as well as an abundance of wildlife. Photo by Joe Medley.* Alongside volunteer biologist Joe Medley, Mark prepared to fly a telemetry survey over one of the most iconic—and complex—landscapes in the country. Yosemite National Park’s dramatic terrain makes flying challenging on its own, but the skies above the park are often busy with helicopter tours, supply flights, and other aerial activity. Add in the urgency of locating a silent tracking collar before its battery died, and the stakes were clear. To ensure safety and success, Mark coordinated closely with park staff and local operators. Together, they developed a flight plan that would allow for thorough telemetry coverage without interfering with other park flights. Biologists shared a KML file of past fisher locations and likely habitat zones, guiding the team’s search over steep canyons and dense forests. #### **The Flight** Mark departed from Livermore, CA (KLVK) and met biologist **Joe Medley** at Mariposa-Yosemite Airport (KMPI). After fitting the telemetry antenna to the strut of Mark’s Cessna 182, they got airborne and climbed to 2,000 feet AGL to begin the search. Due to the high elevation, both Mark and Joe used supplemental oxygen. Once over the target polygons, they flew a series of parallel transects to systematically cover the area. Throughout the flight, they picked up intermittent signals on M19’s frequency but nothing conclusive. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_105723-scaled.jpg) *The terrain required Mark to fly at altitudes around 12,000 feet in order to stay at or above 2,000 AGL. That meant using supplemental oxygen during the flight. Photo by Joe Medley.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250508_145843.jpg) *Mark and Joe conducted the search throughout the park as well as areas just outside the park known to be fisher habitat. Photo by Joe Medley.* “We spent a good four hours searching the park and some adjacent areas with suitable habitat,” Mark said. “I stayed in regular contact with air traffic control, checking in and getting permission to drop off the frequency briefly to focus on telemetry, then coming back to check in.” The flight took them over iconic Yosemite landmarks, including Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. “We were up around 12,000 feet. Half Dome was prominent and very pretty. We got some nice pictures from our flight.” #### **The Results** Despite their best efforts, Mark and Joe were unable to locate Fisher M19. While disappointing, this is an inherent part of wildlife conservation. Not every mission ends in a confirmed sighting, but each flight contributes valuable lessons that inform future efforts. One such lesson came after the flight, when Mark invited a friend with Pinnacles National Park to bring their radio telemetry equipment to his hangar to investigate the spurious signal interference they had experienced on M19’s frequency. They discovered the issue was interference caused by the aircraft’s ADS-B navigation system. “We tested it with the navigation system turned on and off,” Mark explained. “The problem was the ADS-B system. It was only interfering with M19’s frequency, not the others.” For future telemetry flights, Mark thinks that temporarily disabling ADS-B during the search will improve signal clarity. Although M19 remains unaccounted for, park officials are already collaborating with LightHawk Wildlife Program Manager Brooke George to schedule a follow-up mission to search for additional fishers. Mark has expressed interest in continuing to support the project. “What I really love about these flights is the connection to the bio community,” he shared. “My background is wildlife biology.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_122713-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250509_125810-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250509_122713-scaled.jpg) *Yosemite National park provided a stunning backdrop to the telemetry flight. The park is home to a number of endangered fishers that can be difficult to locate from the ground – making telemetry flights by LightHawk invaluable. Photos by Joe Medley.* **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Pilot View --- ### [On The Wing News – Spring 2025](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-spring-2025/) **Published:** July 8, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## **The Power of Perspective** At LightHawk, we believe in the power of aviation to advance conservation. Seeing the land from above gives us perspective on what’s happening, what’s at risk, and where we can make the greatest impact. That view helps our partners work smarter, move faster, and make more informed decisions for the places they’re working to protect. This season, we’ve put that perspective to work in powerful ways. In Utah, we partnered with the University of Colorado-Boulder to fly law students over the Colorado Plateau, giving them a firsthand look at the complexity of managing natural resources in the West. In northern Idaho, we helped conservationists document snowmobile trespass in sensitive winter habitat for grizzlies and wolverines. These are remote areas that are nearly impossible to monitor from the ground. And in Washington, we supported efforts to protect native old-growth forests by flying over legacy stands that are quietly being lost to logging, even as their role in climate resilience and biodiversity grows more important by the day. Each of these flights responds to a different conservation challenge, but all share a common thread: the unique value of aerial access in protecting land, water, and wildlife. This month, we’re bringing back the 50 in 50 Challenge, an ambitious effort to fly 50 conservation missions in 50 days across the country. It’s a bold goal that reflects the scale of the challenges we face and the reach of our mission. We’ve seen what’s possible when the right people, tools, and perspectives come together, and we’re ready to take to the skies once again. Thank you for standing with us. Your support makes every flight possible and every outcome stronger. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/jimbecker.jpg) **Jim Becker** *CEO, LightHawk* #### FEATURED MISSION ## **Teaching the Next Generation About Landscape Conservation** How do you teach law students about complex natural resource issues across the Colorado Plateau? You take them to the skies. Conservation work protects the environment we depend on today and lays the foundation for future generations. To carry that work forward, the next generation of legal and policy professionals needs a clear understanding of where we stand, what we’ve accomplished, and what challenges remain. The missions we fly help deepen that understanding and inspire new voices to join the effort. LightHawk collaborated with the University of Colorado, Boulder to support an advanced natural resources field seminar focused on the Colorado Plateau. Together, we organized flights for 12 law students and their professor to explore the region’s unique landscapes from the air. These flights offered a powerful aerial perspective to complement their legal studies and ground-based learning. With federally protected lands under threat, helping the next generation experience the splendor and diversity of places like Bears Ears National Monument has never been more important. From above, the students explored Bears Ears, traced the paths of the Colorado and Green Rivers, and observed the La Sal mine complex in Utah—seeing firsthand how natural systems, cultural heritage, and industrial activity intersect across the region. These are perspectives they couldn’t gain from the ground. The experience gave students new insight into the lands and legal frameworks they are studying and left a lasting impression as they continue their education and prepare for careers in law and natural resource policy. As student Jamie Browning shared, “We were trying to learn more about the Colorado Plateau landscape, and this flight put everything into spatial perspective in a way that maps could never do. It was incredible!” This is how tomorrow’s changemakers learn the power of perspective—thinking across scales, jurisdictions, and ecosystems to understand how laws and natural systems are connected. Experiences like this help shape better advocates, policymakers, and stewards of the landscapes they’ll one day help protect. We extend a special thank you to our volunteer pilots, Ross Rice and Steve Meyer, for making this mission possible. Coordinating multiple flights in one day with multiple pilots is a unique capability of LightHawk, made possible by the dedication and generosity of our volunteer pilot community. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-03-23-at-9.58.22 AM-2.png)Planes head to the runway before taking off with students from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Photo by Jamie Browning. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_6994-scaled.jpeg)Students received an unparalleled view of the Colorado Plateau during their LightHawk flights. Photo by Jamie Browning.![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_6992-scaled-e1752001521471.jpeg)Students enjoy a unique experience only LightHawk can provide. Photo by Jamie Browning. #### PARTNER SPOTLIGHT ## **Protecting Idaho’s Ecosystems with the Inland Empire Task Force** The **Inland Empire Task Force** in Idaho is dedicated to protecting the state’s natural ecosystems, particularly in the northern regions. Founded by Priest River resident Paul Sieracki, the task force emphasizes the preservation of biodiversity, old-growth forests, and cold-water streams. **Mission and Activities** The **Inland Empire Task Force** takes part in environmental advocacy and legal actions to safeguard public lands. For instance, the group was among several conservation organizations that submitted a Notice of Intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service over the Kaniksu Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation Project, expressing concerns about its potential impact on sensitive habitats in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Their flights with LightHawk have helped document these impacts. Additionally, the task force participates in collaborative efforts aimed at sustainable land management. It is a member of the Priest River Watershed Group, a coalition comprising local stakeholders, tribes, and conservation organizations working together to address watershed health and land use planning in the region. The task force aims to ensure the long-term preservation of Idaho’s natural resources and biodiversity. #### CLIMATE CORNER ## **A Flight Over Washington’s Living Heritage** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Flyover-first-selection-20-scaled.jpeg)Old-growth forests store carbon, helping mitigate climate change. The logging of these forests limits our ability to store carbon and slow global warming. Photo by Legacy Forest Defense Coalition. Southwestern Washington is home to native “legacy” forests — old-growth ecosystems that play a critical role in climate resilience. Some of these forests are more than a century old and provide essential habitat for sensitive and endangered wildlife. These unique low-elevation remnants, found along Washington’s coast and throughout the Puget Sound region, store large amounts of carbon, support biodiversity, and help regulate water quality across the landscape. In recent years, these native forests have drawn increased attention from conservation groups, researchers, and communities concerned about their long-term future. In May, LightHawk partnered with the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition to capture aerial imagery of these landscapes, along with nearby areas impacted by active logging. LFDC is working to identify, document, and photograph high-priority legacy forests currently at risk across western Washington. The flight covered both public and private lands, offering a broader view of how land use is changing across areas that include remaining old-growth and legacy forests. Many of these forests are in remote, hard-to-access areas, often without nearby roads or trails. Without visibility, their loss can go unnoticed. LightHawk provides aerial access for photographers and videographers to document hidden landscapes like these, capturing images of places the public might otherwise never see. Flights like this are part of LightHawk’s ongoing effort to help partners visualize environmental change, monitor climate-related impacts, and support informed decision-making. By taking to the air, LightHawk helps shine a light on what’s at stake, making the invisible visible. Our flights don’t just capture images; they create opportunities for action. When communities, decision-makers, and the public can see the full picture, they are better equipped to speak up, step in, and safeguard what remains. As legacy forests face growing threats, our view from above helps keep their future in focus. ### **50 In 50 Challenge Taking Flight Memorial Day Weekend** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/50-in-50-Logo-v1.png) Starting May 26, LightHawk is launching the return of our 50 in 50 Challenge, flying 50 conservation missions in 50 days. This bold effort brings together people, projects, and places across North America through the unique and powerful perspective of flight. Over the past few months, LightHawk program managers have been working with partners to identify conservation projects where flight can make a difference. With the help of our skilled volunteer pilots, we have been planning routes, aligning schedules, and finalizing the logistics needed to bring each mission to life. That coordination will continue throughout the challenge, but now it’s time to take to the skies! From coast to coast, we will work with our partners to spotlight vital landscapes, waterways, oceans, and wildlife habitats. We will assist scientists with data collection, support restoration work, and fly policymakers and stakeholders who need a broader view to inform their decisions. We will bring awareness to threatened ecosystems, monitor protected areas, and help advance conservation outcomes where they are needed most. This is conservation on a national scale, powered by flight and driven by collaboration. We will be sharing stories, photos, and flight updates along the way, and you can be part of the action. Follow the challenge and join our ground crew in supporting every mission. Visit [www.LightHawk.org/50-in-50](https://www.lighthawk.org/50-in-50) to learn more and be part of this powerful effort from above. **Categories:** Focus: Wild Places, Newsletters --- ### [Capturing What Makes Bears Ears Worth Protecting](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/july-2025-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** July 31, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_CynDtlII.webp)*Bears Ears National Monument is one of several landscapes currently threatened by efforts to open them for extractive industries to exploit. Photo by Dave Showalter.* There are currently **138 National Monuments** across the United States, managed by the federal government to protect a wide range of natural, historical, and cultural resources. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, these sites include areas of geologic, marine, archaeological, and cultural significance. Since 1906, presidents have used the Antiquities Act to designate national monuments without requiring congressional approval. The Act also allows for the expansion of existing monuments to ensure continued protection. Today, some national monuments face renewed scrutiny. The current administration has proposed reducing or eliminating certain protections, with the Secretary of the Interior calling for a review of designated lands to assess the potential for resource extraction through mining and drilling. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_CynDtl.webp)Bears Ears National Monument is home to stunning landscapes that bear cultural significance to several Native American tribes in the region. Photo by Dave Showalter. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/250708_BE_LH_CmbRdg-1.webp)First designated by President Obama, Bears Ears National Monument has been a source of controversy as President Trump tried to reduce its size during his first term and is currently attempting to remove protections against drilling and mining. Photo by Dave Showalter. In an effort to highlight the significance of preserving these landscapes, LightHawk partnered with long-time collaborator and [**photographer Dave Showalter**](https://www.daveshowalter.com/) to fly over **Bears Ears National Monument in Utah**. The monument has been at the center of ongoing debate over national monument designations. Initially established by President Obama in 2016, its boundaries were significantly reduced by President Trump in 2017. That decision was challenged in court and later reversed by President Biden in 2021. As the national conversation around public land protections continues, former President Trump has indicated plans to again reduce protections for Bears Ears and several other monuments. Showalter’s stunning imagery captures the imagination and highlights the natural beauty of the region. The area within the monument is largely undeveloped and contains a wide array of historic, cultural and natural resources. It is co-managed by the **Bureau of Land Management** and **United States Forest Service**, along with five local Native American tribes: the **Navajo Nation, Hopi, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, and the Pueblo of Zuni**, all of which have ancestral ties to the region. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_LeeCpit.webp)Volunteer Pilot Lee Gerstein provided the flight for photographer Dave Showalter. Photo by Dave Showalter. The flight, provided by **volunteer pilot Lee Gerstein**, lasted about an hour and a half while flying over iconic landscapes. Showalter was able to collect aerial photographs that are beautiful and show the majesty of Bears Ears. This was the first of what we hope will be multiple flights aimed at illustrating the importance of protecting this and other National Monuments across the country. These lands hold immense cultural and scientific value, and we aim to support efforts to safeguard them from the threats posed by industrial extraction. We’re grateful to **Lee Gerstein** for providing the flight, and to long-time LightHawk partner [**Dave Showalter**](https://www.daveshowalter.com/) for his continued collaboration. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/250708_BEaers_LH.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_CmbRdg_head.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/250708_BELH_SJmndrs.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_SJBluff.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_SJr_CmbRdg.webp) *Photos by Dave Showalter* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wild Places --- ### [Pilot View: Bears Ears National Monument from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-august-2025-featured-mission/) **Published:** August 26, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_CynDtlII.webp)*Bears Ears National Monument is among the iconic Western landscapes facing renewed pressure from potential mining, drilling and other extractive development. *Photo by Dave Showalter.** **Nothing beats the aerial perspective for showing the public the majesty of untouched landscapes across the country.** One challenge, though, is that it’s hard to get millions of people into a small plane for a low-level flight over those areas. That’s why LightHawk regularly flies photographers! Their ability to capture the beauty of the landscapes we fly over allows us to share those views with the world. Earlier this year, LightHawk volunteer pilot **Lee Gerstein** took to the skies with longtime conservation partner and photographer **Dave Showalter**. Dave has flown with LightHawk many times in the past and has published books with stunning imagery—including photos captured during LightHawk flights. For this flight, Lee flew from his home airport in **Salt Lake City, Utah, to Blanding, Utah**, the night before the scheduled mission. Showalter had requested an early start, and Lee was happy to accommodate, with the simple condition that takeoff wait until there was enough ambient light to see the outlines of the mountains, providing a better level of safety for the mission. Before takeoff, Lee cleaned the windows to provide the best photography environment. LightHawk receives many photography flight requests, often involving open windows or even an open door. Lee has found that, with a few simple adjustments, photographers can get remarkable results shooting through the windows of his Beechcraft B36TC. He always cleans the windows and asks photographers to use a rubber lens hood, which prevents reflections and protects the windows. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_LeeCpit.webp)LightHawk volunteer pilot Lee Gerstein. Photo by Dave Showalter. They took off on the preplanned route, flying at about 1,500 feet throughout the mission. Lee explained: “We started in Blanding. Dave chose the route to pick up the southern aspect of Combs Ridge, which has Native American significance. It was striking because it was sidelit with the sun coming up from the east. It was really striking to see early morning shadows begin to form along there.” Once they had traversed the ridge, they turned west to overfly **Bears Ears National Monument**. They adjusted course to find the right distance from various landscapes, while Lee dipped his wing to allow Dave to capture images of the terrain in the beautiful morning light. After photographing Bears Ears, Lee shared, “The next leg allowed Showalter to get long, landscape images that covered miles and miles and miles. It was not a clear blue sky but had dappled clouds, which gave spots of sunshine.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_CynDtl.webp)Bears Ears National Monument is home to stunning landscapes that bear cultural significance to several Native American tribes in the region. Photo by Dave Showalter. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_SJBluff.webp)First designated by President Obama, Bears Ears National Monument has been a source of controversy as President Trump tried to reduce its size during his first term and is currently attempting to remove protections against drilling and mining. Photo by Dave Showalter. They then flew along the San Juan River and through its canyon, where the river flows into **Lake Powell**. Though they encountered some glare, they repositioned from the south side to the north side of the canyon to get the best shots. After the flight, Showalter expressed his happiness with the mission and his appreciation for Lee’s skill. Lee also shared how much he enjoyed the time with Dave and that he would gladly fly with him again. Lee has been flying with LightHawk since 2012. When asked why, he said, “It’s a great use of a small aircraft. You add something to understanding that really isn’t achievable in any other way. You don’t get it hiking the area. You don’t get it driving a truck. You get a sense of scope, scale, relationships. You can show people survey maps, but it’s not the same. I enjoy doing it. It’s terrific to hear people ‘ooh and ah’ and how much they appreciate the new understanding of the issue they’re addressing with the flight.” We couldn’t agree more. **Thank you, Lee, for providing this flight and for sharing your experience with us!** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_SJr_CmbRdg.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BE_LH_DShow_CmbRdg_head.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/250708_BELH_SJmndrs.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/250708_BEaers_LH.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/250708_BE_LH_CmbRdg-1.webp) *Photos by Dave Showalter.* **Categories:** Focus: Wild Places, Pilot View --- ### [Reconnecting a Critical Wildlife Corridor in Ontario](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/august-2025-mission-of-the-month/) **Published:** August 29, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5464-scaled.jpg)*The Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative is working to create wildlife overpasses to restore connectivity to the area’s wild places. Photo by Catherine Wheeler.* From highways to property boundaries, humans are experts at drawing lines across the landscape. But for wildlife, those lines don’t exist, and the consequences can be deadly. That’s why LightHawk and our partners are taking to the skies to show what’s at stake. One of those partners, the **Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) Collaborative**, is working to reconnect habitat and strengthen ecological connectivity across the region. Spanning from Ontario’s Algonquin Park to Adirondack Park, through the Frontenac Arch and surrounding lands, the A2A region is one of the last intact natural linkages in Eastern North America. Its forests, wetlands, and waterways support a remarkable diversity of life, from black bears and moose to rare birds and plants. A recent LightHawk flight, provided by volunteer pilot **Adam Goldstein**, gave A2A members a new perspective on the Highway 401 corridor in southern **Ontario**. From above, they captured photos and video that will be used to raise awareness with constituents and policymakers about the urgent need for wildlife crossings. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5561-scaled.jpg)Charleston Lake and the Thousand Islands are diverse ecosystems A2A is working to protect. Photo by Catherine Wheeler. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5461-scaled.jpg)The flight allowed partners to capture imagery of the Highway 401 corridor in Southern Ontario. Photo by Catherine Wheeler. Wildlife crossings act like natural bridges —vegetated overpasses that allow animals to move safely across highways. They protect both people and wildlife, prevent costly collisions, and restore ecological connectivity that keeps biodiversity strong. The area flown over is one Parks Canada has designated a priority for an ecological corridor. Protecting these priority areas is essential for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. After the flight, A2A’s Jess Lax reflected: *“The flight made it clearer what an asset the remaining forest cover is and how it connects to Charleston Lake Provincial Park. It also showed us the surprising amount of forest cover that still exists on the Thousand Islands. We gained a new appreciation for how the 401 bisects this continuous forest. The experience also helped us build stronger connections with the reporter who joined us, which is key for our outreach.”* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5454-scaled.jpg)The photos and video collected on the flight will be used by A2A to engage their constituents and policy makers about the need for wildlife crossings. Photo by Catherine Wheeler. LightHawk is grateful to volunteer pilot **Adam Goldstein** for providing this cross-border perspective. Thanks to his generosity, our partners gained new insights, new connections, and new tools to advocate for solutions. Together, we’re making an impact for ecosystem connectivity in North America. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5547-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PXL_20250818_151840100-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PXL_20250818_154840026.MP_-scaled.jpg) *Photos by Catherine Wheeler and Jess Lax.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wild Places, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Pilot View: Reconnecting Habitat with Wildlife Overpasses](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-september-2025-featured-mission/) **Published:** September 16, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** *Flying over a section of Highway 401 in southern Ontario where the Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative is working to create wildlife overpasses that reconnect habitat and help animals move safely across the landscape. Video by Jess Lax.* Flying north of the border, Ontario-based pilot **Adam Goldstein** recently completed his very first LightHawk flight. Flying over sections of the 401 Highway in Canada, members of the **Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) Collaborative** were treated to an aerial perspective of areas that hold potential for wildlife overpasses. With the highway now expanding, it’s an ideal time to consider wildlife overpasses. At present, the only ones in Canada are in Banff National Park, and the A2A Collaborative hopes to bring similar infrastructure to Highway 401. Ahead of the flight, the partners identified two points they wanted to fly between. Adam worked with them to clarify their goals and refine the flight route, asking whether they preferred to fly low and identify details on the ground or higher to gain a better overall perspective of the region. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PXL_20250818_151840100-scaled.jpg)*Aerial view of Highway 401, where the Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative is assessing potential sites for wildlife overpasses to help animals move safely across the roadway. Photo by Jess Lax* They flew at 1,000 to 1,500 feet AGL for most of the flight, low enough to capture details while still providing a broad view of the surrounding topography. Adam flies a Kodiak, and all passengers were able to sit along one side of the plane, making it easier to provide good views of the areas they were interested in. He could put the point on the passenger side of the plane and then circle it, giving everyone the same view rather than having to repeatedly circle in different directions. The weather was favorable, though a little windy, making the flight somewhat choppy. Adam shared that the stars really aligned despite the wind. A smokey haze from regional wildfires lingered, but visibility from 10,000 feet was still close to 80 miles. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5464-scaled.jpg)*As Highway 401 expands, so does the need and opportunity for wildlife overpasses that allow animals to move safely across the roadway. Photo by Catherine Wheeler* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PXL_20250818_154840026.MP_-scaled.jpg)Passengers were surprised by the amount of wooded area during their flight, sparking excitement over the conservation possibilities. Photo by Jess Lax. Adam was surprised by his passengers’ reactions during the flight. Although they had worked in the area for most of their careers, they had never experienced it from the air. They were amazed by how much forested land remained, offering opportunities for landscape connectivity that are critical for wildlife movement. Adam shared that they had expected to see more agricultural land and were pleasantly surprised by the amount of wooded land visible from above. He also said he learned a lot from the flight. Working in development, he was familiar with the expansion of Highway 401 but was not with wildlife overpasses. He was surprised to learn that species like wolves and mountain lions would likely use them – noting that several wolves had been hit by vehicles in the area over the last year. “I would have thought there was no way animal like a wolf would go over a bridge,” he admitted. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5454-scaled.jpg)Adam was able to accomodate all the passengers on one side of his plane, ensuring they all received the same view when banking around areas of interest. Photo by Catherine Wheeler. After the flight, Jess Lax with A2A said, “The experience was incredibly valuable and provided us with a perspective we couldn’t have gotten any other way.” That’s what LightHawk is all about – providing an aerial perspective that advances conservation in meaningful ways. We’re grateful to have Adam joining the ranks of the LightHawk volunteer pilot corps and congratulate him on logging his first mission! He came to LightHawk looking for a new way to use aviation that would make a difference. We’d say he’s found it! ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5461-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5547-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IMG_5561-scaled.jpg) *Photos by Catherine Wheeler and Jess Lax.* **Categories:** Focus: Wild Places, Focus: Wildlife, Pilot View --- ### [Giving Journalists a New View of Wyoming's Red Desert](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-featured-mission-september-2025/) **Published:** September 23, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_0343-scaled.jpg)*Flying over Wyoming’s Northern Red Desert region in the Wind River Range. Photo by Vincent Tropéa.* The **Northern Red Desert** and **Big Sandy Foothills** of the **Wind River Range in Wyoming** are considered some of the most ecologically significant lands in the lower 48 states. They provide habitat for the world’s highest density of sage grouse as well as home to pronghorn, mule deer and other species. These lands also hold deep cultural significance for many tribal nations, with sacred sites and the traditional homelands and hunting grounds of the Eastern Shoshone. Although the Rock Springs Management Plan currently protects the area, recent federal actions could weaken those protections to allow for more oil and gas development. That’s why LightHawk partnered with the **Wyoming Outdoor Council** to conduct a media tour of the region, giving reporters an aerial view of the landscapes at risk. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_0320-scaled.jpg)The Big Sandy Foothills of the Wind River Range in Wyoming are currently protected by the Rock Springs Management Plan but the current administration has signaled a desire to scale back those protections. Photo by Vincent Tropéa. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_0331-scaled.jpg)The Boars Tusk – Used as a landmark for indigenous peoples, pioneers, hikers, railroad travelers, and countless other groups, this distinct feature is the core of a long dormant volcanic eruption. Photo by Vincent Tropéa. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, these lands face growing challenges. Along with the potential rollback of current protections, BLM and the US Forest Service are experiencing staff reductions, making stewardship of the public lands more difficult. According to the Wyoming Outdoor Council, staffing cuts threaten not only land management but also the upkeep of campgrounds, trails, roads and other infrastructure. With world-class hunting and fishing at stake, the loss would be felt by both the environment and the people who enjoy it. In addition to wildlife and recreation, the lands also support ranching and agriculture as part of a multiple-use management plan, meaning cuts could have a negative impact on the local economy as well. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-3-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4020-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4007-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4014-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-1-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-2-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-4-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-5-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-6-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-7-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-8-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-9-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-10-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-11-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg) *Photos by Dustin Bleizeffer.* On her first LightHawk mission, volunteer pilot Bronson Daughtry, flew reporters over the region in her Cessna 210. From above, they could see just how intact the landscape is and better understand how threats to it could have long-term impacts for the region. After the flight, Joseph Quiroz with the Wyoming Outdoor Council reflected, “The flight was indispensable in creating an initial image of the immensity and diversity of the landscape. It was my first time flying over the Red Desert in a light craft and I was surprised to see how so many features looked from the air. And this is after 20 years of land travel out there. For me personally, it has really broadened my appreciation of the place and puts me in a better position to advocate for the conservation of the Red Desert.” This is why we fly – to offer the aerial perspective that changes hearts,minds and ultimately conservation outcomes. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TAN-3-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TAN-4-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TAN-5-scaled.jpg) *Photos by Caitlin Tan.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wild Places --- ### [Pilot View: Flying Journalists Over Wyoming’s Iconic Landscapes](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-october-2025-featured-mission/) **Published:** October 13, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-9-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)*Boar’s Tusk has served as a landmark for Indigenous peoples, pioneers, railroad travelers and generations of visitors to Wyoming’s Red Desert. The distinctive formation is the eroded core of an ancient, long-dormant volcano. Photo by Vincent Tropéa.* Flying her very first mission for LightHawk, Volunteer Pilot **Bronson Daughtry** teamed up with fellow pilots **Ray Lee** and **Matthew Machen** to give partners from the **Wyoming Outdoor Council** an aerial tour over Wyoming’s Red Desert landscapes. Before Bronson and the other pilots worked with **Northern Rockies Program Manager Chris Boyer** to discuss the partner’s objectives for the flight and plan the flight route. A few days out, she checked the weather to ensure that conditions would be safe and pleasant for passengers. While Bronson hiked and camped in the area before, this was her first time viewing it from the cockpit. On the day of the flight, all three pilots spoke with passengers for a safety briefing and to determine the order the planes would fly. Bronson’s plane was the fastest, so she elected to be the last in the line, allowing her to keep an eye on the other planes as they traversed the area. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_0343-scaled.jpg)*Flying over Wyoming’s Northern Red Desert region in the Wind River Range. Photo by Vincent Tropéa.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_0320-scaled.jpg)*The Big Sandy Foothills of the Wind River Range in Wyoming are currently protected by the Rock Springs Management Plan but the current administration has signaled a desire to scale back those protections. Photo by Vincent Tropéa.* Once airborne, she cruised higher than the other planes, staying at about 1,000 to 1,500 feet above ground level, giving her a margin of safety in the mountainous terrain. She kept her airspeed between 80 and 110 miles per hour. “It was just a blast to follow the other two pilots because they had flown there before,” she said. “It was nice to have a guide in a sense. The two people in the plane were super knowledgeable. They pointed out everywhere we were going. That was really fun, to be able to see everything and hear their stories about the land, especially learning about Boar’s Tusk.” While the three planes were following the same route, they kept a mile to a mile and a half apart, maintaining safe distance while giving them the same views of the desert below. The flight lasted a little over an hour, providing passengers an opportunity to see the immensity of the landscape and gain a new perspective of their conservation work. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-6-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)Flying over sand dunes in Wyoming. Ph*oto by Dustin Bleizeffer.* Bronson told her passengers before the flight that their comfort was her top priority and they could turn back at any point if they were uncomfortable. No one had any issues, and as she put it after the flight, “They were the best passengers ever!” One of those passengers, Joseph Quiroz of the Wyoming Outdoor Council, shared afterward, “The flight was indispensable in creating an initial image of the immensity and diversity of the landscape. It was my first time flying over the Red Desert in a light craft and I was surprised to see how so many features looked from the air. And this is after 20 years of land travel out there. For me personally, it has really broadened my appreciation of the place and puts me in a better position to advocate for the conservation of the Red Desert. Thank you very much for making this possible.” A huge thank you and congratulations to Bronson for completing her first LightHawk flight, as well as to pilots, Ray Lee and Matthew Machen, for joining forces to make this mission possible. We can’t wait to see where Bronson flies next! ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-8-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-6-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-5-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-2-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Desert-1-Sept-DBleizeffer-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4014-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_0322-scaled.jpg) *Photos by Dustin Bleizeffer and Vincent Tropéa.* **Categories:** Focus: Wild Places, Pilot View --- ### [Flying to Protect 78,000 Acres in Northwestern Maine](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-featured-mission-october-2025/) **Published:** October 30, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_8166-scaled.jpeg)*A group of LightHawk partners have come together to pursue protection for 78,000 acres of lands in Northwestern Maine known as the Magalloway region. Photo by Jake Metzler.* Flying above the forests of northwestern **Maine** in the fall provides a glorious view of the landscape, painted in the reds, yellows and oranges of Autumn. From the air, the aerial perspective captures not just the beauty and majesty of these lands, but why they matter – illustrating the importance of preserving them for future generations. In addition to their beauty, the lands offer countless recreational opportunities while providing critical forested buffers around rivers, lakes and streams. To help advance their conservation, LightHawk partnered with [**Forest Society of Maine**](https://www.fsmaine.org/), [**The Nature Conservancy – Maine**](https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/maine/), [**Northeast Wilderness Trust**](https://newildernesstrust.org/) and the [**The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust**](https://rlht.org/) to fly members over the Magalloway region. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0188.png)Volunteer pilot Scott Cianchette provided a flight for our partners to collect imagery and data for their efforts to advocate for land protections. Photo by Abby King. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0193.png)Flying with LightHawk never fails to bring a smile to the faces of our partners. Photo by Abby King. Together, these four organizations are among a collaboration of partners aimed at permanently conserving 78,000 acres of forested lands. According to the Forestry Society, “the project will help sustain the regional economy by continuing opportunities for active forest management on 62,500 acres, and in addition, designate an 11,200-acre wilderness preserve that will enhance forest and biological diversity within its boundaries. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Scott Cianchette** took passengers on a two-hour flight above northwestern Maine’s forests to capture stunning imagery that will educate and inspire potential donors about the importance of protecting these lands. From above, the group toured the entire project area, and experienced firsthand the vastness and connectivity of the landscape. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_8251-scaled.jpeg)The flight took passengers along the shores of Aziscohos Lake in Northwestern Maine. Photo by Jake Metzler. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_8147-scaled.jpeg)The flight revealed the beauty of the forests decorated in fall colors. Photo by Jake Metzler. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_4206-scaled.jpg)A significan t portion of the lands around Aziscohos Lake are within the 78,000 ac Magalloway River project area. Photo by Nichole Whitney. After the flight, The Nature Conservancy’s Abigail King shared her appreciation, “Thank you for this opportunity! It was very useful for me to be at this altitude in order to truly understand the landscape context and scale of our conservation project.” Thanks to Scott, Abigail and her colleagues gained a new perspective on their on-the-ground work to preserve these special places. From this flight, our partners gained the perspective they need to inspire others and turn a view from above into action on the ground to protect western Maine’s forests. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0194.png)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Magalloway-Flyover-with-LightHawk-4-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_8147-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_4207-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Magalloway-Flyover-with-LightHawk-3-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0201-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0206-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_4186-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Magalloway-Flyover-with-LightHawk-1-scaled.jpg) *Photos by Abby King, Nichole Whitney, and Jake Metzler.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wild Places --- ### [On The Wing News – Fall 2025](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-fall-2025/) **Published:** November 15, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/jimbecker.jpg) #### Protecting Waterways With the Aerial Perspective Fresh water. Most of the time, we take it for granted. We turn on the tap, and what is really a precious resource just flows out. We shower, wash the dishes, and water the lawn without thinking much about the shrinking availability of this life-sustaining liquid. But that is changing rapidly, and LightHawk is deeply involved in helping to understand the severity of the problem and possible solutions. This edition of On the Wing features LightHawk’s work on three major rivers—the Colorado, the Pecos, and the Snake. These rivers are thousands of miles long, and only from the air can one truly understand the issues besetting each watershed. That’s where LightHawk excels; flying congressmen, journalists, photographers, conservationists, scientists, and tribal leaders at 2,000 to 4,000 feet over the length of the waterway. The knowledge, understanding, images, and publications that result from LightHawk flights lead to greater public awareness and help motivate the decisions that lead to wise use of water and river habitat—which is the conservation impact we all desire and are working toward. Every time you fill a glass of water, you can thank the LightHawk volunteer pilots, partners and supporters who work to help conserve this precious resource for all of us and future generations. #### FEATURED MISSION ## Featured Mission Headline ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6796.jpg)*Flying over Lake Powell, a major Colorado River reservoir that stores water for millions of people across the western United States. Photo: Dave Papineau* Each year, more water is taken from the **Colorado River** than flows into it from its headwaters. Reservoirs meant to serve as water reserves now resemble drained savings accounts. Climate driven drought and outdated water rules have pushed the river past what it can sustain. Without change, the river can no longer support the communities, habitats, and economies that depend on it. In October, LightHawk partnered with **Western Resource Advocates** on a mission to collect something they could not get from the ground. They needed continuous, current footage of key stretches of the river exactly as it is today to show decision makers what is at stake. Volunteer pilot **Steve Meyer** answered that call. Over the course of two days, Steve flew more than seven hundred miles, tracing the river from the **Green River** below **Flaming Gorge Reservoir**, through the confluence where the Green meets the Colorado in **Cataract Canyon**, and along the **Grand Canyon from Lake Powell to Lake Mead**. Videographer Dave Papineau filmed every mile from Steve’s aircraft. > [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQnPoLHAapo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) > > [A post shared by Western Resource Advocates (@westernresourceadvocates)](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQnPoLHAapo/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6516.jpg)*Communities along the Colorado River depend on it for fresh water. Photo by Dave Papineau.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6685.jpg)*Looking out the plane window at the aerial perspective above the Colorado River. Photo by Dave Papineau.* The flights gave Western Resource Advocates and partners a complete view of the river in motion. Instead of piecing together snapshots from roads or maps, they were able to see how stretches of water, habitat, development, and diversion connect as one system. LightHawk provided access, the aircraft, and the expertise to capture a basin level perspective that is impossible to grasp from the ground. Western Resource Advocates will use the imagery to support policy work with basin states, helping leaders understand why a long-term management approach is needed. In collaboration with other environmental nonprofits, they have laid out a basin-wide plan to save water, respond to changing river conditions, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and incorporate environmental stewardship into management of the river. By providing a powerful visual record that can influence policy discussions shaping the future of the Colorado River, LightHawk gives partners the ability to show what words alone cannot and move solutions into view. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lighthawk-Flight-UT-to-Powell-6855.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6625.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lighthawk-Flight-Page-to-Vegas-PREVIEW-7144.jpg) *Photos by Dave Papineau.* CLIMATE CORNER ## Documenting Threats to New Mexico’s Pecos River ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_2138-scaled.jpeg) The **Pecos River** in **New Mexico** is one of the most endangered in the country today. It is threatened by climate-induced aridification as well as the ongoing oil boom in the Permian Basin. From the headwaters in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, the Pecos winds its way southward through arid landscapes before joining the Rio Grande. The river itself is a year-round source of freshwater in a region with few water sources. It supports native plants, migratory birds and waterborne species like catfish, bass and sunfish. It’s also home to the Longnose Gar – a species often referred to as a “living fossil” with ancestors dating back over 100 million years. LightHawk partnered with **Capital and Main**, an award-winning publication that reports on economic, environmental, and social issues, to capture aerial photos and video for an upcoming story on the plight of the Pecos River. Volunteer pilot **Barry Harper** flew the journalists from Santa Fe along the Pecos, revealing the greener upper reaches near its headwaters before following the river as it wound from the mountains into the flatter, straighter stretches of New Mexico’s eastern grasslands. From the air, the lack of snow was unmistakable. Even during what should have been peak winter accumulation, the mountains showed little snow, evidence of the driest winter on record last year. Seeing the landscape from above shifted the perspective. **Karen Coates**, a journalist on the flight, said, “I have lived in New Mexico for a long time, and this is the first time I have had the opportunity to see this landscape from above. I have still not fully processed everything I saw. Seeing new perspectives like this is how, as a journalist, I find new stories and new ways to tell them.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_2127-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_2160-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IMG_2200-scaled.jpeg) *Photos by Karen Coates.* Aviation reveals context and gives storytellers the ability to understand not only what is happening, but how one change affects the next. The view from above allows journalists and the public to see the full picture of the Pecos River, one of New Mexico’s most valuable natural resources. PARTNER SPOTLIGHT ## Flying the Nez Perce Tribe over the Snake River ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Nez-Perce-Logo.png) The **Nez Perce Tribe**, known as the **Nimiipuu**, has been connected to the lands and waters of what is now **Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Montana** long before the creation of the reservation. Today, the federally recognized tribe includes more than 3,500 enrolled citizens, and the reservation spans roughly 770,000 acres. The Nimiipuu continue to uphold traditional lifeways, including fishing, hunting, gathering, and cultural ceremonies that honor their relationship with the land. One of the tribe’s long-standing commitments is the **protection and recovery of salmon**. Salmon are central to Nez Perce culture, treaty rights, and the health of the **Snake River Basin** in the Pacific Northwest. The tribe advances research, restoration, and policy advocacy aimed at opening historic salmon pathways and restoring access to the habitat salmon need to survive. By partnering with the Nez Perce Tribe, LightHawk brings the aerial perspective that accelerates this work. From the air, tribal leaders, partners, and supporters can see the Snake River and its tributaries in a single view. A recent flight, made possible by volunteer pilot Judith Parrish, carried tribal representatives and donors from the Satterberg Foundation over stretches where salmon migration is blocked and over intact tributaries that show what successful recovery could look like. Seeing the landscape from above creates a deeper understanding of the river and the forces shaping salmon recovery. Flights like this deepen understanding, inspire collaboration, and strengthen the work of partners like the Nez Perce Tribe to protect salmon and the river that sustains them. **Categories:** Focus: Waterways, Newsletters --- ### [Helping an Endangered Quail Take Flight Again](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-featured-mission-november-2025/) **Published:** December 2, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-13_cropped.png)*A Pilatus PC-12 takes off loaded with endangered masked bobwhite quail juveniles headed for their new home in Arizona where they will be released to the wild. Photo: Don Wolfe \| Pilot: Jack Long.* There has always been a special place in our hearts for our fellow aviators, and we are not just talking about pilots. LightHawk works with partners across the United States to conserve endangered birds, and for several years we have supported the **U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service** and the **George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center** by transporting masked bobwhite quail from their breeding facility to release sites in the wild. Recently, LightHawk volunteer pilot **Jack Long** stepped up to transport **24 crates of juvenile birds** from Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Tucson, Arizona for release on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR). Each crate held multiple birds for a total of **about 300 masked bobwhite quail** flown. A member of the Sutton Center staff traveled with Jack to monitor the birds throughout the cross-country flight. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-10.jpg)The Pilatus has a big cargo door making it ideal for loading and transporting wildlife crates. Photo: Don Wolfe \| Pilot Jack Long ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-05-1.jpg)Staff from the Sutton Center feed the birds ahead of loading them into the plane for their trip. Photo: Don Wolfe \| Pilot: Jack Long. Jack’s Pilatus PC-12 was ideal for this mission. Its size allowed all 24 crates and the handler to travel in a single trip, and its speed shortened the overall journey. The aircraft also kept the birds at a comfortable temperature, further reducing stress. Transporting these young birds by air greatly reduces the time they are exposed to stress. What would otherwise be a long and difficult trip on the ground becomes a **4-hour flight**, allowing the chicks to arrive in better physical condition. This leads to lower mortality and improved survival rates after release. Today, the wild population of masked bobwhite quail on BANWR is estimated at about **100 birds** following years of releases, many of which involved LightHawk flights. Found nowhere else in the United States, this striking subspecies of the northern bobwhite is native only to extreme southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-03.jpg)A Sutton Center staff member feeds the juvenile quail on the ramp before they are loaded into the plane for the flight. The short flight takes the place of a 20-hour car trip, reducing stress on the birds and improves their changes for success. Photo: Don Wolfe \| Pilot: Jack Long ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-09.jpg)Staff members load the crates into the Pilatus. Photo: Don Wolfe \| Pilot: Jack Long This flight and others like it directly support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our conservation partners with the mission to recover this endangered species and restore the fourth native quail species to southern Arizona. The newly released birds will be monitored to deepen understanding of the subspecies and to guide habitat management on the refuge and for partners in Mexico. LightHawk volunteer pilots have played a meaningful role in restoring this species and will continue working with partners like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Sutton Center to protect and restore endangered birds, sharing the gift of aviation with our fellow flyers. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-12.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-07.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-06.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-02-1.jpg) *Photos: Don Wolfe \| Pilot: Jack Long* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Pilot View: Two Days. Hundreds of Miles. Flying the Colorado River.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-november-2025-featured-mission/) **Published:** December 3, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6796.jpg)*Flying over Lake Powell, one of the Colorado River’s largest reservoirs and a critical water source for millions of people across the West. Photo: David Papineau \| Pilot: Steve Meyer* The Colorado River is a majestic and essential waterway, flowing from the mountains of Colorado through several western states and into Mexico. Once, it reached the Pacific Ocean; today, the water rarely makes it that far. Water use along the Colorado is a complicated and often controversial topic, especially as millions of people, businesses, and wildlife rely on its flows. LightHawk works with partners all along the Colorado River to promote conservation of this vital natural resource. In October, volunteer pilot Steve Meyer met up with Western Resource Advocates photographer David Papineau to collect imagery that would help people better understand the river’s current condition. Steve is one of LightHawk’s most active pilots in Western Colorado. Before taking off, Steve spent time talking with David about his goals for the trip so he could make any needed adjustments to the flight plan. Steve knew that flying along the southeast shore of the river would give David the best lighting and the best chance at capturing clear, compelling images. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Flight-Photos-Western-Resources-1.webp)*Flying over the Grand Canyon required careful planning by Meyer as regulations required him to maintain a specific altitude along a predefined route. Photo by Steve Meyer.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Flight-Photos-Western-Resources.webp)*The clouds were just high enough for Meyer and Papineau to maintain their required altitude and remain under visual flight rules, allowing them to capture stunning imagery of the canyon. Photo by Steve Meyer.* Departing from Colorado in Steve’s Cessna Turbo 206, they embarked on a two-day trip along the Colorado River through Utah, Arizona and Nevada, including some challenging route planning around the Grand Canyon. Steve shared that they were fortunate with the weather along the flight path. Conditions were better than forecast and provided good lighting and safe conditions. He said, “We had to fly low. We had to stay under a broken cloud deck, but not too low. It was just perfect, really. And the photos, I think, probably came out nicely both days.” On the first day of the flight, they covered Grand Junction, Canyonlands and the Lake Powell areas. The second day took them from Page, Arizona to Las Vegas, including a segment over the Grand Canyon. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6685.jpg)*Looking out the plane window at the aerial perspective above the Colorado River. Photo: David Papineau \| Pilot: Steve Meyer* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6516.jpg)*Communities along the Colorado River depend on it for fresh water. Photo: David Papineau \| Pilot: Steve Meyer* The Grand Canyon segment presented its own challenges. Flight rules required them to stay at a minimum altitude of 10,500 feet, but the clouds were sitting at 11,000 feet. That left a narrow window to remain within regulations while staying out of the clouds. They followed the established flight corridor and were still able to capture stunning imagery of the canyon along the way. As they approached Las Vegas, Steve encountered a final hurdle. Local airports were requiring landing reservations due to a large event that had created congestion. Fortunately, he anticipated the issue while still in Page, Arizona and secured approval to land, allowing them to wrap up the trip without delay. Asked why he continues to fly for LightHawk, Steve shared, “For me, flying is certainly a hobby, and to do it well, you need to keep flying. I am sure that is why other LightHawk pilots fly too. You need an excuse to fly, and you need a purpose to fly in order to get in that plane and burn airtime and AV gas. These trips are fun for me because they keep me flying and keep my brain working and being a good pilot. That is the gift that LightHawk gives back to me.” The flight captured stunning imagery and has already been featured in a post on CoyoteGulch.blog discussing the current state of the Colorado River and the need to modernize the agreements that govern its use throughout the West. Coverage like this brings attention to the conservation needs along the Colorado River and moves people to take action to protect this vital waterway and the communities that depend on it. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Western-Resources-Flight-Photo.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Flight-Photos-Western-Resources-2.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lighthawk-Flight-UT-to-Powell-6855.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6625.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lighthawk-Flight-Page-to-Vegas-PREVIEW-7144.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lighthawk-Flight-Page-to-Vegas-PREVIEW-7135.jpg) *Photos by Steve Meyer and David Papineau.* **Categories:** Focus: Waterways, Pilot View --- ### [Documenting Critical Habitat for Sandhill Cranes](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-december-2025-featured-mission/) **Published:** December 17, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-6.webp)*The area surrounding the Sacramento Delta wetlands are primarily used for agriculture. The land serves as daytime feeding and loafing ground for Sandhill Cranes during their migration journey. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos* **Sandhill Cranes** are one of the oldest living bird species, with a fossil record stretching back millions of years. Today, however, their continued success faces growing challenges as urban expansion and climate change reshape the landscapes they depend on. As cities push into rural areas, vital crane habitat disappears—along with the agricultural lands and wetlands that provide food and refuge during migration. In **California’s Sacramento Delta**, these pressures are intensifying, putting both cranes and the ecosystems they rely on at risk. **Photographer and journalist Robert Steelquist** is in the midst of a six-year project that will culminate in a book and public presentations aimed at inspiring conservation action and informing public decision-makers about the future of Sacramento Delta wetlands. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-8.webp)Sandhill Cranes depend on the lands of the Sacramento Delta wetlands which face regular pressure from climate change and urbanization. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/selfie.png)Volunteer Pilot Louise Mateos provided a flight for Robert Steelquist to capture imagery for his book project. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos To support this work, **LightHawk volunteer pilot Louise Mateos** flew Steelquist on a 90-minute flight departing from an airport just outside **Lodi, California**. From the right seat of her Cessna 182, Steelquist captured aerial imagery of the Central Valley’s patchwork of protected wetlands and working agricultural lands. The flight allowed him to photograph critical night roost sites, including **Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, and Cosumnes River Preserve**, as well as private agricultural lands that cranes rely on for daytime feeding and loafing. “The LightHawk flight proved a very effective way of gaining perspective on the landscapes of the Sacramento Delta and the challenges facing wildlife managers and conservation organizations,” Steelquist shared. “This photography will be shared with biologists working on a new Central Valley conservation plan for cranes, in the hope that my images can help document critical threats and conservation priorities.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-2.webp)In addition to protected lands in the area, cranes make use of agricultural fields for feeding and resting during their migration. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos Steelquist will also share his imagery with Dr. Gary Ivey of the International Crane Foundation. Flights like this help ensure that decisions about land use are grounded in a clear understanding of how wildlife moves across the landscape. By documenting both protected areas and working lands from above, LightHawk helps provide essential context to support the long-term conservation of species like the Sandhill Crane. Volunteer pilot Louise Mateos is based in Santa Clara, California, and began flying with LightHawk earlier this year. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-7.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-4.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-3.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-5.webp) *Photos: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Pilot View: Flying West with Endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-featured-mission-december-2025/) **Published:** December 17, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-13-2-e1766014939508.jpg)*A LightHawk flight carries masked bobwhite quail to Arizona as part of a long-running effort to restore a species once believed extinct. Today, LightHawk works with the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center to support the birds’ recovery in the Southwest. Photo by Don Wolfe.* When first described by scientists, the **masked bobwhite quail** thrived across the Southwestern United States and into Central Mexico. By the turn of the century, however, the population began to decline. And by the late 1940s, the birds were believed to be extinct. That changed in 1964, when an Arizona taxidermist followed reports of quail sightings in Sonora, Mexico. The rumors proved true. A small number of birds were captured and released in the U.S., launching efforts to restore this subspecies of Northern Bobwhite Quail. Today, LightHawk partners with the **[George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center](https://www.fws.gov/partner/sutton-aviation-research-center)** to continue that restoration work in the Southwest. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-07-1.jpg)*Workers from the Sutton Center work to prepare the crates of juvenile masked bobwhite quail for their trip to Arizona. Photo by Don Wolfe.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-04-2.jpg)*A nutrient gel is added to each crate before they are loaded onto the plane, providing food for the chicks during the trip. Photo by Don Wolfe.* LightHawk volunteer pilot Jack Long flew to Oklahoma to transport nearly 300 juvenile masked bobwhite quail to Arizona. Packed into 24 crates, the birds were bound for the next stage of their recovery journey. To meet the Sutton Center’s requested sunrise departure, Jack arrived the night before and joined members of the team for dinner before an early start the next morning. The next morning brought an unexpected challenge: the airport was without electricity, leaving no runway lights. Fortunately, the planned sunrise departure meant the flight could proceed safely. After carefully logging and loading the crates, the Sutton Center team ensured the quail had food for the journey. The precious cargo was secured in the Pilatus PC-12 after two rear seats were removed to create the needed space. With everything strapped down, it was time to depart. Taking off in the early morning light, Jack climbed to flight level 200 for a smooth westbound flight. Thanks to his headset and the separation between cockpit and cargo, the birds remained quiet throughout the journey. He flew into Tucson International to be met by US Fish and Wildlife team members to pick up the quail to take them to the release site. Jack chose TUS over a smaller, slightly closer airport used in the past due to fuel costs. Needing to refuel before flying home, the price of fuel was far less at TUS, saving him a substantial amount. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-05-2.jpg)*As workers complete logging the crates and adding food, the loading of the Pilatus PC-12 begins. Photo by Done Wolfe.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-09-1.jpg)*Team members load the crates full of juvenile masked bobwhite quail into the PC-12. Photo by Don Wolfe.* Jack landed at Tucson International Airport, where U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team members met him to transport the quail to their release site. He chose TUS over a smaller nearby airport to take advantage of lower fuel costs, helping reduce the overall cost of the mission through a negotiated rate with the Corporate Aircraft Association. Jack learned firsthand just how significant the impact of flights like this can be. Without air transport, Sutton Center staff would need to drive the birds long distances, often losing 10–20% during transport. With LightHawk flights, losses are rare, meaning far more birds reach the wild. As Sutton Center team member Don Wolfe shared: *“Moving this number of birds via motor vehicle would have required two trips and over 20 hours to drive the 1,200 miles. By flying with LightHawk volunteer pilot Jack Long, we were able to transport the birds together in a four-hour flight.”* Thanks to Jack’s dedication and continued collaboration with the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center, the wild population of masked bobwhite quail in Arizona gained several hundred new members, advancing the long-term effort to restore this remarkable species. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-12-1.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-10-1.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-08-1.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-06-1.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-03-1.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MABO-11-25-02-2.jpg) *Photos by Don Wolfe.* **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Pilot View --- ### [Pilot View: Preserving Pacific Flyway Habitat for Sandhill Cranes](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-featured-mission-january-2026/) **Published:** January 14, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-8.webp)*Sandhill Cranes gather in a flooded agricultural field along the Pacific Flyway in Central California, where working lands provide important stopover and resting habitat during migration. *Photo by Robert Steelquist \| Pilot Louise Mateos.** There’s one thing for certain when you take to the skies – once you leave the ground, you’ll eventually need to land. That’s not just true for our volunteer pilots. It’s also true for our feathered friends. For **Sandhill Cranes** flying through **Central California**, agricultural fields are a vital part of their migratory journey. **Photographer Robert Steelquist** set out to document the habitats they depend on for rest and food. **Volunteer pilot Louise Mateos** provided the flight, giving him a bird’s-eye view of the Central Valley farmlands. Louise joined LightHawk’s volunteer pilot ranks early in 2025 and immediately began making an impact – flying three missions throughout the year and volunteering for several more. Flying out of Palo Alto, California, she landed in Stockton to pick up Robert for the photography mission. Her Cessna 182 has bubble doors, making it an excellent photo platform. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-4.webp)*Sandhill Cranes use agricultural fields to rest and feed during their mingration. The loss of these lands could be catastrophic to their ability to make the journey. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-7.webp)*Migratory habitat is under constant pressure from things like climate change and increasing urbanization. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos* Ahead of the flight, they discussed the areas Robert wanted to cover and the altitude at which they would fly. They agreed staying 1,000 feet AGL would work well for the flight’s goals, though they could go a bit lower if they found it necessary. They also discussed staying higher or avoiding areas where birdwatchers were observing cranes so as not to disturb them. The flight itself went smoothly with Robert able to capture a number of fantastic images of the Pacific Flyway in the Central Valley – an area that faces threats from climate change including reduced water availability, sea level rise, shifting agriculture, and rapid urbanization. They flew along corridors around I-5 and US-99 from Stockton to Sacramento. They also flew over by Rio Vista, California to capture photos of windmill farming. After landing back in Stockton, Robert shared, “The LightHawk flight proved a very effective way of gaining perspective on the landscapes of the Sacramento Delta and the challenges facing wildlife—specifically waterfowl—managers and conservation organizations. The experience helped me refine my equipment and methods for capturing landscape-scale aerials. This photography will be shared with biologists working on a new Central Valley conservation plan for cranes in the hope that my pictures can document critical threats to cranes and habitat conservation.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials.webp)*Farm fields provide both food and places of rest throughout California’s Central Valley. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-3.webp)*Urban development encroaches on prime Sandhill Crane habitat, reducing the space available for the birds during their migration. Photo: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos* Louise Mateos spent most of her career as an aerospace engineer for Lockheed Martin. Since retiring, she has spent her time as a CFI, logging an incredible 320 flights in 2025. She also flies for the Civil Air Patrol, providing emergency services when needed, as well as conducting check rides for mission pilots. She is the Deputy Commander for the San Francisco area and now serves as Deputy Commander for all of California. Thanks to both Louise and Robert, Sandhill Cranes advocates have better information and imagery needed to persuade local leaders and decision-makers to protect their section of the Pacific Flyway, ensuring these birds have places to land, rest, and continue their migration. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2025-11-10-at-10.13.29 AM.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-6.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-5.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-2.webp) *Photos: Robert Steelquist \| Pilot: Louise Mateos* **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Pilot View --- ### [Pilot View: California Condors Return to Northern California](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/featured-mission-the-pilots-perspective/) **Published:** March 19, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CS4A4660.webp)*A LightHawk flight with Natives Outdoors captured the landscapes of Northern California from a condor’s-eye view, supporting a documentary about the Yurok Tribe’s efforts to return California condors to their ancestral lands. Volunteer pilot Rick Utermoehlen points out an area of interest during the flight.* *Photo by Len Necefer.* The reintroduction of California condors to parts of Northern California is an interesting story. It’s one that deserves to be told but would not be complete without seeing the land as a condor sees it – from the air. The Yurok Tribe (a LightHawk conservation partner) is one of many indigenous cultures that view the condor as sacred. According to the tribe, the birds are “spiritually tried to the Yurok Hlkelonah – the cultural and ecological landscape – since the beginning of the world.” Not only are condors important for biological diversity, they have cultural importance as well. To better tell the story of their reintroduction and the work tribal communities are doing to restore the population, we partnered with [Natives Outdoors](https://www.natives-outdoors.org/) to fly above the landscapes condors call home. Volunteer pilot Rick Utermoehlen brought his Beechcraft Baron to the mission, providing a little over an hour of flight time for the crew to collect imagery. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CS4A4681.webp)The initial flight route took the group up the coast of Northern California over red wood forests before turning east at the Klamath River. Photo by Len Necefer. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CS4A4858.webp)Snow covered portions of the landscape that California condors call home. Photo by Len Necefer. Rick said he signed up for the flight because, “It sounded like a great mission.” He had previously had a great experience flying members of the Nez Perce tribe, including getting pinned by the tribal chief. Ahead of the mission, Rick spent a good deal of time on preflight planning. He went over the route several times on his computer and various flight planning tools. He commented that he appreciated how good LightHawk is about sending the routes out ahead of time so he could prepare. He was initially concerned that weather would be a factor given it was late January, early February for the flight. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day with no clouds, calm winds and minimal turbulence according to Rick. About the flight, Rick shared, “The flight started in Arcata, right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Then we just headed up north along the coast, along the red wood forest National Park and then right past the Klamath River and just kept following it until it intersected with the Trinity River which is another marvelous river. Then flew up into the Trinity Alps – some of the peaks are 11k feet.. It’s serious flying up there.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CS4A4820.webp)Rick’s Beechcraft Baron served as a great photo platform for Natives Outdoors. Flying around 1,000 feet above the ground, the crew was able to capture great imagery. Photo by Len Necefer. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CS4A5431.webp)The Yurok Tribe is one of several that consider the California condor sacred. For several years they have worked with other agencies to reintroduce the birds to their lands. Photo by Len Necefer. Along the way they captured imagery of the lands, including a condor facility that raises young birds before they head out into the wild. Rick said, “We flew over the condor kind of farm where they kind of start and often fly back to for feeding. I circled it and my wing was pointed right at the ground.” With one passenger up front with Rick and one in the back, he felt it was an ideal setup for the camera person in back. They were able to move to either side of the plane to capture footage and Rick would bank the plane as necessary to get clear shots. Having the extra room was especially handy, Rick commented, “the photographer had 70 pounds of camera gear, it’s serious stuff! A lot of airplanes wouldn’t even be able to carry it plus two big guys!” He went on to say, “I think everybody was pretty happy with the result. I’ve spoken to Len a time or two and he forwarded some pictures. It was a great day to fly. I enjoyed the flying and what it had to take to fly in and out of the valley and over the rivers and put him in a position to take high quality photos.” Though they didn’t see much in the way of condors during the flight, the partners were pleased with the flight and were happy with the imagery they were able to collect. They shared with Rick that condors usually fly in the afternoons so to capture images of them flying from above would require flying later in the day. Rick shared that he would be interested in a flight to do just that! Rick Utermoehlen started his flying career 56 years ago when he joined the Naval Aviation program. He began his flight training in 1968 where he earned his wings. He then served as a Naval flight instructor for a few years ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Native-Outdoor-Lighthawk-IMG-0753.webp)The Nativs Outdoors crew was appreciative of Rick and the flight he provided. It allowed them to accomplish their goals in gathering imagery for their film project. Photo by Len Necefer. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CS4A4624.webp)Rick Utermoehlen standing next to his Beecraft Baron. He has been flying for 56 years and enjoys his flights with LightHawk because they give him a good reason to fly. Photo by Len Necefer. **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife, Pilot View --- ### [Pilot View: Documenting Port Pollution in Southern California](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-documenting-emissions-in-southern-california-ports/) **Published:** April 22, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-4.webp)The ports of Southern California are a nexus for international shipping on the West Coast of the United States. Idling shipps and cargo transport vehicles are a source of emissions driving climate change. Photo: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney Along the coast of **Southern California** lies the **Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach**, a maze of cargo ships, oil tankers, and infrastructure and one of the busiest gateways in the global supply chain. They’re also a source of emissions that contribute to climate change and local air quality impacts. Media partner [**Capital & Main**](https://www.capitalandmain.com) reached out to LightHawk for aerial support on a story examining methane and other emissions tied to port activity. Oil tankers and cargo ships transport billions of dollars in commodities across oceans for import into the U.S. To do so, they burn diesel fuel to power massive underwater propellers. Even in port, those engines continue running to supply power as ships unload along the dock. Volunteer pilot **James Haney** took their journalists aloft to capture that perspective. James has flown several LightHawk missions, ranging from white abalone transport to cross-border conservation work in Mexico. This flight stood out to him because it combined investigative journalism with a complex industrial landscape. As he put it, the team was “looking at emissions in the ports in terms of idling ships and also wanting to see some of the oil industry that’s also embedded in that particular area.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-3.webp)Ships unload thousands of cargo containers at the ports – a process that can take up to a week to complete. Photo: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-6.webp)The oil and gas industry also has a substantial presence in and around the Southern California ports. Photo: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney The original plan included an optical gas imaging camera, but when the operator couldn’t join, the team pivoted—bringing a photographer instead to document the ports from above. James identified two key challenges that shaped the flight: coastal weather and tightly controlled airspace. “Long Beach can be overcast and the visibility can be low.” That would impact their ability to observe the ports and capture photographs. The second challenge was airspace. The proximity of Long Beach and Torrance airports meant careful coordination with air traffic control. “I wanted to stay on with ATC but didn’t want to go in and out of Long Beach and Torrance’s airspace. Otherwise, I’d be switching radios and holding up the traffic.” James mapped a route that maintained communication with ATC while avoiding unnecessary airspace transitions, keeping the flight efficient and focused on the mission. The payoff came with the weather. James said, “a Santa Ana wind event blew out the marine overcast, so it gave them great options for still photography.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-11.webp)Before the flight, volunteer pilot James Haney reviewed the route to ensure points of interest were covered. Photo: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-17.webp)During the flight, pilot Haney was able to fly at or below 1,000 feet above the ground, providing an excellent view for the journalists. Photo: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney Flying at altitudes of 500 to 1,000 feet above ground, the photographer was able to capture stunning imagery. Over the water and away from conflicts on the surface, James was able to drop as low as 200 feet, which the photographers really appreciated. Despite expectations of more traffic due to nearby flight schools, it was a smooth flight overall with only light turbulence on the way back to the airport. James said, “We were able to make the adjustments to fit their needs, and they were a good group to work with.” James also expected to encounter bird activity at the altitudes they were flying but was surprised to have no issues. He said, “They must be dissuaded by all the activity that takes place in the port.” With the flight complete, James offered to fly again if the team is able to bring the optical gas imaging camera on a future mission—an example of the commitment LightHawk pilots bring to this work. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-5.webp)Ships sit idle in the port while they are loaded and unloaded. Photo: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-8.webp)The ports handle multiple container ships at a time. The idling ships contribute to harmful emissions while sitting in port.. Photo: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney Outside of LightHawk, James uses both his plane and his dental skills (he’s a dentist!) with the group Mission Flight, a faith-based nonprofit that “compassionately connects people in need with hope, help, and healing both internationally and locally.” Flights like this one provide a unique view of threats to climate resilience—one that can only be gained from above. Bringing attention to port emissions can help inform decisions that improve air quality and strengthen climate resilience. That’s why we fly. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-1.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-2.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-7.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-9.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-10.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-12.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-13.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-14.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-15.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-16.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-18.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-19.webp) *Photos: Jeremy Lindenfeld, Capital and Main \| Pilot: James Haney* **Categories:** Focus: Oceans, Focus: Waterways, Pilot View --- ### [Improving Urban Conservation in New Jersey](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-april-2026-featured-mission/) **Published:** April 30, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9858.webp)*The Passaic River flows through Paterson, New Jersey. The Nature Conservancy – New Jersey is working to improve urban conservation to build climate resiliency for New Jersey communities like Paterson. Photos: Johnny Quispe \| Pilot: Mike McNamara* Flying over northern **New Jersey** isn’t easy. The airspace is complex, but that’s exactly where LightHawk **volunteer pilot Mike McNamara** flew with [**The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in New Jersey**](https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/new-jersey/), following the Passaic River through one of the most densely populated regions in the country. New Jersey may be the fourth smallest state in the nation, but it carries a lot. Nearly 94% of its communities are considered urban, shaping how conservation happens here. For TNC, that means working in cities, where natural systems exist alongside infrastructure, development, and the people who depend on them. From above, the team followed the river through Paterson and across the lower watershed, identifying stretches that are difficult or impossible to access and seeing how the landscape fits together. The imagery will help identify opportunities to create open space and implement nature-based solutions along the Passaic River in Paterson to strengthen community resilience, while informing efforts across the broader watershed. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9846.webp)New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation with nearly 94% of its considered urban. Photos: Johnny Quispe \| Pilot: Mike McNamara ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9939.webp)TNC staff flew above the Passaic River to identify and document areas for future conservation projects. Photos: Johnny Quispe \| Pilot: Mike McNamara Paterson sits along the Passaic River. The river is one of the city’s greatest assets and one of its biggest challenges. As of 2021, 11% of Paterson’s urban land sits within a flood hazard area. The city also faces multiple combined sewer overflows, which discharge untreated water during heavy rain or snowmelt. When flooding and sewer backups overlap, the impacts can be immediate, affecting both public health and the surrounding environment. TNC staff member Johnny Quispe joined the flight, helping document conditions along the river that will guide restoration planning and future investment. “The photos and footage will help identify restoration opportunities along the Passaic River and places where open space can be created,” Quispe shared. “Many stretches aren’t visible from the ground, making this perspective critical to the work ahead.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9905.webp)Many stretches of the Passaic River are not visible from the ground so flights like this one are invaluable for partners like TNC to gain perspective and plan future projects. Photos: Johnny Quispe \| Pilot: Mike McNamara ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9900.webp)Images from the LightHawk flight will be used by TNC, their partners and local officials to address the need for climate resilience along the river. Photos: Johnny Quispe \| Pilot: Mike McNamara TNC is working with Paterson decision-makers and stakeholders to increase natural features in the city, from tree canopy expansion to floodplain restoration and improved stormwater infrastructure. The imagery captured during the flight will help identify where those efforts can have the greatest impact and support work to reconnect communities to the river. With this data in hand, TNC can better plan and prioritize investments that strengthen climate resilience, reduce urban heat, and expand access to nature. It’s a clearer path forward, made possible by the perspective gained in flight. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9910.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9882.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9879.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9858.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9840.webp) *Photos: Johnny Quispe \| Pilot: Mike McNamara* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Pilot View: Collecting Imagery of New Jersey’s Passaic River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-collecting-imagery-along-new-jerseys-passaic-river/) **Published:** May 15, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9900.webp)*The Passaic River flows through Paterson, New Jersey. The Nature Conservancy – New Jersey is working to improve urban conservation to build climate resiliency for New Jersey communities like Paterson. Photo by Johnny Quispe.* Most pilots avoid the airspace around New York City whenever possible. Volunteer pilot Mike McNamara volunteered for it. Partnering with The Nature Conservancy – New Jersey, Mike recently flew staff along the Passaic River to collect imagery and observe the surrounding landscape from above. The mission required navigating some of the busiest and most complex airspace in the country, including corridors serving airports across the New York metropolitan area. *[Read more about conservation work this flight supported.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-april-2026-featured-mission/)* “I know that many of the other LightHawk pilots have an aversion to flying in the most congested and complicated airspace in the country,” Mike said. “I’ve flown LightHawk missions in that airspace and other flights around the New York area before.” Mike started flying airplanes in 1991 after years spent skydiving. With more than 4,000 jumps under his belt, becoming a pilot felt like a natural progression. He purchased his Beechcraft Bonanza in 1995 and still flies the same aircraft today. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9846.webp)*New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation with nearly 94% of its considered urban. Photo by Johnny Quispe.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9939.webp)*TNC staff flew above the Passaic River to identify and document areas for future conservation projects. Photo by Johnny Quispe.* “We travel a lot in it,” Mike shared. “We’ve been to Alaska three times, Newfoundland four times, Baja, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic…” For this flight, Mike coordinated with air traffic controllers before ever leaving the ground, mapping out a route that would safely allow conservation staff to gather imagery along the river while navigating heavy arrival and departure traffic. “I called Caldwell Tower and coordinated with Teterboro ahead of time to let them know what we were planning to do,” Mike explained. With the preflight planning complete, they got in the Bonanza and took to the sky. “I told controllers I was flexible with altitude, which helped. I departed Caldwell at 1,500 feet, staying above the student traffic and 300 feet below arrivals into Morristown. When I got to Teterboro, they put me up to 1,800 feet and later dropped me to 1,000 feet as we moved south. That’s pretty low for such a congested area,” Mike shared. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9929.webp)*Many stretches of the Passaic River are not visible from the ground so flights like this one are invaluable for partners like TNC to gain perspective and plan future projects. Photo by Johnny Quispe.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9913.webp)*The airspace along the Passaic River congested, making for a challenging flight for LightHawk volunteer pilot Mike McNamara. Photo by Johnny Quispe.* Flying at altitudes between 1,000 feet and 2,400 feet, Mike navigated along the river while allowing TNC staff to collect imagery and make observations about the surrounding landscape. His altitude constantly shifted to accommodate heavy arrival and departure traffic from nearby airports. “It was a very busy, very tense flight,” Mike said. “Caldwell has constant student traffic, IFR arrivals and departures, and Teterboro is probably the busiest airport of its type in the world with jets constantly moving in and out. It was stressful, but the controllers were very accommodating.” Mike says one of the most rewarding parts of LightHawk flights is watching passengers experience the landscape differently from the air. “Sometimes when people go on these LightHawk flights, they don’t realize how close everything is and how fast everything is happening,” he shared. “We took off out of Caldwell and the Passaic River was right there. We were there in seconds.” The passengers were stunned. Accustomed to traveling through New Jersey traffic on the ground, they could hardly believe they had already reached the river. That aerial perspective also changed how the partners viewed the landscape below. From the air, development pressed tightly against the Passaic River in ways that are difficult to fully grasp from the ground. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9939.webp)Images from the *LightHawk flight will be used by TNC, their partners and local officials to address the need for climate resilience along the river. Photo by Johnny Quispe.* “They seemed surprised at how much development is around the Passaic River,” Mike said. “From the air it’s just a river between buildings in some areas. It’s pretty dense.” Once over the river, Mike worked closely with the TNC staff to help them capture the imagery they needed. Flying his low-wing Bonanza, he positioned the aircraft so the passengers had clear views of the landscape below. “I put them on the right-hand side of the airplane and made turns so the wing would drop out of the way for pictures,” Mike explained. Good weather and smooth morning conditions helped maximize time in the air. Working with air traffic control, Mike was even able to complete an impromptu 360° turn over one area of particular interest, allowing TNC staff to capture additional imagery of the river corridor below. He also suggested extending the route to photograph the opposite side of the river before returning to Caldwell. Johnny Quispe with The Nature Conservancy – New Jersey flew aboard the mission and said the aerial imagery collected during the flight will help support future restoration and open space efforts along the river corridor. “Given that many stretches of the river are not viewable from the ground, the perspective of being on the plane and being able to take images that will advance our conservation work is critical,” Quispe shared. Mike has volunteered with LightHawk for more than 20 years and logged over 5,000 hours in his Bonanza. Now mostly retired from a career as an electrical engineer, he continues donating his time and expertise to conservation flights throughout the region. Asked what he values most about flying with LightHawk, Mike reflected for a moment before answering: “My favorite thing about flying for LightHawk is learning more about the environment and the organizations working to support it,” he said. “The fact that baykeepers and riverkeepers exist, and that there are people whose job it is to monitor and protect these resources.” We’re grateful for Mike’s decades of dedication and for his willingness to fly missions in some of the most challenging airspace where LightHawk operates. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9936.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9914.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9905.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9879.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9840.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9846.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/842A9850.webp) *Photos by Johnny Quispe.* **Categories:** Focus: Waterways, Pilot View --- ### [Protecting Maine’s Landscapes and Waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-june-2026-featured-mission/) **Published:** June 25, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Serpentine_5.webp)*The Serpentine, a 2.5-mile waterway connects East Pond to North Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine. Photo: Jonathan Milne \| Pilot: Scott Cianchette* There’s a narrow stretch of water in central Maine called the Serpentine that connects East and North Ponds. From the ground, it looks like nothing more than a channel. From the air, it’s something else: a route that wildlife uses to move between waters, and one that invasive species use too. That’s the kind of detail you can only see from above — and it’s exactly why two Maine conservation groups turned to LightHawk. Taking off from Augusta State Airport, volunteer pilot **Scott Cianchette** and LightHawk staff member **Jonathan Milne** flew across central Maine’s Sebasticook River Watershed, collecting photos and video of the lands and waters below. Beyond the Serpentine, they flew over Great Meadow, Great Pond, and land within the greater watershed that could one day connect to existing conserved acreage — a missing link drawn into view from above. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Great-Pond_1.webp)Flying over Great Pond in central Maine. Photo: Jonathan Milne \| Pilot: Scott Cianchette ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Great-Meadow-Stream_2.webp)Great Meadow Stream flows into a larger body of water. Photo: Jonathan Milne \| Pilot: Scott Cianchette The flight combined requests from two partners working on neighboring landscapes: the **Sebasticook Regional Land Trust**, a membership-supported group working to conserve and restore the watershed and improve public access to it, and the **7 Lakes Alliance**, which protects land and water within the Belgrade Lakes watershed to safeguard water quality, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation. Combining their missions into a single flight gave both organizations the imagery they needed to educate the public about protecting these landscapes and waterways. That education matters because central Maine, though still heavily forested, is facing increasing rural development. New roads and subdivisions are fragmenting large contiguous habitats, disrupting migration corridors for moose, black bear, and other wildlife, and shrinking breeding habitat for forest birds. The slow loss of forest cover is also reducing the region’s resilience to climate stress. Central Maine has seen more heavy rain events and less steady snowpack in recent years, a shift that drives streambank erosion, sediment loading into rivers and lakes, and nutrient pollution in local waterways. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Moultons_Rines_2.webp)The flight flew over areas of wetlands that are prime spots for bird watchers. Photo: Jonathan Milne \| Pilot: Scott Cianchette ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Rines_Moulton.webp)The Moulton’s Mill Preserve is a forested land that provides outdoor recreation opportunities. Photo: Jonathan Milne \| Pilot: Scott Cianchette Telling that story to property owners, decision-makers, and the public takes both data and imagery, and the aerial perspective offers a sense of scale that’s nearly impossible to capture from the ground, especially for waterways that wind for miles through dense forest. The footage and photos from this flight are now in the hands of both partners, giving them new tools to advocate for connected forests, healthy wetlands, and climate-adapted land management across the watershed. It’s a small example of what LightHawk makes possible: a single flight, two organizations, and a clearer view of what’s worth protecting before it’s gone. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Serpentine_1.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Serpentin_3.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Patte-Pond.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Patte-Pond_2.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Great-Pond_SouthW.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Great-Pond_2.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Great-Meadow-Stream.webp) *Photos by Jonathan Milne.* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Pilot View: Capturing Aerial Perspective on the Colorado River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) **Published:** June 25, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55988.webp)*Crews work to extend a boat ramp at Bullfrog Marina at Lake Powell, where water levels remain low. Photo by RJ Sangosti/Denver Post.* The Colorado River Basin is an area of intense interest this year. Record low snowfall has left the river system with very little water, highlighting the ongoing water crisis in the West. Massive reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell are far below their average water levels. With increasing demand for flights over the basin, we are fortunate to have volunteer pilots like **Chuck Schroll**. Chuck has flown for LightHawk for many years and has been active this summer in flying members of the media and researchers over the Colorado River. At the end of April, Schroll took to the sky with **Denver Post** journalist RJ Sangosti to document the conditions of the river and Lake Powell. Sangosti has flown with LightHawk previously, documenting much of the Colorado River basin, from headwaters to the delta. When asked what draws him to missions like this one, Schroll responded, “The flights are beautiful and water is a big issue. And Betsy calls me! These people that are fighting the water issues, that’s big time important and I’m honored to be part of the work.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55402.webp)*If water levels far beyond minimum power pool, dams like the Hoover Dam will not be able to function, potentially cutting off power for communities across the southwest. Photo by RJ Sangosti/Denver Post.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-57106.webp)*As drought conditions in the Southwest worsen, there are concerns Lake Powell could drop below “dead pool,” when hydroelectric power generation would no longer be possible. Photo by RJ Sangosti/Denver* *Post.* Planning is a big part of these flights before they leave the ground. Schroll shared a little about the process, “Betsy gets us together on a Zoom call. We talk about the objectives and the route and we say what’s possible, what’s not possible and what may be better. Flying in the early morning is the best.” Beyond the basics, many areas of the Colorado River basin require extra awareness by pilots. Schroll said, “There’s a lot of military restricted airspace which you either can’t fly in or you got to get permission to fly in. And then there’s temporary flight restrictions, especially in fire season which is year-round now with the dry and the heat, there are restrictions where they’re fighting the fire and you can’t fly into that.” “For media flights like this one, dialing in the right altitude is important. Too high and the detail on the ground disappears. Too low and the overall perspective is lost. “We fly at one or two thousand feet above the ground. Generally, there’s no reason to fly below 1,000 feet. You can legally fly lower, but you get a pretty good perspective (from 1,000 feet). Or if they want a bigger picture we go to even 3,000 feet above the ground,” Schroll said. Flying over Lake Powell, the impacts of a long drought are obvious. He noted, “They call it the bathtub ring where the water levels used to be and it is way, way down. Last time I flew I remember a boat ramp up near the northeast corner of Lake Powell. Now the boat ramp goes nowhere near the water.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54568.webp)*Water levels along the basin are reaching critically low levels, threatening the ability to produce hydroelectric power. Photo by RJ Sangosti/Denver Post.* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55816.webp)*The “bathtub ring” shows how far the water levels have dropped within Lake Powell. Photo by RJ Sangosti/Denver Post.* After the flight, journalist RJ Sangosti shared, “I’m very thankful for the support of LightHawk for my continuing coverage of the Colorado River basin and I’m thankful for the generosity of the pilots that have helped me in the past and the generosity of Chuck on this current flight. Chuck came from Tucson pick me up in Boulder city near Las Vegas, flew for four hours, dropped me off and then flew back home. I can’t ask for a better experience in a better pilot for this trip.” The photos collected as part of this flight will be used to illustrate stories about the water crisis currently facing the West. The aerial perspective shows how a lack of water is impacting the water system in a way that ground-level images can’t achieve. Flying a 1969 Cessna 206, Schroll stays busy flying LightHawk missions. Since this flight, he has completed two more over the Colorado River basin, highlighting how much attention this year’s water levels are receiving. When asked about why he flies for LightHawk, Schroll shared, “People say, there are already pictures of this, and drones can take a look but there’s nothing like seeing it with your own eyes. A photograph often doesn’t give you the big picture. People get up in an aircraft and look down and say, ‘I didn’t know that was right by that road I drive all the time.’ Or ‘this is my neighborhood.’ Or ‘I’ve been here before on the ground, and I didn’t know it looked like this.’ If you’re seeing it with your own eyes you can place yourself there and get the big picture.” He went on to say, “ My favorite parts (of flying for LightHawk) are just seeing everything and then learning from the people I’m flying with. That makes it all worthwhile.” We’re thankful for Chuck’s dedication to LightHawk’s work and his continued generosity of flight time. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-56670.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-56512.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54863.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54517.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54411.webp) *Photos by RJ Sangosti/Denver Post.* **Categories:** Focus: Waterways, Pilot View --- ### [Telling the Story of a River Under Pressure](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-may-2026-featured-mission/) **Published:** May 29, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55988.webp)*Crews work to extend a boat ramp at Bullfrog Marina at Lake Powell, where water levels remain low in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on April 30, 2026, in Lake Powell, Utah. Photo: RJ Sangosti \| Pilot: Chuck Schroll* The **Colorado River** supplies water to nearly 40 million people, supports agriculture across the Southwest, and sustains communities, wildlife, and ecosystems throughout the basin. Yet after decades of drought and growing demand, the river remains under immense pressure. While strong snowpack years in 2024 and 2025 helped stabilize conditions at **Lake Powell** and **Lake Mead**, the winter of 2025-2026 brought exceptionally low precipitation across much of the basin, renewing concerns about the river’s long-term future. Helping people understand these challenges is a critical part of finding solutions. In late April, LightHawk partnered with [**Denver Post photojournalist RJ Sangosti**](https://www.denverpost.com/author/r-j-sangosti/) to document current conditions at Lake Powell and Lake Mead from the air. The flight provided a unique perspective on the scale of the reservoirs and the visible impacts of declining water levels. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54568.webp)A record-low snowpack across the Colorado River Basin is intensifying concerns at Lake Powell, where water levels remain low. Photo: RJ Sangosti \| Pilot: Chuck Schroll ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-57106.webp)A “bathtub ring” marks the receded shoreline at Lake Powell, where water levels remain below normal. Photo: RJ Sangosti \| Pilot: Chuck Schroll This was not Sangosti’s first flight with LightHawk. Over the years, he has worked with LightHawk pilots to photograph landscapes throughout the Colorado River Basin, producing imagery that has accompanied dozens of stories exploring drought, water management, and the future of the river. From the air, the effects of shrinking reservoirs become impossible to ignore. Along the shoreline, vast expanses of exposed rock and sediment reveal where water once stood. Boat ramps extended to accommodate lower water levels now end far from the lake’s edge. Volunteer pilot Chuck Schroll made the mission possible, commuting from Tucson to meet Sangosti near Las Vegas before flying over both reservoirs. Throughout the flight, Schroll positioned the aircraft to give Sangosti the angles and lighting needed to capture compelling images. “I was able to produce a strong series of images of Glen Canyon Dam during this flight,” Sangosti said. “Pilot Chuck was able to circle the dam and position the plane perfectly so I could make graphic and visually interesting photographs. He also started the flight early in the morning, which gave me much better light throughout the trip.” ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55816_cropped.webp)As drought conditions in the Southwest worsen, there are concerns the reservoir could drop below “dead pool,” when hydroelectric power generation at Glen Canyon Dam would no longer be possible. Photo: RJ Sangosti \| Pilot: Chuck Schroll ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54863_cropped.webp)The Colorado River winds through Marble Canyon on its southwest journey. Photo: RJ Sangosti \| Pilot: Chuck Schroll The results were immediate. “Overall, it was a very successful flight, and I was able to get exactly what I needed,” Sangosti said. “I have already filed nearly 100 photos from the flight to The Denver Post and Getty Images.” The imagery will help illustrate ongoing coverage of water issues throughout the Colorado River Basin and has the potential to reach audiences far beyond Colorado through national publications and wire services. For LightHawk, flights like this demonstrate the power of aerial perspective in environmental storytelling. By helping journalists document landscapes at a scale that cannot be seen from the ground, LightHawk helps bring critical conservation issues into public view and supports informed conversations about the future of the Colorado River. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-56512.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-56670.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55402.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54517.webp)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-54411.webp) *Photos: RJ Sangosti \| Pilot: Chuck Schroll* **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Waterways --- ### [Conservation FLYer September, 2019: Saving A River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-saving-a-river/) **Published:** September 27, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** It’s been a productive start to Autumn at LightHawk and we’re so excited to celebrate all we’ve done in 40 years at the upcoming Annual Meeting and Fly-In. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this month’s FLYer- there’s some press stories we’re pretty proud of! **LightHawk Hats, Jackets and Shirts**! NEW- We now have a store where you can show your LightHawk pride! Please make orders by September 22 if you’d like to pick them up at the Annual Meeting in Santa Fe. [Visit the Store](https://lighthawk.anterastores.com/index.php) **Paper Airplane Contest**: Did you hear? Submit your paper airplane design and it could be featured in our holiday letter! Learn more[ HERE.](https://www.lighthawk.org/lighthawk-paper-airplane-contest/) ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/933f97e7-e7ea-4f0b-bc76-7128fe560a28.png) ### Restoring the Delta *Flying over the Cienega de Santa Clara in the Colorado River Delta in Mexico.* *LightHawk flew photographer Jack Dykinga to capture images of the globally important Delta, which will help build support for its restoration.* *Photo Credit: Greg Bedinger* **Issue**: The Colorado River Delta and estuary has been decimated, as the mighty river **no longer reaches the sea** due to over-use of the arid region’s river. **Why It Matters:** The Delta is **globally important** to birds and marine life in the Gulf of California, and for the **people** whose way of life is inextricably linked to the river. **LightHawk Conservation Initiative:** Safeguarding Freshwater Systems **What LightHawk Is Doing**: LightHawk is working with organizations across the entire Colorado River watershed to **restore the Delta**. This month, we helped acquire world-class images of the estuary and wetland restoration progress. **Outcome**: LightHawk’s perspective will shed light on the issue to **raise awareness and funding** to complete the r**estoration of the Colorado River Delta** and support international water sharing. ## **Meet the LightHawk Staff** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/d431c476-6a8d-4784-b326-e6b1cd5378f8.jpg) **Jonathan Milne** *Eastern Program Director* Jonathan, our easternmost staff member, directs LightHawk’s efforts in the eastern half of the US. - He develops partnerships with conservation organizations from Maine to Florida and west to the Dakotas. - He helps guide LightHawk’s conservation strategies for eastern-specific issues including large landscape, watershed, and near-shore habitat preservation/restoration/monitoring. Jonathan has been surrounded by pilots his entire life. His father flew the PBY Catalina and Martin PBM Mariner and his younger brother flew for the USMC for 20+ years as an AH-1 Super Cobra helicopter pilot. Jonathan brings a diverse conservation background to LightHawk: he was a park ranger in Oregon for the BLM and in Maine for almost ten years at Baxter State Park. He has worked on a variety of conservation projects including ecological assessments for superfund sites, baseline ecological surveys for conservation easements, forestry management surveys, vernal pool surveys and wetland analysis for many clients throughout New England. Jonathan has a B.S. in Recreation and Park Management from the University of Maine and a M.S.c. in Environmental Science/Conservation Biology from Green Mountain College in Vermont. ## **LightHawk in the News** > **Denver Post:** [Critics of federal oil, gas leasing in CO focus on fate of fancy-dancing bird and public lands](https://www.denverpost.com/2019/09/01/colorado-blm-oil-gas-leases-sage-grouse-jackson-county-walden/) > > “Barbara Vasquez was one of a small group of people who recently took a flight with LightHawk, a conservation organization, to get a big-picture view of public lands up for oil and gas leasing and some of the spots where the greater sage grouse live… ” > > **National Geographic:** [Planned roads could imperil Florida’s panthers – and last remaining wilderness](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/florida-toll-road-threatens-wildlife-panthers/) > > A story featuring photos from LightHawk and how development threatens the endangered FL panther. > > C**BS This Morning:** [H](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/florida-toll-road-threatens-wildlife-panthers/)[ow to protect trees of the Pacific Northwest?](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-to-protect-trees-of-pacific-northwest/) > > A story featuring LightHawk footage of logging activities. ## LightHawk Photo of the Month ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/e834a26f-4c26-4c46-b4b8-477ae3fce7d4-768x1024.jpg) Pyramid Lake in Nevada. This flight highlighted National Conservation Lands in northwest Nevada for Conservation Lands Foundation supporters, allowing our partners to share key aspects of their work to protect premiere lands, rivers and trails managed by the BLM. *Conservation Lands Foundation/LightHawk* [Make Conservation Happen. Donate to LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Conservation FLYer October, 2019: First Class Salmon Passengers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-first-class-salmon-passengers/) **Published:** October 28, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** A huge thanks to everyone who was able to celebrate LightHawk’s 40th Anniversary in Santa Fe at the Annual Meeting and Fly-In earlier this month! We had probably the best food in the history of Fly-Ins and some of the most engaging talks by pilots and conservation partners. Join us next year in Washington, D.C. **LightHawk Hats, Jackets and Shirts**! NEW- We now have a store where you can show your LightHawk pride! Please make orders by September 22 if you’d like to pick them up at the Annual Meeting in Santa Fe. [Visit the Store](https://lighthawk.anterastores.com/index.php) ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/f5b94b83-71b0-4d7b-bf1e-c0a2f3e6a97f.png) ### Flying Salmon! *Loading an oxygenated cooler full of  Kokanee Salmon into the back of the plane. LightHawk flew these fish to a protected hatchery, where they will reproduce and one day be able to re-populate their ancestral home in Lake Sammamish, WA. Photo Credit: David St. John/King County/LightHawk* **Issue**: The Kokanee Salmon of Lake Sammamish used to return to the lake in the **tens of thousands**, but in the past three years, only **20-120 fish** have made the trek back to their home to breed. **Why It Matters:** This population of salmon is **unique**, having lived in Lake Sammamish for thousands of years, adapting to lake life. These salmon are a **cherished** part of local heritage and biodiversity. **LightHawk Conservation Initiative:** Safeguarding Freshwater Systems, Wildlife Survival **What LightHawk Is Doing**: LightHawk transported **250 salmon in specially designed coolers** from their native lake to a protected breeding facility, which will ensure the **fish are safe from deteriorating water conditions** in the lake. **Outcome**: LightHawk’s **safe, fast transportatio**n for the salmon ensures that they have a chance to **survive and reproduce**, so that Lake Sammamish may one day see the historic numbers of salmon that used to live there. ## **Meet the LightHawk Staff** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/bd354cad-7480-4de8-9c97-659b8674fed3.jpg) **Esther Duke** *Western Program Director* Esther, our Denver-based staff member, directs LightHawk’s efforts in the western half of North America. - She develops partnerships with conservation organizations from Alaska to Mexico, from California east to the Rockies. - She helps guide LightHawk’s conservation strategies for western-specific issues including water conservation, river health, and California Condor recovery. Esther is passionate about building capacity for collaborative and performance-based conservation. Before joining the LightHawk team Esther was Director of Special Projects and Programs for the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources (HDNR) Department at Colorado State University (CSU). At CSU she led outreach efforts with a focus on building social science capacity for government agencies and NGOs. She directed seven conference/training programs and taught courses focused on human-wildlife conflict mitigation, conservation social science, and nature-based tourism. Esther has experience working cross-culturally as director of conferences in Kenya and Italy and managing research networks in China, Central America, and Europe. Esther also has experience in the area of environmental market design. Esther worked as a consultant for The Wyoming Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the University of Wyoming, to lead a habitat exchange feasibility study for what is now the Wyoming Conservation Exchange. She continued research in this area at CSU as co-principal investigator on a research project exploring the role of conservation evidence in decision making and other factors influencing beneficiary participation in forest stewardship for source water protection in the Intermountain West. Esther received her M.S. from the HDNR at CSU in 2010. Her research was conducted in Panama and focused on design strategies and trade-offs for payment for ecosystem services programs. She received her B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University. ## **LightHawk in the News** > **KOMO News:** [Genetically rare salmon fly to Orcas Island to preserve species](https://komonews.com/news/local/genetically-rare-salmon-fly-to-orcas-island-to-preserve-species) > > Video news segment covering our salmon story from above. > > **News Channel 3:** [Exclusive: Aerial view shows environmental disaster at the Salton Sea](https://www.kesq.com/news/exclusive-aerial-view-shows-environmental-disaster-at-the-salton-sea/1132850604) > > This covers the demise of the Salton Sea and how its newly dry banks expose toxic chemicals. > > E**&E News: [Time running out for crusading biologist’s war on dams](https://www.eenews.net/stories/1061166033)** > > A story featuring LightHawk conservation partners and our work on saving salmon. ## LightHawk Photo of the Month ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/b5470d4e-27b1-40fa-92a1-1db055c7b1d6-1024x683.jpg) LightHawk flew with Raise the River to feature restoration sites along the Colorado River Delta. Las Arenitas treatment plant treats about 50% of Mexicali’s sewage. Through a cooperative agreement between the Mexico government and NGOs, some percentage of the water flow is allocated to these wetlands for bird and other habitat. *Jesus Salazar/Raise the River/LightHawk* [Make Conservation Happen. Donate to LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Conservation FLYer August, 2019: Fracking Pipelines](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-fracking-pipelines/) **Published:** August 29, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Summer is winding down, but not our important conservation work! **LightHawk Hats, Jackets and Shirts**! NEW- We now have a store where you can show your LightHawk pride! Please make orders by September 22 if you’d like to pick them up at the Annual Meeting in Santa Fe. [Visit the Store](https://lighthawk.anterastores.com/index.php) **Paper Airplane Contest**: Did you hear? Submit your paper airplane design and it could be featured in our holiday letter! Learn more[ HERE.](https://www.lighthawk.org/lighthawk-paper-airplane-contest/) ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/ca28603e-f17f-417b-9d7a-256ed9a226b7.png) ### Pipeline Flyover in Fracking Country *Flying over the Falcon Pipeline route in Pennsylvania. LightHawk is helping FracTracker note construction progress and any pollution violations. Photo Credit: Andreas Lauschke* **Issue**: A natural gas pipeline crossing PA/OH/WV  is under construction, crossing **drinking water** sources, sensitive **habitats**, and nearing **residential** areas. **Why It Matters:** The pipeline, opposed by local residents, will accelerate natural gas development in the region, and worsen climate change impacts. In Pennsylvania, inadequate natural gas regulations have led to **contaminated drinking water**, **explosions**, and sink holes which **endanger people**. **LightHawk Conservation Initiative:** Safeguarding Freshwater Systems **What LightHawk Is Doing**: LightHawk flew with FracTracker Alliance [over the future pipeline’s route](http://andreaslauschke.net/clips/VIRBElite/f20190811-2.MP4), to document construction progress, **identify violations** and **show the public** where the pipeline will be in relation to their homes, schools, and drinking water. **Outcome**: LightHawk’s perspective will shed light on the pipeline process and encourage **greater public participation** in pipeline regulation. The aerial view makes oil and gas industry activities **more transparent**. Future flights will monitor changes as the pipeline progresses. **Learn More:**[ Falcon Pipeline Monitoring Project](https://www.fractracker.org/2019/05/the-falcon-public-monitoring/) ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/30434f27-aed4-4058-9823-bfbf42f21421.png) ## REGISTER NOW FOR OUR ANNUAL MEETING & FLY-IN Make sure you have a spot at the party! **PLEASE BOOK SOON, because area hotels are filling up quick** due to a hot air balloon fest happening the same week. We have a block of rooms available, but they’re going quick. [DETAILS AND REGISTRATION HERE](https://www.lighthawk.org/fly-in/) ## **Meet the LightHawk Staff** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/71ca7f38-676d-4283-950a-f4a7555efab7.jpg) **Bob Francella** *Chief Advancement Officer* Bob is LightHawk’s Chief Advancement Officer. What does that mean? - He advances LightHawk’s mission by leading all **fundraising** and **communications** efforts. - He guides a team of five fundraising, marketing and data management experts. Bob has spent his entire career working in earnest for nonprofit organizations, and is a lifelong champion of children’s rights, animal rights, and protecting the earth. He has been successful as executive director, development and communications director for large and small nonprofit organizations. He has achieved recognition in the field as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). He believes in the inherent goodness of people, and his career mission is Changing The World For Good.   His vision is that LightHawk’s supporters know how much we appreciate them, and that we always listen to and learn from them. **Bob believes that LightHawk’s supporters, pilots and partners are committed to protecting the earth, and advance their conservation priorities through collaboration with us**. He is grateful that our partners and supporters have made us the leader in conservation flying on the continent.   When not saving the planet, Bob spends time with family (including twin grandsons!), dear friends, and as a performing musician in acoustic and electric pop and rock bands. ## **LightHawk in the News** > **Amazon Prime/Newsy:** [Blowout](https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07WKBMRNF/ref=atv_hm_hom_1_c_iEgOEZ_2_1) > > A documentary following American-produced fossil fuels from their production to where they end up across the world, and the impacts it causes. > > **E&E News:** [Trump Rule Muddies Oversight of Free-flowing Arizona River](https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060806127) > > A story on the San Pedro River of Arizona, threatened by changes to water rules. > > R**iversEdge West:** [Native Plant Restoration ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Geu9XitO8jc) > > A video on our partner’s work to restore river habitat, featuring LightHawk footage. ## LightHawk Photo of the Month ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/a0d3af7a-d9eb-4451-8597-6ce22a31dcc7-1024x683.jpg) An oyster farm off Cape Cod in Massachusetts. This flight searched for the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, one of the most endangered marine mammals, in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Keith A. Ellenbogen [Make Conservation Happen. Donate to LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Conservation FLYer November, 2019: Water in the West](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-water-in-the-west/) **Published:** November 26, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** As Thanksgiving approaches, we have a lot to be thankful for at LightHawk. Thank you to our donors, partners and supporters for championing LightHawk’s mission of conservation. We wouldn’t be LightHawk without you! Endangered California condors are thankful that they are not the big bird on the menu this week. Here’s [a video](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPf3NQWX86Q6otzbN2newBlZUGu5lIoVRG5qlmEnm4XDLfjIXxvDABGjTi8iNMafg/photo/AF1QipN4njBcPnM1jqeDpP28LdP1D_pzLa5uK932BD5p?key=Rzc4d3dyWU9GdUJycjFfTU1lRGJ3b0lXbWZpdVh3) of a recent LightHawk passenger condor arriving at a care facility. Aren’t they amazing!? And here’s a video story about his flight! **LightHawk Hats, Jackets and Shirts**! NEW- We now have a store where you can show your LightHawk pride! Please make orders by September 22 if you’d like to pick them up at the Annual Meeting in Santa Fe. [Visit the Store](https://lighthawk.anterastores.com/index.php) ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/0d1a280f-265f-4fc7-86df-daf2520270aa.png) ### Stories For Water *Looking over the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This conservation mission will provide free photos and videos to journalists covering important water issues in the West. Photo Credit: Geoff McGhee/LightHawk* **Issue**: The **Colorado River** Basin and western communities are facing **serious water shortages**, as development, agriculture and nature compete for limited water. **Why It Matters:** Water is a key component of wildlife habitat and human economies. In order to make smart water policies, **decision makers and citizens need to know** what’s happening with water in the west. **LightHawk Conservation Initiative:** Safeguarding Freshwater Systems **What LightHawk Is Doing**: LightHawk is partnering with The Water Desk, an independent water journalism initiative based at the University of Colorado’s **Center for Environmental Journalism**. We gave members the ability to document hundreds of miles of headwaters of the Colorado River this past month. **Outcome**: LightHawk enabled **journalists to collect photos and videos** of the upper reaches of the Colorado River, which will be part of a [free library](https://waterdesk.org/multimedia/photos) of water-related **multimedia for journalists.** **Thank You** to the Walton Family Foundation for supporting our work on the Colorado River. ## **Meet the LightHawk Staff** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/6f6539d1-d95a-4904-96a5-6a22bd470d0b.jpg) **Lee Pagni** *Interim Development Director* Lee, our Tucson, Arizona based staff member, is a passionate conservationist and helps LightHawk raise the funding necessary to do our important work. - He manages grants and foundation relationships for LightHawk. - He is in charge of fundraising and LightHawk communications. Lee started working with LightHawk as a partner, organizing over-flights for community leaders in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve of Central Mexico. He has also coordinated LightHawk programs in the Rockies, Pacific, and Mesoamerica during his tenure. In addition to his work with LightHawk, Lee works with other non-profit organizations to advance conservation via outreach and education. One of his main projects is volunteering as a Board Member for Friends of Ironwood Forest National Monument. He has an M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona, Tucson and a B.S. in Ecology from the University of California, San Diego. When he isn’t working, Lee enjoys flying gliders over the Ironwood Forest. ## **LightHawk in the News** > **My Northwest:** [Small planes are flying Kokanee salmon to Orcas Island hatchery](https://mynorthwest.com/1565632/kokanee-salmon-flights-survival/) > > “For salmon recovery, LightHawk often flies media, scientists, elected officials, and more but this was our first time flying fish,” said Christine Steele, Western Program Coordinator for LightHawk. > > **Castanet:** [Search for missing big cats](https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/269401/Collared-bobcats-and-lynx-are-the-subject-of-a-search#.XbseWDkoowA.email) > > A story on a unique bobcat and lynx tracking study. “We fly in a grid pattern, or sometimes a pattern that Al with his experience suggests,” Riffle said. “Think of a paintbrush under the airplane painting with antennae, looking for the signal that the cats are emitting from their collars depending on what mode they are in, dropped or still active.” ## LightHawk Photo of the Month ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/45980aac-0d3d-4263-b6a6-e49c5b945117-1024x768.jpeg) VP Dave Riffle’s pit stop on the way home from lynx tracking in British Columbia at a remote strip west of Lake Chelan, WA. LightHawk flew with the Southern Interior Land Trust to track bobcats and lynx and learn how the cats use habitat on the US/Canada border. *Dave Riffle.* [Make Conservation Happen. Donate to LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Conservation FLYer December, 2019: Monkey Business](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-monkey-business/) **Published:** December 30, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** It’s been a stellar 2019 at LightHawk, celebrating 40 years of conservation flying. As we look ahead to 2020, we’re excited to continue our important work with your help! The video below is just one of the critical conservation issues LightHawk addressed this year. In [partnership with the Wild Salmon Center](https://www.wildsalmoncenter.org/campaigns/oregon-forest-waters/), we flew to demonstrate the intense logging happening in Oregon. The federal government has said Oregon’s forestry practices are violating the Clean Water Act. We are helping the public see the damages and pushing for modernization of Oregon’s forestry. **LightHawk Hats, Jackets and Shirts**! NEW- We now have a store where you can show your LightHawk pride! Please make orders by September 22 if you’d like to pick them up at the Annual Meeting in Santa Fe. [Visit the Store](https://lighthawk.anterastores.com/index.php) ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/1677cc83-c7e5-451d-ac3e-a1635ba7bfea.png) ### Monkey Business *A Black Mangabey monkey from Central Africa. LightHawk provided transportation between breeding center zoos to bolster this endangered species’ population. Photo Credit: Brookfield Zoo.* **Issue**: Black Mangabeys, a **primate from Africa**, are extremely endangered. **Only 22 exist** in species protection programs in the US. **Why It Matters:** Black Mangabeys are **disappearing** in their Central African home, due to illegal logging and hunting. **LightHawk Conservation Initiative:** Species Survival **What LightHawk Is Doing**: LightHawk provided **safe, quick, and stress-free transportation** for a female Black Mangabey from the Binder Park Zoo in Michigan to the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia. **Outcome**: Paired with a new mate in her new home, this flight will hopefully result in babies and a **brighter future for the species**. ## **Meet the LightHawk Staff** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/a086650a-dd71-4bca-93bb-e9d9f37333bb.jpg) **Chelsea Baird** *Development & Administrative Associate* Chelsea, a Colorado-based staff member, is essential to LightHawk’s day-to-day operations! - She processes gifts to LightHawk and recognizes donors. - She does a lot of heavy lifting planning the Annual Meeting and Fly-Ins. - She helps keep LightHawk’s data systems running. Chelsea Baird comes to LightHawk with an extensive background in development, administration and finance. The conservation work LightHawk does means a great deal to her and she is supports LightHawk’s mission with her knowledge and experience. She also enjoys the aviation side of LightHawk’s work as her husband Andy is a commercial pilot. She enjoys being outdoors and loves to backpack, hike, fish and cook. ## **LightHawk in the News** > **Sierra Club: [Condors Take Flight with LightHawk](https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/WOW-December-2019.pdf)** > > “We can’t thank LightHawk enough. These transfers of birds really make a difference in how we can manage the population moves in a more fluid way… The shorter the trip, the quicker the anxiety is over for the birds,” said Mike Clark, Condor Keeper, Los Angeles Zoo. > > **PBS:** [Crosscut Documentaries – The Rising](https://www.kcts9.org/show/crosscut-documentaries-rising/specials) > > Climate change threatens the future of several tribes on the Pacific Coast, stripping away the natural resources that have supported a thriving culture and lifestyle for thousands of years. Footage from LightHawk included. ## LightHawk Photo of the Month ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2fdc65ed-062c-4fe0-87cb-3e307e44f175-1024x768.jpg) As part of LightHawk’s long-term work to support Everglades restoration, we flew outreach specialists from the Artists in Residence in Everglades organization. The goal is to improve public engagement of the natural and cultural resources of the 1.5 million acre Everglades National Park. *Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE).* [Make Conservation Happen. Donate to LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Conservation FLYer January, 2020: What Happens When You Let Loose....](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-what-happens-when-you-let-loose/) **Published:** January 30, 2020 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** We’re starting LightHawk’s 5th decade of existence strong – planning our conservation work for the year ahead and providing important flights for wildlife, river protection, changing oceans, and vital landscapes. Thank you to everyone who supported us this past holiday season. We’re putting your gifts to good use! **LightHawk Hats, Jackets and Shirts**! NEW- We now have a store where you can show your LightHawk pride! Please make orders by September 22 if you’d like to pick them up at the Annual Meeting in Santa Fe. [Visit the Store](https://lighthawk.anterastores.com/index.php) ![](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/26696e2a-807d-4de3-b36b-71bb68764041.png) ### A Recovering River Lets Loose *The Elwha River meets the ocean in Washington. Following a major dam removal in 2014, the river is being nursed back to health* *by the Coastal Watershed Institute, with help from LightHawk.* *Photo Credit: Lindsey Howard/Coastal Watershed Institute/LightHawk.* **What Happened**: In 2014, the second of two dams on the Elwha River was torn down, completing the **largest dam removal project in history** in a major victory for the environment. Today, the Elwha River flows freely from its source in the mountains of Olympic National Park to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  **Why It Matters:** The Elwha Dam removal and restoration project set an **inspiring example** for dealing with other outdated dams across the nation as well as an incredible opportunity to study the resulting changes to the surrounding environment. The removal of both dams **released 100+ years** of detained river sediment to the Elwha River delta and shoreline. Understanding sediment movement and beach formation helps to inform efforts to restore natural beaches to this heavily impacted shoreline, beaches that support an incredible **food web** that small forage fish, **salmon**, and even **killer whales** depend on. **LightHawk Conservation Initiative:** Protecting Freshwater Systems **What LightHawk Is Doing**: LightHawk provides regular flights to the Coastal Watershed Institute to document the evolution and alterations to the nearshore environment and shoreline. These photos are important for monitoring as well as **building support for stewardship** and future restoration projects. **Outcome**: Coastal Watershed Institute will use the photos to monitor and build public support for stewardship of the Elwha River and support grants to **further their shoreline restoration** work in the Pacific Northwest. ## **Meet the LightHawk Staff** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/c4953b21-466b-4a48-b3a2-3ee9ae5cf53c.jpg) **Christine Steele** *Western Program Coordinator* Christine, our Portland-based staff member, is key in organizing LightHawk’s Western conservation missions. - She ensures conservation projects in the Rockies and west coast are well-organized and run smoothly. - She’s the first point of contact for western pilots and partners. - She helps partners understand how aviation can help their conservation work. A wildlife biologist by training, Christine has studied birds from the arctic to the tropics, and many places in between. She also worked on salmon conservation with an Oregon watershed council. Her most memorable volunteer gig was rehabilitating seabirds and raptors in California, and working with non-releasable raptors as education birds. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara, and a Masters in Natural Resources, Wildlife from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. Christine also volunteers locally on the board of her kids’ school PTA and with a nearby food bank. When she’s not working, she loves spending time exploring NW hot springs and hunting chanterelle mushrooms. ## **LightHawk in the News** > **San Francisco BayKeeper: [Richmond, Thank You for Banning Coal](https://baykeeper.org/blog/richmond-thank-you-banning-coal)** > > The CA port city of Richmond voted to ban coal storage and handling. LightHawk helped by collecting images of coal export operations in the port. > > **F.E.R.N: [As the Salton Sea shrinks, it leaves behind a toxic reminder of the cost of making a desert bloom](https://thefern.org/2020/01/as-the-salton-sea-shrinks-it-leaves-behind-a-toxic-reminder-of-the-cost-of-making-a-desert-bloom/)** > > “To understand the Salton Sea — its massiveness, its unlikely place in the desert of Southern California — it’s best to see it from above.” > > S**an Francisco BayKeeper: [King Tides Sound a Pollution Alarm in the Bay](https://baykeeper.org/news/column/king-tides-sound-pollution-alarm-bay)** > > “On January 10-12, high tides in San Francisco Bay washed up onto the shoreline of a large former pharmaceutical company in Richmond. A few hours later, the outgoing tide pulled contamination—including pesticides, toxic chemicals, and radioactive waste—off the industrial land and into the Bay. Right now, this occurs a few times every year during the highest tides, known as King Tides, which are 1 to 2 feet higher than normal high tides. With sea levels rising over the coming decades, however, flooding waters like this could hit polluted shoreline sites every day.” ## LightHawk Photo of the Month ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/b8f2dbe7-b0b6-49ac-8660-79188ec0f310-1024x768.jpg) As part of LightHawk’s pivotal conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin, we flew Audubon California and key decision makers in the Salton Sea region. This mission built awareness about the human health and environmental crisis happening at the Salton Sea as water levels recede. More than 650,000 people’s drinking water is at stake. *Greg Paulin/LightHawk.* [Make Conservation Happen. Donate to LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Soaring Higher: Oil spills, endangered wolves, the power of awe](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/soaring-higher-oil-spills-endangered-wolves-the-power-of-awe/) **Published:** November 14, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## When Oil Spills, We’re First on the Scene When a section of the Keystone pipeline burst spilling more than 210,000 gallons of oil onto the South Dakota prairie, LightHawk sprang into action. Working hand-in-hand with our national partner the Waterkeeper Alliance and tribal leaders from Dakotas for America, we assembled flights over the spill, allowing for a thorough assessment of potential damage to groundwater resources and the best way to clean up the soil. Photos and video taken on the flight went viral, and the subsequent media coverage helped inform the national conversation about the safety of pipeline transmission of oil. Through your support, we create long-term partnerships, our expert conservation staff plan all of the logistics and determine the beneficial outcomes of flights. Quickly mobilizing pilots, we provide critical non-partisan perspectives to our nation’s most important conservation issues. ## “LightHawk” — Endangered Wolf Gets New Home, Mate Last November was a big month for the Mexican wolf #1564. The genetically-valuable wolf from New Mexico was selected as a match with a female wolf in New York. Cross-country genetic matchmaking of these closely-managed wolves ensures diversity critical to their species recovery, but the logistics of relocating wolves at the right time are often challenging. Enter LightHawk. We deftly coordinate flying these wolves with care, avoiding longer, troublesome, and potentially health-damaging commercial flights or worse, ground transportation. In honor of Jim Houser and Michael Baum, the volunteer pilots who flew him to his new home, #1564 was renamed LightHawk. Staff at the Wolf Conservation Center hope he and his new mate Trumpet will welcome pups in the spring. Your support is helping LightHawk carry his valuable genetics into the next generation, helping keep this critical species from extinction. ## Protecting the Columbia from a Mega Dairy’s Sewage Violations When one of the largest dairies in Oregon history was constructed a stone’s throw from the Columbia River, LightHawk helped conservationists monitor its conservation impacts. LightHawk designed a flight campaign with Columbia Riverkeeper and we took to the air to survey and photograph Lost Valley Ranch, which was creating millions of gallons of manure. Unfortunately, that liquid manure repeatedly overflowed from lagoons and into the river, putting 81 public drinking water supplies at risk of contamination, while threatening the Columbia and its endangered salmon. The dairy was fined $10,000 and cited four times for failing inspections — each violation giving the operator steps to stay in operation, which it was unable to do, and as a result, the state ordered its closure. LightHawk photos of the dairy ran in local media, informing the public and local decision makers about the dairy and dangerous health risks. ## Awareness Saving Mexican Jaguars The jaguar was almost exterminated from northern Mexico, but thanks to our effort, and the consistent effort of conservationists and locals, they are making a comeback. LightHawk recently teamed up with renowned conservation photographer Jaime Rojo to photograph the Northern Jaguar Reserve, 50,000-acres voluntarily set aside by ranchers and conservationists to save these big cats. Photographs of the hard-to-access area were meant to help raise funds and to encourage local ranchers to participate. Rojo and his partner Naturalia said the photos were “key” in the recent expansion of the reserve. Through your support of us, you were on that flight helping Rojo and partners raise awareness and protect more land for the jaguar, and creating a success story of how protected areas can help save animals from extinction. ## First View of Well Explosion Inform Locals When a gas well pad in Ohio exploded and caught fire, LightHawk navigated around temporary flight restrictions to allow our partner FracTracker and a local journalist a first-hand view of the incident. With an estimated 100 million cubic feet of natural gas spilling into the sky per day and local residents ordered to evacuate, LightHawk and pilot Dave Warner allowed for the first aerial view of the well. The flight allowed FracTracker to use its national resources to raise awareness in hopes of preventing a similar accident. Photos and media helped nearby residents visualize the situation in their backyards and informed the local dialogue about energy extraction safety. Your support allows us to spring into action to inform conservationists and the media, allowing for a more informed debate on resource production. ## The Power of Awe From the sky, LightHawk unleashes the power of awe, revealed through the windows of a small plane. The awe of flight causes people to see a much bigger picture, far larger than themselves, and (in our case) to do more to help save our environment. The awe that you also believe in reveals the transcendent power of nature. It stirs souls and creates change, for our lands, oceans, coastlines, rivers and wildlife, and you make that happen. Whenever we report on our success, it is your generosity that drives every outcome. Thank you for standing with us as we continue inspiring change to save our planet. [DONATE](#) **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Soaring Higher: Flying otters, preventing fires, expanding refuges and Fractracker finds](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/soaring-higher-flying-otters-preventing-fires-expanding-refuges-and-fractracker-finds/) **Published:** November 15, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** LightHawk flew for conservation in so many ways this summer! > *An orchard under an agricultural conservation easement is hugged by Colorado’s Gunnison River. In a drought year riddled with wildfires, aerial monitoring of conservation lands reduces the risk of sparking a fire and the dangers that follow. Jeremy Puckett/CWLT* ## Smokey Bear is Proud of Us! ##### *LightHawk Helps Fire-Ravaged West* Colorado shared a disastrous fate with many Western states this year. Many were ravaged by wildfires this year, and 2018 is one of the worst fire years on record for the state. While wildfire is a natural and necessary event in nature, the risk to human lives is undeniable. LightHawk and Colorado West Land Trust, a partnership of Black Canyon Regional and Mesa Land Trusts, monitored conservation easement lands while avoiding setting any sparks on this parched country. From high above, LightHawk flights allowed Land Trust staff to safely observe 70 easements covering over 30,000 acres. These four hours of flights kept fire-sparking trucks off remote, drought-stricken conservation easements, while simultaneously saving the Land Trust 380 hours of staff time, and $15,000! With your support, we provide land trusts the best tool — aviation — to monitor conservation-friendly properties around the U.S. By saving Colorado West Land Trust both staff time and funds, they can conserve more Colorado ranches, orchards, and key landscapes for conservation. Because LightHawk flies for land trusts, more land is conserved. ## Our Most Adorable Species Survival Passenger of 2018 ##### *International Effort to Protect Otters* Otters, and most other wildlife, can’t get a ticket on a commercial airline. Kate the River Otter was in need of a new home at the Calgary Zoo, but her options for getting there from Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo were limited. There were no direct commercial flights willing to transport her. The only commercial flights available required an overnight stay in Toronto. Considering all the stressful sights and sounds in a cargo hold, Kate’s welfare would be at stake. Alternatively, a drive to her new home would take 25 hours! That’s where LightHawk came to the rescue! Kate the Otter flew with LightHawk Volunteer Pilot, Chuck Yanke, and made the trip from Chicago to Calgary in his (very fast) Pilatus PC-12 in just five hours. We coordinated this flight to make it as stress-free as possible. Now she is in her new home, with her new mate, and she is a critical member of the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan. Her genes will help maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population of these playful animals. We delivered Kate to her new habitat in the fastest, most comfortable way possible and we couldn’t have done it without your help. ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/auchsandmine.jpg) ## Food or Fuel? ##### *LightHawk Flights Bring Scope to Fracking Development* LightHawk’s perspective is unparalleled. There’s nothing quite like a LightHawk flight to show decision makers and journalists an industry’s impact on the land. Dr. Ted Auch, Great Lakes Program Coordinator for FrackTracker Alliance and a leading resource on oil and gas issues, took a series of flights this year to document fracking industry activities in Illinois, and share the aerial perspective with local investors, Northwestern University law professors, county officials and press outlets. “The bird’s-eye-view allows you to see the grandeur and nuance of all things beautiful and humbling. Conversely…\[a\] Cessna allows one to really absorb the extent, degree, and intensity of all things destructive,” notes Dr. Auch. The fracking sand mines the passengers saw are in one of the nation’s most productive agricultural areas, known for producing record amounts of soybeans and corn. As fracking industry activity increases in America’s breadbasket, we may be risking our future food security. Your support allows us to spring into action to inform key constituents about the impacts of the fracking industry, allowing for more informed debate on resource production. ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/capemay.jpg) ## 400 Reasons to Preserve New Jersey Shores ##### *Sanctuary Creates Larger Home for Migrating Birds* Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, on the southern tip of New Jersey, is a coastal haven for birds migrating along the heavily developed east coast. Over 400 species call the refuge home, and they’re increasingly threatened as the Jersey Shore habitat changes from marsh and forest to shopping malls and beach houses. The refuge is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area, and draws birders from around the world to see the hundreds of thousands that migrate through each year. Not only protecting wildlife, the refuge’s natural landscapes lessen the impacts of storms and rising sea levels for people that call the peninsula home. Working with our longtime partner, The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, an additional 477 acres of private property were purchased and gifted to the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. This was the largest privately owned natural property remaining on the peninsula. A deal over a decade in the making, LightHawk flew journalists to create stories that changed hearts and minds to deliver this win for conservation. Because of your support, we are expanding critical habitat for wildlife, protecting against rising sea levels, and providing new recreational outdoor opportunities for urban citizens. ## One People, One Planet We share 96% of our human DNA with Chimpanzees, and interestingly, more than 50% with hens, house flies, and bananas. We are more similar than dissimilar to much of life on our planet. Perhaps that’s why we feel more connected to the earth and the universe when we’re hiking in the woods, or driving over a mountain pass. Those feelings of connectedness are magnified by the awe we feel when seeing the earth from the windows of a small plane. Awe leads to change, and reconnects us to the fabric of all living things. So thank you for being connected to our planet — and to LightHawk. And thank you for making the successes described on these pages a reality. We deeply appreciate your support. Warmest regards,Bob FrancellaChief Advancement Oficer *To view this in a PDF click [HERE](https://www.lighthawk.org/sites/default/files/soaring_higher_2018_no._1_no_dear.pdf).* **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Soaring Higher: Whales, Lynx, Land Trusts and Toxic Algae](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/soaring-higher-whales-lynx-land-trusts-and-toxic-algae/) **Published:** March 5, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![How LightHawk and Supporters are Saving the Earth.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SH-1-2019-1024x537.jpg) | ***How LightHawk’s Supporters are Saving the Earth*** | |---| | **From Slime to Saved** W*hen LightHawk flights lead to presidential actions* When you think of Florida’s beaches, you probably don’t imagine them abandoned, full of dead fish, and giving off toxic gas. That’s exactly what happened in 2018 as Florida experienced the worst red tide algae bloom since 2006. Not only was the sea suffering from the poisonous microscopic creatures, but lakes and rivers too. Bluegreen algae blooms (a different species of algae) spread across Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers and choked out fish below a green slime. Florida declared a state of emergency, as human health, tourism and fishing industries suffered. LightHawk and our partners responded quickly, flying multiple missions to capture evidence of the blooms, and to change the hearts and minds of state officials. “While it’s possible to take photos of the blue-green algae from the ground or by drone, the full scale and severity of the bloom is much more impactful and clear from plane aerial shots..\[We\] will be utilizing the photos … to advocate for science-based solutions to our water quality and algae bloom crisis at the local, state, and federal levels.” noted Marisa Carrozzo of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. And our combined efforts delivered! **The Everglades Foundation used LightHawk photos in a campaign to get the algae problem addressed in America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018**. It worked! The President signed the bill which will reduce toxic algae blooms by creating a reservoir that will decrease pollution from algae-boosting fertilizer that enters Florida’s waters via agricultural runoff. Your support allows us to improve the lives of people and animals. | |---| | **Border Patrol** — **For Kitties** *LightHawk tracks lynx and bobcats from the sky* | |---| ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Bobcat-1024x768.jpg) A radio-collared bobcat awaits release back into the wild. The radio collar records the cat’s location, which provides valuable data on how it moves through the landscape. *Arthur Scully, PhD candidate, Trent University* | Cats never follow the rules, and neither do their wildcat cousins! The border between Canada and the US doesn’t stop a lynx or bobcat, but it can mean life or death for these wild predators. In Washington, lynx are state-listed as endangered, while in British Columbia, they’re commercially harvested for fur. LightHawk flew internationally to help Southern Interior Land Trust scientists collect data on how lynx and bobcat move across the landscape. Knowing this is critical to improve how the cats are managed on both sides of the border, and to prioritize migration corridors for protection. Volunteer Pilot David Riffle helped the team track the cats from the air, and find radio collars that had dropped off the lynx and bobcats. The collars contain all the cats’ movement data, and without LightHawk’s help, two of the located collars would likely never be recovered due to their remote location. **Aerial expediency was key — if winter hit before the collars were located, the batteries would have died and the data would have been lost.**Thanks to your generosity, we’re helping wildcats and scientists on both sides of the border! | |---| | **Crab Traps Make for Crabby Whales** *Crab traps capture more than just crabs* | |---| | Dungeness crab is one of the West Coast’s best seafood delicacies. While listed by Seafood Watch as a “Good Alternative” choice compared to crabs that are rare or whose capture causes harm to the environment, there is growing concern about the industry’s impact on whales. Migrating humpback whales can get their 50-foot long bodies entangled in the maze of crab trap lines. Over 60% of whale entanglements in western waters are due to the Dungeness crab fishery. | |---| ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ODAEntangledWhale.jpg) An endangered humpback whale entangled in crab trap lines. Traps for Dungeness crabs are set in tight formations along the west coast, proving dangerous for migrating whales. *Ocean Defenders Alliance.* | LightHawk flew the Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) along the California coast to locate traps for Dungeness crabs. Viewing the traps from the air, they can quickly map where high trap concentrations occur and figure out how much risk they pose to migrating whales. ODA shares this information with fishing industry stakeholders, who use the data to inform future crabbing regulations. Knowing where traps are during the fishing season also helps ODA find and remove abandoned traps during off season. **Because of your belief in LightHawk, you’re helping save the whales! Good for the Gunks** *View from above helps land trust prevent illegal activities* | |---| ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OSIShawnagunkNieves-1024x683.jpg) | LightHawk flies to protect beautiful places alongside our land conservation partners. This December, Volunteer Pilot Steve Kent flew the Open Space Institute over their conservation properties in the Hudson Valley of New York. The Shawanagunk Ridge, pictured above, is just one feature protected by the national conservation group. LightHawk flights over multiple conservation easements allow our partners to**quickly monitor large areas for any illegal building or activities**. Shawanagunk Ridge is an accessible place for urbanites to experience the beautiful outdoors, and develop a love for conservation. Easily accessed from New York City, it is an influential park for LightHawk to help protect. Your belief in our efforts means we can ensure the next generation of conservationists experiences the outdoors. | |---| | **Do You Think Hope is Contagious?**Have you noticed the increase in sobering reports about the toll climate change will take in the next decade or two? Environmental writer Rebecca Solnit penned a recent article entitled “Don’t Despair: The Climate Fight Is Only Over If You Think It Is” (<https://bit.ly/2ITTJSx>). In it, she encourages that despite the doom and gloom talk, there are countless examples of reasons to be hopeful. LightHawk is built upon hope. Our first flights in 1979 were to stop a coal-fired power plant on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Now 40 years later, we see our work propelling positive environmental changes every day. As human beings, our strongest native instinct is survival. While much of the globe has not yet begun to fight, we have. And you have. And we’ll continue to, thanks to your belief in just how important these challenges are, and knowing that we must prevail. All life depends on it. Warmest Regards, Bob Francella Chief Advancement Officer | |---| **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Conservation FLYer February, 2020: A Dangerous Road](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-february-2020-a-dangerous-road/) **Published:** July 20, 2020 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/db6cef50-bb0f-4348-8694-8eb46448390b.png)![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/d1a9357e-0011-4da4-9815-141cf614615c.jpg) *Silverbell Mountains in Ironwood Forest National Monument. The proposed I-11 corridor would be built directly adjacent to Saguaro National Park and Ironwood Forest National Monument, directly affecting wildlife corridors* *between* *these protected areas.* Photo Credit: Lee Pagni/LightHawk.* **What Happened:** A proposed **280-mile highway** in southern Arizona will cut through ecological wonders of the **Sonoran Desert.** **Why It Matters:** The Sonoran Desert is a unique ecosystem **found nowhere else on Earth.** This planned I-11 route would fragment important wildlife habitat and alter the character of Saguaro National Park and Ironwood National Monument. **LightHawk Conservation Initiative:** Protecting Landscapes **What LightHawk Is Doing:** LightHawk flew the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection **along the entire route** of the proposed road, to photograph what we stand to lose if the road is built. **Outcome:** Photographer Frank Straub collected high-quality photographs for use in outreach materials and a photo essay to engage the public in **preventing this new road.** ## **Meet the LightHawk Staff** ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/3737fdf0-9262-44f4-bbca-e672a25c3852.jpg) ### **Audrey Ek-Psomas** Eastern Program Coordinator & Volunteer Pilot Intake Coordinator Audrey, our Albuquerque-based staff member, is key in organizing LightHawk’s Eastern conservation missions as well as missions in New Mexico and Colorado. - She ensures conservation projects on the East Coast, in the Midwest, and in New Mexico and Colorado are well-organized and run smoothly. - She’s the first point of contact for pilots and partners in those areas. - She helps partners understand how aviation can help their conservation work. - She manages the intake process for all incoming volunteer pilots. Audrey Ek-Psomas, originally from New Mexico, has spent much of her youth living and studying abroad in Europe and South America, which has spurred a love for travel and nature. Before joining the LightHawk team, she was the Training/Project Coordinator for the Center for Protected Area Management (CPAM) at Colorado State University where she provided logistical management for two annual capacity-building courses for professionals working in protected areas, especially from Latin America. Audrey graduated from Colorado State University with a Master’s of Science in Conservation Leadership, and her master’s thesis focused on the feasibility of involving the local tourism sector in funding management of a nature reserve the Peruvian Amazon. She is a co-author of an article in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism describing those findings. With an undergraduate degree in political science, Audrey is passionate about interacting with people from diverse cultures and problem-solving to create innovative solutions for the betterment of community and environment. Her professional interests include collaborative conservation, conservation leadership, and social science applications for natural resource issues. ## **LightHawk in the News** > **Florida Phoenix:** [Polluted Waters: Will FL lawmakers insist on tough cleanup measures?](https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2020/02/20/polluted-waters-will-fl-lawmakers-insist-on-tough-cleanup-measures/) > > “Toxic algae blooms, red tide, chronic sewage spills and agricultural runoff are fouling Florida waterways, creating hazards to humans and marine life and making a smelly mess of waterfront communities once renowned for clean beaches and clean water. > > Legislation backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis might decontaminate those polluted waters, but might not, with clean-water advocates fearing that lawmakers will create a paper tiger that won’t accomplish much.” > > **Bay Crossings:** [King Tides Sound a Pollution Alarm in the Bay](https://www.baycrossings.com/king-tides-sound-a-pollution-alarm-in-the-bay/) > “Last month, high tides in San Francisco Bay washed up onto the shoreline of a large former pharmaceutical company in Richmond. A few hours later, the outgoing tide pulled contamination—including pesticides, toxic chemicals and radioactive waste—off the industrial land and into the Bay. > > Right now, this occurs a few times every year during the highest tides, known as king tides, which are one to two feet higher than normal high tides. With sea levels rising over the coming decades, however, flooding waters like this could hit polluted shoreline sites every day.” > > **Sun Valley Source:** [Flying the Condors, Ensuring Species Survival](https://www.sunvalleysourcemagazine.com/2020-winter-issue) (page 30-31) > > LightHawk Pilot, Bruce McLean, wrote an article on his experiences transporting condors and LightHawk’s work in conserving this important endangered species. # **LightHawk Photo of the Month** ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/eccacb97-7b78-444e-bf95-787d07fae50e.jpg) A look at the Delaware River in a recent flight for an upcoming magazine article about LightHawk. The Delaware River is a flagship project for LightHawk, and we contribute many flights to help protect this drinking water source for over 15 million people. Jonathan Milne/LightHawk. Thank you to the William Penn Foundation! [Make Conservation Happen. Donate to LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** The Archives --- ### [Conservation FLYer: July 2019](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-july-2019/) **Published:** August 6, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Did you know 40% of the world’s bird species are in decline? ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/KristieNelson_Mono_Lake_Gulls_7.19-1024x682.jpg)California Gulls nest on Mono Lake, as seen from a LightHawk aerial research survey. *Kristie Nelson/Point Blue Conservation Science* LightHawk is doing something about it. Read our [latest newsletter.](https://mailchi.mp/lighthawk/flyer-july2019) **Categories:** The Archives **Tags:** birds --- ### [Webinar: Aerial Monitoring of Conservation Easements](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/webinar-aerial-monitoring-of-conservation-easements/) **Published:** May 28, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** One-hour webinar on how we monitor conservation easements from the air? We’ve got the webinar recording available now. Considering 1 hour of flight saves about 75 hours of staff time, if you’re a land trust employee, you need to watch this! **Categories:** Webinars **Tags:** aerial monitoring, conservation easement, land trust, webinar --- ### [Webinar Recording: Capturing Perspective With Aerial Video](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/webinar-recording-capturing-perspective-with-aerial-video/) **Published:** July 29, 2020 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** On July 22, 2020, LightHawk hosted a webinar on how to capture video from a small aircraft and use that video for conservation communications and monitoring. Aerial video footage is a powerful tool for connecting with supporters and community members at a distance via social and other media, as well as a way to collect data and monitor key sites. In this one-hour webinar, our panelists, experts in the field of journalism, videography and storytelling, and aerial conservation, shared tips and techniques. LightHawk can help you get incredible aerial footage by finding a volunteer pilot to do the flight, coordinating equipment and data transfer, and planning the flight so that you can tell your story effectively. If you are interested in working with us, please contact your regional program director. If you are new to LightHawk, then fill out our [**new partner form**](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/lighthawk-org-partners-become-a-partner). ## Panelists: ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mitch-tobin-photo.jpg) ### Mitch Tobin Mitch Tobin is Director of The Water Desk, an independent journalism initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Center for Environmental Journalism that focuses on Western water issues and the Colorado River Basin. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/gb.jpg) ### Greg Bedinger After a career flying floatplanes in Alaska, Washington, and British Columbia, and subsequently working for LightHawk as pilot outreach manager, Greg and his wife retired to Tucson, where he continues to fly, nurturing his love of landscapes seen from the air with camera in hand. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/jm.jpg) ### Jordan Miller Jordan is an award-winning director, producer, writer, cinematographer, drone pilot, VR innovator and musician. He helped build GoPro Media and currently works as the Creative Director of Media for Kindhumans. ## Resources: **Considerations when mounting cameras:** - [FAA Memo 2014-GLRO](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/lighthawk-my-salesforce-com-sfc-p-80000000cxry-a-3b0000004ynh-ainaljqfxic3vunmtki4t5hty2aza1mfwgjwucbrd58) - [FAA Safety Briefing 2014](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/lighthawk-my-salesforce-com-sfc-p-80000000cxry-a-3b0000004yqp-qiag0ovgrodv4kkbt5vhvwon6qymtqezwgtqf1rfgzy), - [FAA Safety Briefing 2016](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/lighthawk-my-salesforce-com-sfc-p-80000000cxry-a-3b0000004yqz-xhsesvhrdxuxzxjarcx8wnmhyhosvdfrqaov9to1lby) - [FlightFix Website with resources](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/flightflix-net-faa-camera-mount-guide) - [AOPA: The Ups and Downs of Aerial Videos](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/lighthawk-my-salesforce-com-sfc-p-80000000cxry-a-3b0000004yqu-ps4glqncsl6wxzv0vscslfrhpm8mqllhkg79gcc-brw) - [MyPilot Pro: Are GoPro Camera Mounts FAA Compliant?](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/lighthawk-my-salesforce-com-sfc-p-80000000cxry-a-3b0000004yr4-gywi7spj73jc1bgdjgrk5kqempili-dx2knmgfvzvfc) **Tips and Tricks** - LightHawk Volunteer Pilot Marijke Unger created a [video on how she mounts GoPros](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/youtu-be-3olqlyeihfc) to her aircraft. - Professional Video editors can be found on [UpWork](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/upwork-com) (search for video editors). - [Considerations for recording in 4k video](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/community-gopro-com-t5-en-hevc-explained-ta-p-394284) - [Insider’s Guide to GoPro HERO8 Black](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/c13cf2dd-0d38-4c25-95d7-c5e26df1900b/abekislevitz-com-gopro-hero8-black) – Mentioned by Jordan Miller as a great resource on setting up, using, and optimizing the HERO8 GoPro. **Categories:** Webinars --- ### [891 Hours of Conservation Flying](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/891-hours-on-a-plane/) **Published:** May 23, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** It’s out! Our Annual Report celebrates the conservation impact LightHawk and our supporters made possible over the past year. Take a look at the missions, partnerships, and progress that defined the year. ## 5 Things You’ll Discover in Our Annual Report [LightHawk 2019 Annual Report](https://www.lighthawk.org/annual-report-2019-social/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190226_112800-1024x576.jpg) ## 1. We fly to save wildlife from extinction. [Read](https://www.lighthawk.org/annual-report-2019-social/) to find out why a pilot is **petting a lynx**. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Ventura-County-CA-2-1024x700.jpg) ## 2. We protect oceans and coastlines. Our busiest campaign yet- 21 flights in two days to combat **rising sea level**. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/UpperValleyLandTrust_JasonBerard-1024x683.jpg) ## 3. We can do 2 MONTHS of work in just 2 HOURS. With flight, we save **land trusts** hundreds of hours of work on the ground with just a few hours in the air. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/0125161548a-1-1024x576.jpg) ## 4. We keep drinking water clean for over 154,000,000 people. We fly to protect **rivers and estuaries** across the continent. [Read](https://www.lighthawk.org/annual-report-2019-social/) the report. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/20171022_085303-1024x768.jpg) ## 5. We work with AMAZING partners, pilots and donors. See the 300+ donors, 11 staff, 298 pilots, 26 foundations, 121 conservation partners, and 7 board members that **make LightHawk a force for nature**. [Read the 2019 LightHawk Annual Report](https://www.lighthawk.org/annual-report-2019-social/) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [A Wolf Story - Saving a Species Up Close](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-wolf-story-saving-a-species-up-close/) **Published:** October 27, 2020 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Excerpt:** A first hand account of a LightHawk transport of endangered Mexican wolves. **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LH-Wolf-Pic-1024x390.png)*Mexican wolves enter their new home in MN. Credit: Chuck Yanke* *Written by Audrey Ek-Psomas, LightHawk Eastern Program Coordinator* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Chuck-768x1024.jpg)View of wolf inside crate before departing NM. *Chuck Yanke* It’s about 25 minutes from the I-25 off-ramp, and after a few miles on dirt roads, I double-check the directions as it feels like I’m headed out into the middle of nowhere. This is the second Mexican wolf capture I’ll be participating in, but this one feels different. Partly because I haven’t seen other people outside my Covid bubble in so long, but mostly because this time, I’ll be joined by LightHawk volunteer pilot **Chuck Yanke** and his co-pilot Julie Tromblay, who have just arrived from Texas and are following behind me in their rental car. Although I’ve worked with Chuck on multiple flights to transport wolves and other species, this is my first time meeting him in person. And this is a **rare opportunity, a wildlife biologist’s dream, to get hands-on experience with  Mexican wolves** that I’ve been working to recover for three seasons now. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_8471_20201016_130609.jpg)Wolf pausing next to the capture box. *Mindi Kaiser* As an endangered species, the wolves are carefully paired with potential mates to make sure that while the species is being brought back from near-extinction, genetic diversity is maintained in both the captive and wild populations. Every year, wolves are moved around the country between captive facilities to be paired with mates or moved to make room for these pairings. This time, we’re moving five females from a facility south of Albuquerque to one in Minnesota to make room for breeding pairs in the following months. If the distances are short, they’re driven. But in cases like this, they’re flown. Prior to the pandemic, commercial airlines used to be a viable option. Although, if you ask anyone involved in those commercial airline transports, it was a nail-biting scenario: dropping an endangered species off at one end, and hoping they would survive the cargo hold and that there wouldn’t be any delays en route that might result in them being kept in their crates on a tarmac or in a hangar too long. As shy, timid creatures, these transports can be very stressful for the wolves, and stress has a direct effect on health and thus fertility. LightHawk pilots provide a much-needed alternative, a direct flight customized to the needs of the partners and the wolves, reducing time and stress on the animals. With commercial flights canceling due to low demand during the pandemic at the same time as the airlines were already becoming more restrictive about wildlife transport, these long distance transports are increasingly not possible without donated private flights. We have been doing these flights since the early 2000s, but a lot more of them over the past few years as both the need and our pilot capacity and engagement in this project has increased. This year, we did two cross-foster wolf pup flights at the height of the pandemic. This summer my colleague Esther and I were invited to participate in the virtual annual meeting of all the facility partners, where we received a **resounding thanks for all the work LightHawk and our pilots have contributed** over the years to Mexican wolf species survival. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_8459_20201016_130708-768x1024.jpg)Audrey holding a board as part of the line we held to push wolves toward the capture box. *Mindi Kaiser.*  We arrive and after a thank you to the pilots from Melissa Kreutzian, the USFWS biologist and manager of the wolf management facility, we divide up into vehicles to head up to the enclosures. There’s about 15 volunteers, and we’re all here because of an interest and respect for the animals. For me, this allows me to better understand what happens before the wolves arrive at the airport for their LightHawk flight, and better anticipate potential delays or hiccups in that process. Capturing wolves is no easy feat, and due to the number of wolves traveling and size of the enclosures, USFWS prefers to do these captures the evening before a flight in case there are delays. The process is simple, in theory, using boards, nets and a few other devices, we fan out into a line to cover the width of the enclosure, and slowly walk toward one end, gently pushing one wolf at a time toward a wooden box. Some take the cue easily, while others choose flight, looking for breaks in the line or even leaping up the fence to get over the line. Once in the box, the wolf team goes into action, as they gently restrain and muzzle the wolf so that they can do their annual vet check. The animals are given some vaccinations, their weight is recorded, and they are given fluids as they won’t be able to drink for the duration of the transport. Then the captured wolf is placed in the crate, and you do it all again. What struck me the first time I saw one of these wolves close up is how small they are, closer to a medium-sized dog than their larger gray wolf cousins. That and how scared they are of us. Not like the stories we all grew up with. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/At-the-plane-1-1024x768.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_3403-1024x768.jpg) We end after dark, and we all head off to get some rest before the meeting at the airport the following morning. When I arrive the next morning, the team has already loaded all five wolves onto Chuck’s Pilatus PC-12, including placing the smaller of the crates in his luggage area. Facing the open cargo door, they just fit, just as Chuck’s measurements indicated before agreeing to the flight. The 4-hour flight goes off without incident, and Chuck and Julie are taken by the team at the Wildlife Science Center to see the wolves released into their new home in Minnesota. Just 20 hours after being placed in their crates in New Mexico, the wolves are only too happy to be released. “We’d never been on one of the captures before. That was a real bonus, it shows you the rest of the story. I was really impressed and amazed at the dedication of the staff to the animals and trying to keep it as wild and natural as they could in limiting human contact to maintain that wildness. I didn’t realize that the Mexican wolf was down to 7 members of the species when they started to bring them back. The five I carried could have been most of their population. Makes me feel like I’m really making a difference. ”- Chuck Yanke  **Thank You** to pilot Chuck Yanke and co-pilot Julie Tromblay**.** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_3412-768x1024.jpg)View of the five crates in the plane. *Chuck Yanke* **Categories:** Blog, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Choosing the Right Aircraft for the Mission](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/above-beyond-april-2026/) **Published:** March 31, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MABO-transfer-01-DLR.jpg)*Masked bobwhite quail prepared for a long-distance LightHawk transport in a Pilatus PC-12, part of ongoing efforts to restore this endangered species. Photo: Don Wolfe \| Pilot: Warren Dean* ***As a new pilot, LightHawk contributing writer Kristin Smith wanted to know how we choose the right aircraft for each conservation mission. She spoke with CEO Jim Becker about what goes into those decisions, from carrying photographers and scientists to transporting endangered species. Here’s what she learned.*** It’s hard to beat a small plane with big windows when your work depends on seeing clearly. For many LightHawk missions, that visibility is the whole point. Whether flying photographers over watersheds or land trusts over conservation easements, the aircraft itself shapes what they are able to see and document. But not every mission calls for the same plane. With more than 200 volunteer pilots and aircraft ranging from small two-seat Cubs to high-speed turboprops and jets, one of the first steps in planning any mission is choosing the right aircraft for the job. So how is that decision made? ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2214.webp)*Passengers head out to a Cessna 182 ahead of an aerial tour over Grand Stairccase Escalante in Utah. The high wing profile offers a great view of the ground below. Photo: Kevin Berend \| Pilot: Ross Rice* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Big-Hole-River-Valley-aerial-and-ground-tour_-Chris-Boyer_.webp)*Stakeholders received an aerial tour over Montana’s Big Hole River Valley. Pilot Chris Boyer’s Cessna is set up for photography but also gives passengers a great view of the Earth below. Photo: Volunteer Pilot Chris Boyer.* The first consideration is who and what will be on board. Is it a survey scientist? Photographers and their equipment? Gray Wolves in transport crates? The answer shapes everything that follows. A photographer with a GoPro mounted to a wing strut can fly in almost any aircraft, but photographers shooting through open windows tend to prefer a high-wing aircraft that keeps plexiglass and wings out of the frame. Wildlife transport missions depend on cargo size. Young abalone can fit in many types of small planes, but a Gray Wolf crate requires much more space. Passenger flights bring their own considerations, too, depending on how many researchers, decision-makers, or agency staff are on board. Together, these factors determine the size and type of aircraft needed and move us to the next step in planning: range and speed. Distance is a major factor. For a flight within a few hundred miles of a LightHawk pilot’s home airport, most planes have the fuel range to complete the mission. Cross-country flights require aircraft with greater fuel capacity and faster cruising speeds. These longer missions are often endangered species transports. Larger animals, like wolves, require aircraft with enough cabin space and cargo door access for their crates, while smaller species like black-footed ferrets or sea turtles can often be transported in smaller aircraft. Aircraft like a Bonanza or Cirrus are well suited for many of these trips, while longer distances or larger cargo may call for turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 or King Air, or jets such as the Cessna 500. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2055.webp)*Pilot and partner attach a video camera to the wing of a Grumman Tiger ahead of a media flight in New Mexico. The Tiger can also fly with the canopy open, making it a good photo flight option. Photo: Karen Coates \| Pilot: Barry Harper* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LightHawk-Image-0061.webp)*The Pilatus PC-12 has been a workhorse aircract for LightHawk. It’s cargo doors allow large wildlife crates to be easily loaded and its long-range abilities support cross-country transports. Photo: Jim Becker* Weight and balance are other important parts of the equation, especially in small aircraft. If a plane is loaded too heavily, it may not be able to take off safely, and improper weight distribution affects how it performs in flight. Every pilot calculates the best placement of passengers, cargo, and fuel to keep the aircraft within safe operating limits. These calculations also affect how much fuel can be carried and how far the aircraft can fly before having to land. At every step, LightHawk’s team works with conservation partners to make sure the right aircraft is paired with each mission. It’s a decision most people never think about, but once in the air, the value of that planning becomes clear. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_4108.webp)*Accessing mountain lakes can be difficult but with the use of a float plane, our partners gain access that would be challenging on the ground. Photo: Teresa Hagerty \| Pilot: Donald Goodman* ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/a5l3b000000E6aEAAS.webp)*Low-wing aircraft like this Mooney are great for transporting smaller animals like coolers of white abalone headed to new homes in California. Photo: The Bay Foundation \| Pilot: John Baker* **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Reflections from a Retiring LightHawk Volunteer Pilot - Jane Nicolai](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-conversation-with-jane-nicolai-reflections-from-a-longtime-lighthawk-volunteer-pilot/) **Published:** November 21, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![Jane Nicolai in the cockpit as the sun sets in the background.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Photo-5760x3240-1-scaled.webp)*Jane Nicolai has flown with LightHawk for decades and served on our Board of Directors. She recently retired from conservation flying after years of extraordinary service. Photo: Michelle Alvarado* At LightHawk, we have the privilege of working with volunteer pilots whose dedication, skill, and generosity make conservation possible from the air. Few embody that spirit more deeply than **Jane Nicolai**, who has flown missions with us for decades. This fall, we asked writer and fellow pilot **Kristin Smith** to sit down with Jane to capture some of the stories, insights, and experiences that have shaped her time with LightHawk. What followed was more than an interview — it was a look into the history, heart, and impact of conservation aviation told by someone who has lived it. From Kristin’s perspective, the conversation was a rare gift. *“The opportunity to hear about the missions Jane has flown for LightHawk and the impact that the organization has had on her life was an incredible gift. I wish I could share every single story she told, but then we’d have a book!” – Kristin Smith* We’re honored to share part of that conversation here. --- *“LightHawk was so important to my development as a pilot and a person and a global citizen.”* **Q: How did you get involved with LightHawk?** A: *In the early nineties I owned a Cessna Cardinal and was part of the Cardinal Club. I went flying with an acquaintance from the club who told me, “You seem like you would fly for LightHawk, do you work with them?” I had never heard of them and neither had my husband, who is also a pilot, but they happened to be giving a presentation near where we lived in Seattle, so we went. It was so amazing and perfect and eye-opening that I immediately wanted to do it! I was fairly apolitical those days, though, and was worried if I was working with LightHawk I might have to work with activists–a friend pointed out that if I was flying for LightHawk I was an activist! Lighthawk was so important to my development as a pilot and a person and a global citizen. LightHawk showed me what matters to me. It took probably a year, year and a half for me to get all the hours I needed, and then I went to my first LightHawk Fly-In in 1994 in Albuquerque. I made friends there that I’m still close with today, including one of the program managers at the time who is now one of my best friends.* --- ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Pilot-Jane.webp)In her many years with LightHawk, Jane developed relationships that continue to this day, including a program manager who remains a close friend. Photo: Katelyn Kinn ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Photo-0016302-2.webp)Jane says her flights allowed her to meet many amazing people throughout her years of flying, including scientists, journalists, politicians, photographers and activists. Photo: *Travis Howe* **Q: Do you have a most memorable LightHawk flight?** A: *There were so many amazing people I met–world renowned scientists, journalists, politicians, photographers film makers, and local activists–such a variety of people and areas of expertise, and I never had a flight with that angry activist I had been worried about. People were thoughtful, many people were wildly well-educated, others knew their home area so well.* *One flight that stood out was flying with tribal elders from the Colville Tribe in northeastern Washington… One pointed out the exact hill where he shot his first deer. They knew how land ownership had changed, when epidemics had come through, families who lived through it, and families that died, it was amazing, and profound.* *“It was amazing, and profound.”* *Another standout flight was with Russian salmon specialists from Kamchatka… I hadn’t been up in that area of the Cascades before–it looked like it had been hit by a bomb. It was so logged, so hammered, so devastated. One of my passengers said, “we are used to seeing how rich America looks, but now we see what it costs”.* *A more positive standout flight–I don’t know how many flights I did for the wild salmon center, Sustainable Northwest, and similar organizations working to take the dams off the Klamath River, and that’s happening now! It’s really exciting when I see on the news that salmon are jumping all over the Klamath River, and I can say yes! I did part of that.* *“We are used to seeing how rich America looks, but now we see what it costs.”* --- **Q: How did you get drawn into conservation?** A: *I grew up in Washington State with nature. We camped, we hiked, we canoed, we skied. We spent months at a time in the summer out in the Olympic rainforest, camping in the Hoh, the Queets, the Quinault or on the beaches of Kalaloch. *My mom had a botany degree, and my dad studied forestry and then worked for Weyerhauser. He genuinely believed that it was the “tree-growing company” that was their tagline. We disagreed but didn’t talk about it. *I had a funny conversation on a LightHawk flight once: We were flying over eastern Oregon looking for cattle that were grazing illegally on public land and started talking about what our parents did. I said, “Well, my dad worked for Weyerhauser and now I’m out here doing these LightHawk flights.” One of my passengers said, ‘That’s funny, my dad was a gentleman rancher and now we’re out here looking for these cows.’ We looked at the other guy and asked, “What did your dad do?” and he just said, “Well, we’re all out here doing penance”.* --- ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Image-2560x1440-1.webp)Jane at the controls of her Cessna. She enjoyed using it to help groups find common ground on conservation issues. Photo: Michelle Alvarado ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Photo-4928x3264-1-scaled-e1763758758160.webp)Jane encourages other pilots to “just go for it,” when it comes to flying for LightHawk. She said working with partners and experts is amazing. Photo: Sarah Richards **Q: Why do you think LightHawk’s mission of conservation from the air is important?** *A: (It’s important) because when you are in an airplane with people who hold differing views on what’s going on… and you’re all looking at the same thing there’s common ground. It’s not just a video or a movie – you actually go and get in a little airplane, and for many people that’s novel and a little bit scary. It makes it real. It’s a whole experience and people with differing views can see the same thing.* *I did one flight out of Edison, just south of Bellingham, Washington. Taylor Shellfish Company had to close because there was too much fecal matter in the water. I had a biologist and a city manager. They knew that the water was polluted, that people had cabins on the rivers where the toilet flushed right into the river, and cattle grazing, wading, pooping, and dying in the river, but the city manager didn’t want to vote for more taxes. We took off and were barely turning crosswind and she said, “Oh! I know all of this in my head but now I can see it and understand.” She had a great flight, voted to increase the taxes and they cleaned up the river.* *“Oh! I know all of this in my head but now I can see it and understand.”* --- **Q: What is your advice for pilots and others who would like to volunteer with LightHawk?** A: *I would just say go for it. To get to be part of the partner’s work for one day, for whatever group it is, whether you’re looking at river restoration or planning a wildlife corridor, you get to help move the needle in work that is being thoughtfully done across a wide range of issues, ecosystems, and organizations. It is exhilarating, it is magical, you’re still the bus driver but you’re furthering their work and you’re part of their team for that one day and you learn so much and you meet the most–I keep using the word amazing, I’m going to have to go get a thesaurus–just such thoughtful, engaged, knowledgeable, passionate people, and you’ll find out you’re one of them too! Though we donate our time, experience, and expense of the flight, I always came home richer. You will meet amazing people that you just fall in love with, and you will make friends for life with LightHawk.* *“Though we donate our time, experience, and expense of the flight, I always came home richer.”* --- As Jane steps back from flying with LightHawk, we extend our deepest thanks for the years she spent lifting conservation work into view. Her flights changed conversations, changed decisions, and changed lives. If Jane’s story inspires you and you’re a pilot who wants to make a difference, we’d love to talk with you about joining our volunteer pilot community. Your skills can help move conservation forward—one flight at a time. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Photo-4000x6000-1.webp)Jane’s contributions to conservation work through her flying have changed lives, changed the planet and made a difference for future generations. Photo: Nelson Salisbury, EarthCorps **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Discovering collaboration from the air](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/discovering-collaboration-from-the-air/) **Published:** November 15, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_1482.jpg) It was dark when I got out of bed and still before 6:00 am when I pulled onto I-25. I was headed to the airport for my first LightHawk flight on my fifth day as the organization’s Western Program Director. Sure, I had been on plenty of flights in my grandfather’s planes when I was a kid, but this would be my first time in a small aircraft since. Our pilot, Stephanie Wells, was once a NASA pilot, so my nervousness wasn’t so much about the flight, but rather about throwing-up on our pilot a week into my new job. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/sites/default/files/img_1516.jpg) Stephanie met me at the airport in Broomfield, Colo. After our pre-flight inspection, we were up over Corona Pass before I had time to reconsider taking the Bonine pills in my bag. The flight was smooth and the views were fantastic — I didn’t even feel queasy. I could see where trains used to go over the mountain pass before the construction of the Moffat Tunnel in 1928. The views of the old Boulder Wagon Road and Yankee Doodle Lake were incredible. In Granby, we touched down to pick up partners representing Trout Unlimited and Colorado Headwaters Land Trust. Both are involved in a Grand County Learning by Doing Cooperative Effort project on the Fraser River. Together we flew over that river, a tributary of the Colorado River, to document baseline conditions for a revegetation project and to scope out several additional potential revegetation sites. Focused on maximizing efficiencies to benefit river health, the project is being funded through a unique public-private partnership of Front Range and West Slope water stakeholders in Colorado (including Denver Water). The project partners are also striving to facilitate habitat management and enhancement with reduced river flows across the Upper Colorado system. That system serves as a critical municipal, agricultural, recreational, and industrial water supply source for the state, while also providing important aquatic habitat. I enjoyed learning about the collaborative effort behind the Fraser River project. The semi-arid Front Range water diversion projects can be very contentious and it was heartening to see how a collaborative approach is gaining traction. During the flight, our partners said several time that seeing the river from this new perspective really confirmed and emphasized why they were doing current restoration projects and why they needed to expand the projects. We did have one brief scare when the window swung open and all of us were blasted with wind. Wow, sticking an arm out the window suddenly reminded me just how high above the ground we really were! After another passenger and I struggled to get the window back closed, us passengers breathed a sigh of relief, while Stephanie said, “Don’t worry, they are made to open like that.” After dropping off our partners, I got to hear a bit about Stephanie’s past missions with LightHawk. She told me about several flights she did in Guatemala with the Wildlife Conservation Society to photograph human settlements inside the Maya Biosphere Reserve to monitor expansion and growth of settlements inside the reserve. As we flew back I was struck by a thought — LightHawk sure seems to attract amazing partners and pilots! I can’t wait to learn more about the amazing people and projects associated with this organization. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Balancing rapid growth with delicate desert ecosystems](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/balancing-rapid-growth-with-delicate-desert-ecosystems/) **Published:** November 15, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_1695_0.jpg) ### It’s not just elbow room — it’s a matter of survival. Arizona’s Sun Corridor will double in population by 2040. One of America’s fastest growing areas is also one of its most environmentally-sensitive, increasing pressure on a North American gem – the Sonoran Desert. The area has some of the greatest diversity of life of any North American desert and a landscape diversity rivaling all others. Smart growth is a life and death matter with wildlife and humanity sharing an arid, diverse and interconnected landscape. LightHawk has worked extensively with a partner, the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, to ease the many ways people impact the landscape and its wildlife. LightHawk flights have saved staff days of work and hundreds of miles of driving, they say. LightHawk also flew to support a new wildlife overpass and underpass north of Tucson. Before the project, 255 road kills were reported in four months. Since opening in March 2016, more than 1,000 animals from 13 different species have safely used the crossings. Flights captured footage, raised public support, empowered staff and engaged the Coalition’s supporters like Elizabeth Deupree. Deupree said her LightHawk flight was “instrumental for me to see the staggering encroachment of humans and housing developments in and so close to natural watershed areas and migratory paths.” The flight inspired her to support a wildlife camera monitoring program and advocate for others to support the project as well. “To start looking for funding and to raise three-fourths of our goal in a matter of two days has surpassed all expectation and we could not have done it without (LightHawk),” said Sarah Whelan, Coalition Program and Outreach Associate. LightHawk will continue investing in this area to balance growth with conservation. **Categories:** Blog, Focus: Wild Places --- ### [Restoring Clean Water to One of America’s Most Burdened Rivers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/restoring-clean-water-to-one-of-americas-most-burdened-rivers/) **Published:** November 15, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/db7bcbf6-267d-4c55-a567-57401f8db1b0.jpg) ### The Delaware River carries a heavy load. Each drop of this river is reused 20 times. And while its footprint is less than one percent of the nation’s land, it provides drinking water to five percent of the nation’s population — more than 15 million people. The burden, however, was once much heavier — the river ranked as one of America’s most polluted rivers. But the Delaware has made a scrappy comeback. LightHawk flies extensively in this area — some of the nation’s most restrictive airspace — in hopes of easing the load the river has to bear. The view from above has illustrated this complex watershed, and spurred long-term action to improve water quality. In the mountainous northern sections of the watershed, we focus on the land’s ability to naturally and sustainably purify the whole watershed, working to increase forested buffers and create the conditions that allow wetlands to thrive. In the tidal south, we help inform science of the critical balance of fresh and saline waters. This balance impacts the health of wetlands and thus the river’s overall health, and its resilience to respond to sea level rise caused by climate change. Flight is a great tool to illustrate the importance of on-the-ground work, said Sherri Albrecht, board member of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, a partner who works to protect watersheds throughout New Jersey. “We’ve preserved a lot of land, but there is so much more to do,” Albrecht said. “The low flyover perspective is the best way to observe this, and will be a valuable opportunity for fundraising and education so we can continue to accomplish our mission.” We will continue to build extensive flight campaigns within critical watersheds. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Rowene's Father Predicted the Colorado River Would Dry Up. He was Right.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/rowenes-father-predicted-the-colorado-river-would-dry-up-he-was-right/) **Published:** December 6, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** *Written by Terri Watson, LightHawk CEO* The earth can’t tell its own stories. LightHawk does. We have stories because of our supporters, and we are deeply grateful for their support. **W**a**ter Scarcity & Quality** Rowene Aguirre-Medina grew up in both Mexico’s Mexicali Valley and the Imperial Valley of California, where her grandfathers pioneered and settled beginning in 1908. Drawn there originally by the Colorado River and the economic opportunities associated with it, her family has lived near the once mighty river for five generations. “I’m a child of the river,” says Rowene. ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Lighthawk-Bill-Rowene-Roy-Zamora-1024x768.jpg)Rowene Aguirre-Medina (rear left), board member of the Sonoran Institute alongside her husband Roy, Volunteer Pilot Bill Rush and Francisco Zamora, Director of the CO River Delta Program at the Sonoran Institute during a LightHawk flight to check restoration efforts on the Colorado River. Credit: Francisco Zamora/Sonoran Institute. **The Once Flourishing Delta is Now Parched Land** She remembers a river that flowed and a lush Delta. Her father took her out on the Delta in a small boat to experience the tide’s pull on the river in and out of the sea. He raised her on stories of how the Colorado River used to be. “There was lots of commerce. It was a flourishing Delta when it flowed to the gulf.” “He told us how for centuries the Cucapa, the native river people, made their living from the river. But my father knew things were going to change. He said ‘I want you to remember this.’ My father understood that there could be a time that the river wouldn’t reach the gulf,” said Rowene. **Her father was right.** Those waters now dry up about 50 miles before reaching the gulf. The green banks are dead. The fish and shrimp that fed Rowene’s family are gone. The music of the birds has disappeared. Traveling to the Delta, Rowene commented, “It was heartbreaking to see that cracked earth where there had been lush vegetation, water, birds and native plants.” She knew that the death of the river was devastating not only to her, but her community and the environment. She joined the board of one of LightHawk’s partner organizations, the Sonoran Institute, who is restoring a portion of the Delta and working to reconnect the river. “Getting involved in the Sonoran Institute is a way for me to give back to this valley, this river that has nourished my family for so long.” ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/screenshot_coloriver.png) In the delta, the river has been **reduced to a trickle for the past 50 years**. LightHawk is working  alongside the Sonoran Institute and Rowene to rejoin the Colorado River with the Sea of Cortez. In 2014, LightHawk partners witnessed the first full pulse of Colorado River water reach the sea, as our volunteer pilots guided them above this historic reconnection. **Because of our supporters, LightHawk has flown over a hundred missions to help the river thrive**. When asked about her LightHawk flights over the Delta, Rowene said, “You expanded my vision. You gave me the bigger picture, you gave me a birds-eye view of the portion of the restored Delta and you gave me hope that the Colorado River could reach the sea. When you can see it from the air, you know it can happen.” But there is still so much more to do for the Colorado River, and for all the rivers and lands that LightHawk flies to protect and heal. We regularly address new threats to environmental health. Destructive development plans constantly pop up. Polluters violate the earth with abandon. But LightHawk is here to shine a light on these problems, and mobilize the right people to foster healing. We can do that because our donors believe in and generously support LightHawk. Environmental crises don’t wait for LightHawk to find funding. The earth can’t tell its stories, or explain the damage being done on its own. The environment relies on LightHawk, and we rely on you. You keep LightHawk flying for conservation. Your generosity allows us to move conservation at the speed of flight. Thank you for your belief in LightHawk and your confidence that we will deliver a brighter future for the earth. **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Wilderness, Wings, and Words](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/wilderness-wings-and-words-a-journey-into-conservation-aviation-and-storytelling/) **Published:** September 24, 2025 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## A Journey into Conservation, Aviation, and Storytelling I fell in love with wilderness before I could spell my own name. From a toddler-carrying backpack on my parents’ shoulders in the North Cascade Mountains to slicing across Bellingham Bay in my own sailboat, my childhood was shaped by the outdoors; it was where I went for fun, for solace, for vacation, and eventually for work. My first job was whitewater raft guide, followed in college by outdoor journalist and then mountain guide, with every step showing me new and wonderful corners of nature. Conservation was indelibly tied in from the beginning as I watched endangered bald eagles nest along local trails and logging scars grow and fade. Every park, trail, and clean waterway was to me a success story proving that anyone really *can* make a difference, and I have never lost my determination to pitch in. My mom worked as an aerospace engineer and both my parents found aircraft engineering fascinating, so I grew up around a lot of flying books if not actual planes. I remember long hours flipping through the *Big Book of Airplanes*, always stopping on my favorite–the SR-71 Blackbird. Despite this early introduction, though, no one in my family was a pilot and the pathway felt financially far out of reach. Then after college I got a magazine editor job in Boulder, Colorado, where flight school students flew over my house every day. It reawakened the dream of flight I had carried since childhood. I booked an intro flight, took the controls for the very first time, and immediately knew I was where I belonged. The rest, as they say, is history. When I found out that I could combine my two greatest passions at LightHawk I wanted to join immediately. While I don’t yet have the flight hours to become a volunteer pilot, my decade in journalism gives me the perfect skill set to share LightHawk’s stories: From transporting Colorado’s new gray wolf pack to flying local leaders over the San Joaquin Delta, I’ll be taking you along with me on some of our incredible missions. There are so many powerful stories in conservation that can inspire hope, action, and awe, and as a writer I want to spread those stories from LightHawk to as many people as possible. So fasten your safety belt, read your flight briefing, and join me in the sky! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [LightHawk Welcomes New CEO](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-welcomes-new-ceo/) **Published:** March 16, 2020 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/michele.jpg) FT. COLLINS, CO, 16 March 2020 – LightHawk, the largest conservation flying organization in the country, welcomes Michele Rutledge as new CEO to lead the organization in its mission to inspire conservation action through the aerial perspective of at-risk and vulnerable ecosystems. Rutledge succeeds former-CEO Terri Watson who continues with LightHawk as a Volunteer Pilot and Advisory Council Member. Speaking on behalf of the LightHawk Board of Directors, Chair Lawrence “Bud” Sittig, called Rutledge an ideal leader to guide LightHawk’s team of conservationists and skilled pilots around the country. “Michele brings an extraordinary combination of professional experience, knowledge, and commitment to LightHawk’s mission of protecting the nation’s natural resources through the powerful perspective of flight,” said Sittig. “The Board found her enthusiasm for LightHawk’s core values and conservation strategy inspiring.” Rutledge comes to LightHawk with nearly two decades of corporate and nonprofit leadership experience including prior executive leadership with Wings of Hope, an international humanitarian aviation charity based in Missouri. Ryan Boggs, Chief Program Officer, weighed in, “Conservation flying is more important than ever for protecting landscapes, and Michele’s strengths and background will dovetail neatly into our current initiatives. Under her leadership, we’ll be able to strengthen all aspects of our program” The selection of Rutledge concludes a national search launched last fall and conducted with the assistance of DC-based DRi Consulting. The comprehensive search process involved rigorous consultation with LightHawk constituents, Board Members, donors, and staff. **Categories:** Media --- ### [Pilot View: Why do people stay around LightHawk so long?](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/why-do-people-stay-around-lighthawk-so-long/) **Published:** November 15, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ff_1.jpg) A while back I was walking through the Novato, CA airport when a corporate jet pilot and I shared a glance. “Hey, LightHawk! I know them,” he said, gesturing to my prized LightHawk jacket. He regaled me with stories from his time flying for LightHawk back in the early 1980s when we employed staff pilots. We chatted about common friends, and he learned how our ranks have grown and our work expanded. As I opened my copy of our most recent Annual Report and scrolled through our volunteer pilot roster, I was reminded of that encounter. We have 38 pilots who have been with LightHawk for more than 15 years, and 25 who have flown more than 20 years in support of conservation. That is amazing commitment! Our donors are another group of amazing folks where we are blessed to have stunning loyalty. We have supporters who have given to us since our founding, and a significant percentage who have been with us longer than 20 years. So, why exactly is it that people hang around LightHawk for so long? My fellow volunteer pilots give words to what I feel: We are proud to have found a way to make a difference with our flying, and we enjoy connecting with the fascinating, diverse, and incredibly talented collection of people who share that value. One of our conservation partners said, “You make magical and memorable impressions on our passengers that change how they see their world. It takes the issues out of intellectual detachment and into physical experience. It brings the full power of place to into their consciousness in a way that nothing else can.” And the donors I talk with love the uniqueness and power of our work. “I can’t fly a plane, but I can sure as heck make sure that your good work happens,” said a friend who recently became a donor. LightHawk is truly a tribe. Collected here are some of the most over-achieving and understated people I’ve ever met. I’m simply honored to be part of the ecosystem that you create, and each fall I look forward to seeing you again at our annual Fly-In. The Fly-In is our Plymouth Rock, of sorts. An event, yes, but more a physical representation of the philosophy that keeps people rooted at LightHawk for generations. It’s an ever-moving place where all people with unique but aligned world views convene and work together, for good. We catch up, make new friends, and hear about some local conservation projects we’re involved with. Of course we also nerd out on aviation topics as they relate to conservation, and there is an airplane petting zoo, but the Fly-In isn’t just for pilots. It is an open invitation to everyone in our universe. Will you join us? From Oct. 20-22, we’ll be on the shores of Lake Champlain at Basin Harbor, which has a well-maintained grass landing strip. More information is on our website at  www.lighthawk.org/fly-in. If you can’t come, will you help us grow our awesome community by telling someone about LightHawk? Perhaps you can share your already-read copy of our Annual Report with them. I guess that’s the answer to my question. The reason that so many people stick around is because they came to us through the invitation of a friend with a longing to make a difference in the world, and a desire to keep that community’s mission and  momentum going forward. Thanks for sticking with us over the years, believing in us, and investing in our work to make a difference! Terri Watson LightHawk CEO [DONATE](#) **Categories:** Blog, Pilot View --- ### [Think. Plan. Fly.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/think-plan-fly/) **Published:** September 4, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** *A guest article by Devon Player.* For this flight, LightHawk partnered with Puget Soundkeeper and Unleash the Brilliance. Puget Soundkeeper works to preserve and protect the waters of Puget Sound. Unleash the Brilliance was founded to empower youth who are at risk of academic failure to positively engage with their education, their community, and their future. The alliance between Puget Soundkeeper and UTB is beneficial in allowing both groups to help each other accomplish their goals, and their partnership with LightHawk for this flight has allowed the two groups to strengthen the impact of their project. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.PlayerUTBPSK-1024x683.jpg) Anna Bachman from Puget Soundkeeper and UTB before the flight. *Devon Player* It was an incredibly unique experience talking with the students from UTB. At the beginning of the day, I sat down with Shania, Emanuel, and Sharlene. From speaking with these three students, I got an idea of what they have learned about the creek (Springbrook Creek) they will be flying over today, as well as the restoration work they have been able to help with this summer. They have learned about the general function and importance of the creek, the process of testing the water quality, and even the abundant plant life that surrounds the creek. However, some of the plant species (blackberry for example) are invasive and in addition to erosion and pollution from the surrounding city, Springbrook is in great need of restoration. They explained to me that they learned about all of this from studying different sections of the creek on the ground. Therefore, the opportunity to get an aerial view of the creek offers a whole new perspective. Every student I spoke with expressed excitement about this opportunity, as the hope is that the bird’s eye view they gain today will be extremely valuable to their understanding of the function of the creek as a whole. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.PlayerPreFlight-1024x683.jpg)Pre-flight discussion. *Devon Player* In their pre-flight discussion, the group talked about what they should anticipate seeing from the sky. They looked over a map of the area, split into five different sections to get a good grasp of what they are seeing while in the air. Landmarks such as the massive IKEA will help them keep track of where they are in relation to the map. This brought up discussion of how the creek is used by the city of Renton. Not only is Springbrook home to diverse plant and insect species, it is also part of Renton’s water supply. The interaction between the creek and the city is another thing that the students are hoping to get a better visual of as they head into the air. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.PlayerStudentSheet-1024x683.jpg)What the students will be looking for on the flight. *Devon Player* In my opinion, the most impressive part of the discussion was seeing the collaboration between the students and the pilots. The pilots were able to set realistic expectations for the flight, including how quickly they will fly over each of the five sections of the creek and what they should be able to see in that time. The students were then able to use the maps to discuss with the pilots specific things they were hoping to see while on the flight. The pilots were then able to adjust their flight paths so that the students would be able to see exactly what they were hoping to look at from the sky. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.PlayerReady-1024x683.jpg)Ready for take off![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.PlayerSafety-1-1024x683.jpg)Safety talk![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.PlayerDebrief-1024x683.jpg)Flight debrief What I hadn’t realized until after the groups returned from their flights, was that going up in a plane this small was a completely new experience for almost everyone there. Though it left some of the students a little nauseated, they were all eager to share their observations with each other. After everyone had returned from their flights, the group had a small debrief. Each person shared one “aha moment” and one new thing they learned. Many of the students were surprised by the amount of vegetation surrounding the creek. A few of the students were eager to share that they were able to identify a second dam that they hadn’t noticed from studying the creek prior to the flight. Listening to the debrief following the flight, it was clear that each of the students had gained a perspective that added something new to their understanding of the creek and made them even more proud of the project to which they had all contributed. Even as only a bystander, I learned so much about the importance of protecting Springbrook Creek and the value of adding this aerial perspective to the students’ comprehensive understanding of the work to which they have contributed. I was kind of a fly on the wall for many of the discussions between members of the group today, and the overarching theme of gratitude and excitement is what seemed to embody the entire experience. It was obvious to me that this flight not only educated the students, but inspired them, too. “Think. Plan. Fly.” is the UTB motto and this experience allowed each of the students to do just that. I think these flights were not only enriching for the students, but for everyone involved in this inspiring collaboration. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.PlayerGroup-1-1024x683.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.Playertakeoff-1-1024x682.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D.Playertoplane-1024x683.jpg) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Puget Sound, Puget Soundkeeper, students, Unleash the Brilliance --- ### [Pilot View: Flying Baja, a Pilot's Adventure - Day One](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-baja-a-pilots-adventure-day-one/) **Published:** November 13, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/will_w_and_sofia_kayaking_0.jpg) *In 1980, pilot Will Worthington fell in love with the wild side of Baja California. On a recent a 10-day aerial expedition, he found change on the horizon. This is the first in a series of guest posts he wrote about his adventure.* ## **How it Began** In 1980, my family and I began falling in love with the Sea of Cortez and the Baja Peninsula. We were entranced by that part of the world and its beautiful shoreline, estuaries, wildlife and people. After taking a few flights to Cabo San Lucas, Mulege, Loreto, and other remote destinations, I knew had to see more. Eight years ago, I became involved with LightHawk and started encouraging support for conservation to maintain the wild character of Baja and sustain the health and abundance of the Sea of Cortez. The region has started to see ongoing construction projects, sites of proposed mega-developments, areas threatened by mining, and other sensitive areas in need of careful attention. I found an ally in LightHawk’s Mesoamerica program manager, Armando Ubeda who shared my enthusiasm. ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/028_HOPKINS_BAJA13_53605.jpg)Aerial Photo, Cabo Riviera Marina, Mega-resort Development, Resort, La Ribeira, East Cape, Baja California, Mexico When my phone rang earlier this year, it was Armando asking if I would be willing to donate my time to pilot LightHawk’s Cessna 206 for a photography mission over Baja. Would I ever. What ended up as a 10-day photography expedition began, for me, on May 17th with a commercial flight to Mazatlan. ## Day 1 – Off to Sea Arizona pilots are not accustomed to flying long distances over water. As I picked up LightHawk’s meticulously maintained Cessna 206 in Mazatlan, I did my best to suppress my apprehension for the ferry flight to San Jose del Cabo to begin the photo expedition. I measured the distance on the charts several times and several ways, and sure enough it was less than 200 nautical miles, or less than two hours across the entrance to the Sea of Cortez. Nevertheless, I still took a deep breath as I lifted off and headed into the wild blue yonder with no land in sight for a long time. ![](blob:https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/e401469c-2349-488d-a452-6c0e4266c7ca) ## **Friendly Voices in the Sky** Although I thought I’d be on my own while I crossed from the mainland to the Peninsula, I was happy to hear a welcome response from San Jose air traffic control. He saw me on his radar approaching at 90 miles out. Nobody else heard the cheer or the sigh of relief aboard the plane. The Cessna 206 is well equipped with two navigation systems, as well as a back up. Before departing, I had donned a self-inflating flotation vest and pulled the six-man life raft up where I might have a chance of finding it in the event of a water landing. Knowing I had Air Traffic Control watching for me, and safety precautions in place, I engaged the autopilot, tuned the radio to Willie’s Roadhouse and broke out the snacks. When I finally arrived in San Jose, I had logged 1.9 hours on the tachometer and a sense of mission accomplished in bringing the 206 to the tip of Baja so the expedition could begin. The adventure had just begun. (Read the next installment from Will [here](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/blog/flying-baja-pilots-adventure-day-two).) *Will Worthington is a LightHawk volunteer pilot and Board Member, registered civil engineer and certified flight instructor. He lives in Carefree, Arizona with his bride of 51 years and flies a Cessna 182 RG out of Phoenix Deer Valley Airport.* **Categories:** Pilot View --- ### [First Flights: Summer 2017](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/first-flights-summer-2017/) **Published:** November 10, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/jim_davis.jpg) Join us in congratulating the following pilots on completing their first flights with LightHawk! We are so tremendously grateful for all of our pilots, especially those who are new to our family. ### David Harris **Area:** Torrance, CA **Date:** 6/19/2017 **Partner:** Heal The Bay **Mission:** This flight helped educate newly appointed Fish and Game Commissioner Anthony Williams. Mr. Williams serves on the Commission which has regulatory authority over sport hunting and fishing and commercial fishing. The Commission is also in charge of adopting and implementing marine protected areas (MPAs), a LightHawk flagship project. Heal the Bay, one of our partners based in Santa Monica, is the lead entity in the local county-wide MPA Collaborative, which works to promote the cultural, recreational, and ecological value of Los Angeles County’s marine protected areas. “In about 45 seconds, we flew over (all the MPAs on the Palos Verdes Peninsula). This shows me how much is still unprotected,” Williams told local media, surprised by the relatively small size of the hard-fought restricted fishing zones. “Our challenge is to continue to monitor and see what improvements can now be made.” ### Matthew Debski **Area:** Ten Mile River **Date:** 4/29/2017 **Partner:** The Nature Conservancy – CA **Mission:** This flight was to fly an important donor of The Nature Conservancy over the Ten Mile River project. That project consists of more than 4,000 acres of easement-level protection and an integrated floodplain restoration program geared to quickly recover imperiled salmon. This flight was to provide the donor a compelling aerial overview of the project site and to convey the scale of the restoration effort by viewing portions of the Ten Mile River River watershed from the air. TNC’s fundraising objective was met by the donor agreeing to accept a proposal for the conservation project showed to him that day. Dan Porter, ecologist at TNC said they “could not have arranged for such a comprehensive overview of the project without LightHawk.” ### Dan Marks **Area:** Southcentral Oregon **Date:** 5/8/2017 **Partner:** Oregon Natural Desert Association **Mission:** This flight provided the Oregon Natural Desert Association the opportunity to raise awareness of lands they are hoping to protect as wilderness through aerial photography. The photographs will help form a robust image library that demonstrates why protective management in this area is a priority as the Bureau of Land Management reviews how they manage these areas. ### Joe Stringer **Area:** Gulf of California **Date:** 5/22/2017 **Partner:** Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, B.C. **Mission:** This flight helped our partner discover the population dynamics of fin whales in the Gulf of California, allowing CICESE scientists to find clusters of the genetically-isolated whales. Threatened by increases of boat traffic, potential mining development, and climate variability, it is important to monitor these whales’ population as they are a unique genetic resource. Evidence suggests the species declined from 1996 to 2004, but stabilized until 2013. Aerial monitoring allowed CICESE to confirm population estimates and to determine which areas are important to the whales in this season of the year. ### Richard Rodgers **Area:** Northern Rockies – Montana **Date:** 3/22/2017 **Partner:** Friends of the Bitterroot **Mission:** We have been flying to support our partners at Friends of the Bitterroot for more than 15 years. This particular flight was in support of protecting the Sapphire Wilderness Study area and its important biological corridor. The flight allowed our partner to monitor motorized recreation in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area, finding that snowmobiles were not being used in this typically high-use area, an encouraging sign. ### Joe Keeton **Area:** Southern Rockies – New Mexico **Date:** 5/25/2017 **Partner:** New Mexico Land Conservancy **Mission:** We flew with the New Mexico Land Conservancy to monitor 15 conservation easements — a task which would normally take 4-5 days on foot. The flight also helped capture photos and video of this area for fundraising efforts and to see if LightHawk could become a long term tool for monitoring areas within their conservation portfolio for the long term. This flight also helped strengthen the conservancy’s planning process as they are currently developing a strategic plan for the region. ### Paul Mattson **Area:** Southern Rockies – Colorado **Date:** 11/30/2016 **Partner:** Wildlands Restoration Volunteers **Mission:** We flew our partner the Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, a Colorado-based non-profit that engages thousands of volunteers each year in stewardship and restoration of public and protected lands. This particular flight was to visit several key WRV project sites and to convey the scope and scale of the landscape’s geographical breadth and diversity to a few of WRV’s donors. **Categories:** Pilot View --- ### [Operation Abalone: Nearly 5,000 Take Flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-june-2020-featured-mission-operation-abalone/) **Published:** July 20, 2020 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/6646896f-3f2e-4c0c-b076-1a81aad8a359.png) *Nearly 5,000 endangered white abalone take flight on an important step toward returning to the wild. Raised by Bodega Marine Lab and NOAA partners, the abalone were transported by LightHawk volunteer pilot John Baker to Southern California, where The Bay Foundation will prepare them for release into coastal kelp forests. *Credit: John Baker/LightHawk.** Once abundant in Southern California’s kelp forests, white abalone declined dramatically due to overfishing, disease, climate change and changes in the marine ecosystem. Today, captive breeding programs are working to rebuild the population and return the species to the wild. That recovery effort depends on safely moving young abalone between specialized facilities. When thousands needed to travel from Northern California to a pre-release facility in Los Angeles, LightHawk provided a faster, carefully controlled alternative to a long drive or commercial shipping. Nearly 5,000 captive-reared white abalone made the trip by air, reducing travel time and stress before continuing the next stage of their journey toward release into Southern California’s kelp forests. ## **Welcome New LightHawk Volunteer Pilots!** ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/8e23a39f-5d65-43af-9a20-f4c5bbdc86a6.jpeg) **Barbara Filkins** Home Airport: KOXR in Oxnard, CA. Barbara has a background in physics and cybersecurity. She is passionate about the environment and supports water conservation issues in her home valley. A flight instructor and Young Eagles supporter, Barbara is also an equine enthusiast. She flies a Grumman AA5B and a Champion 8KCAB. ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/d4ad9e92-770f-4e83-a9ff-198eb3f02cfa.jpg) **James Elegante** Home Airport: KSGU in St. George, UT. James is a retired attorney who previously worked at the largest law firm in Utah. He is able to speak 5 languages! James flies a Cessna 340A. ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/1a025a4e-24c0-4d6b-adee-7f45d03e0482.jpg) **Jonathan Lampitt** Home Airport: KSDL in Scottsdale, AZ. Jonathan has done quite a lot of public benefit flying for groups like Angel Flight West and Pilots & Paws. He comes from a commercial real estate background and also flies jets. Jonathan flies a Maule MT-7-235 and Cessna C510. ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/f3aa1f88-9504-4b69-8946-a106ad0c7bc3.jpg) **Nelson Ronsvalle** Home Airport: 0G7 in Seneca Falls, NY. Nelson joins LightHawk from an education background. He is passionate about environmental issues and land preservation, and has been a board member for land trusts in upstate NY. He also enjoys cycling and tennis. Nelson flies a Cessna 182P. ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/0f82ac1f-d4ac-44e3-b090-8f4d5fca642b.jpg) **Susan Schwaab** Home Airport: C29 in Middleton, WI. Susan is a retired airline captain (United) and now follows her nature and flying passions. She started Above the Clouds to share the perspective of flight with disadvantaged children. Besides gardening, Susan enjoys kayaking and hiking. Susan flies a Cessna 172 and Citabria 7GCAA. ## **LightHawk in the News** June has been quite a busy month at LightHawk. We have seen an uptick in flight requests for projects where pilot-only flights can make an important contribution. From animal tracking and transport to video capture, LightHawk is working safely during the pandemic to provide the power of flight to help protect our environment. The social benefit company [Kindhumans ](https://kindhumans.com/)donated 8 Hero 8 Black GoPro cameras to support our “pilot only” flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kindhumans is also working with GoPro for a Cause to make some short promo videos about LightHawk using footage from some of these mounted GoPro flights. A huge thanks to our partners at The Redford Center and Raise the River for introducing LightHawk to Kindhumans and helping to bring this donation about! ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/c2158355-7716-4899-a6eb-052c1addbc02.png) [Conservation From Above](https://www.flyingmag.com/story/pilot-proficiency/flying-with-lighthawk/) LightHawk was featured in a May 2020 article in Flying Magazine. Back in March, when we were doing passenger flights, Editor Julie Boatman joined LightHawk VP Steve Kent and Eastern Program Director Jonathan Milne on a flight for the Delaware River Watershed Initiative. The flight highlighted our flagship project that encompasses the entire [Delaware watershed](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/b5854ba1-ea48-4ad4-8cf8-4cb56bb9a176/lighthawk-org-protecting-the-delaware-river-watershed) and is supported by the [William Penn Foundation](https://tracking.cirrusinsight.com/b5854ba1-ea48-4ad4-8cf8-4cb56bb9a176/williampennfoundation-org-watershed-wide). ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/0f76c43e-70e1-4ade-bb33-ce5ee874652a.png) **[Endangered Mexican Wolf Couple Welcomes Litter of 7 Pups at Albuquerque BioPark](https://people.com/pets/endangered-mexican-wolves-litter-seven-pups-albuquerque/)** Did you know that a past LightHawk Mexican Wolf transport has resulted in puppies this spring?! Ryder and Kawi, a pair of Mexican gray wolves — an endangered species — welcomed a litter of seven pups back in May at Albuquerque BioPark in New Mexico. “Every new Lobo that we welcome boosts overall survival of wolves in the wild,” says Zoo manager, Lynn Tupa. ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/c6f28be9-0d21-4473-808a-f9506f392a4f.jpg) **[The Bay to Sea Trail: A Journey in the Making](https://openspacetrust.org/blog/bay-to-sea-trail/)** “Imagine lacing up your shoes in the baylands east of Redwood City, walking west and traveling all the way up and over the Santa Cruz mountains, and crossing four north-south running regional trails on your way to the Pacific Ocean. The possibility of making this extraordinary trek on what we are calling the “Bay to Sea Trail” is becoming more and more likely.” Watch LightHawk’s flight over this proposed trail with our partners at Peninsula Open Space Trust. ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/24184438-d875-4445-9685-5d3cc8d54caf.png) **[Record 20 captive-born pups cross-fostered into wild Mexican Wolf Packs](https://www.wmicentral.com/outdoors_and_gardening/record-20-captive-born-pups-cross-fostered-into-wild-mexican-wolf-packs/article_187c3fb2-f3d7-5219-9bfc-f4e1a703ec09.html)** The Mexican wolf recovery effort recently got a genetic boost when biologists worked together to cross-foster 20 genetically diverse wolf pups from captive facilities across the U.S. into litters of wild wolf packs. “Aerial support of three cross-foster operations was provided by LightHawk Conservation Flying and a private jet donor associated with one transfer from the Endangered Wolf Center. Their donations made possible three early morning flights of pups from the Midwest to ensure IFT biologists had ample daylight to conduct operations.” ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/ab22a8ab-d123-41a4-8318-850b7623bbc9.png) **[When It Comes To Water Rights, This Once-A-Decade List Details Who Will ‘Use It Or Lose It’](https://www.kunc.org/post/when-it-comes-water-rights-once-decade-list-details-who-will-use-it-or-lose-it#stream/0)** “Use it or lose it. That saying is at the heart of how access to water is managed in the western U.S. Laws that govern water in more arid states, like Colorado, incentivize users to always take their full share from rivers and streams, or risk the state rescinding it. The threat comes in the form of a once-a-decade document that lists those users on the brink of losing their access to one of the region’s most precious resources.” # **LightHawk Photo of the Month** ![](https://mcusercontent.com/7dd8df02f802de7269872a897/images/2828f6f9-4252-4673-9561-0424278211da.png) The purpose of this New Hampshire flight for the Conservation Law Foundation was to capture before and after photos of what the Merrymeeting River and nearby ponds look like without any cyanobacteria (aka blue-green algae) and with cyanobacteria blooms. The blooms usually occur after a period of very hot weather. This flight served as a mission to gather the before aerial video imagery of the river and the ponds to use as comparison for the ‘after’ flight. This flight series will help the project partners action address conditions and prevent future toxic algae blooms. *Credit: Jim Schmidt/LightHawk* [Matching gift campaign happening now. Double your donation!](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav/lighthawk/) Thank you for reading! And for those of you who are on social media, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lighthawk_org), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lighthawk.org) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lighthawk_org/) to see updates more often. **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Oceans, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Taking Flight for Colorado’s Historic Wolf Reintroduction](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-transports-endangered-gray-wolves-to-colorado-for-release/) **Published:** December 19, 2023 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![Gray wolf being released into the wild. Empty crate and people in the background.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wolves-photo-CPW-1024x785.jpeg)Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves onto public land in Grand County, Colorado on Monday, December 18, 2023. Pictured is wolf 2302-OR. \[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PR-Gray-Wolf-Transport-final2.pdf” title=”PR – Gray Wolf Transport”\] **Categories:** Featured Mission, Focus: Wildlife --- ### [2024: A Year in Flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/featured-mission-december-2024/) **Published:** December 23, 2024 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ## Taking time to reflect on 2024’s accomplishments From wildlife transports to landscape-scale conservation, 2024 was a year of impact from above. Here’s a look at LightHawk by the numbers. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4044-scaled.jpg) ## 187 Total Flights LightHawk volunteer pilots flew 187 flights over the year. This is an increase in 40 flights over our 2023 total. It also averages out to just over one flight, every other day. Our program managers have been busy planning each of these flights, coordinating with conservation partners and volunteer pilots, then monitoring each one while it’s in the air before following up with partners to ensure success and track outcomes. Each one of those flights represents not just the hours in the air, but also many hours of planning, all to accelerate conservation success in our focus areas: Wild places/Landscapes (53 flights), Oceans & Coasts (24 flights), Waterways (73 flights), Wildlife (47 flights), and Climate Change (37 flights). *\*Note: Many flights support multiple focus area conservation efforts.* ## 705 Total Flight Hours Donated LightHawk’s volunteer pilots donated nearly 30 days of flight time toward conservation efforts. Our pilots provide the use of their aircraft, its fuel and their piloting skills at no cost to our conservation partners. This represents a serious investment by these dedicated individuals to advancing conservation causes and why we are so grateful for their commitment to flying with LightHawk. ## 338 Passengers flown ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-09-11-at-12.52.35-PM.png)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PXL_20240729_152947267-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Photo-020783-Salesforce.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lighthawk-Flight-Stills_Julius-Schlosburg_20240275-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_5914-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_2037-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1809-scaled.jpg) A wide range of conservation-interested people flew with LightHawk’s volunteer pilots this year. From wildlife biologists, to land trust managers, to elected officials and so many more, we took to the skies with people who can and do make a lasting difference for the planet. Each passenger got a view of the environment that is impossible to understand from the ground. Each flight provided valuable data, beautiful imagery/video, and motivation to continue working toward a better future for our environment. ## 278 Volunteer Pilots ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_3064-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4580-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-118.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0365-2.png)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GKS-LighthawkFlight-6_web.png)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMGP2189_web.png) Two hundred and seventy-eight pilots are part of LightHawk’s volunteer pilot community and that number is growing all the time. Just this year, we added an additional 32 pilots to the ranks. Each volunteer pilot brings unique skills and opportunities for LightHawk and our partners. They all have more than 1,000 hours of pilot in command time, making our volunteer pilot corps the most experienced and qualified of any public benefit aviation group in existence. We couldn’t be more proud to be associated with this group of professionals and we continue to extend our thanks for their contributions to our organization and to the planet. ## 30 States Flown In There are LightHawk volunteer pilots and conservation partners in almost every state in the country. We work with a wide range of groups across all regions. From the Everglades in Florida, to the Delware River in the northeast, across to Colorado River Delta in Baja, Mexico and up to Two Dot Village in Alaska, we covered all 4 corners of the country in 2024 and most places in between. ## 50 In 50! ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/50IN50-MAP-7-3-24_better.jpg) This was the first year in which LightHawk took on the challenge to conduct 50 flights in 50 days for conservation. Launched at the beginning of summer, we spent 7 weeks organizing as many flights as possible to bring attention to conservation issues from coast to coast. Together, we were able to accomplish some great things with our partners. We were also able to share so many stories of both challenges and successes over the course of the challenge. Be sure to check out the [Flight Map](https://www.lighthawk.org/flight-map-for-50-in-50/) from the Challenge to see all the details! ## 13 Wildlife transport flights ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cheetah-Cub-2024-9406-Grahm-S.-Jones-Columbus-Zoo-and-Aquarium.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20240505NYfosterpups-1-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Etosha-and-cubs-1-rotated.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Etosha-and-cubs-2.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0049-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0068-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4607-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4610-scaled.jpeg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4798-scaled.jpeg) Throughout the year, LightHawk flew 13 endangered species transport flights. LightHawk has become a leader in this field. Airlines are increasingly reluctant to transport these important animals. LightHawk flights are ideal, allowing handlers to accompany the animals while minimizing the amount of time the animals spend in crates. This reduces their stress and leads to better outcomes, helping rebuild populations. In total, LightHawk transported: - 50 Bobwhite Quail - 1.5 million-plus White Abalone - 18 Mexican Wolf Pups - 2 Cheetah Cub - 2 Red-crowned cranes - 2 Mexican Wolf adults - 12 Black-footed ferrets ## 7 LightHawk staff It’s not easy to keep all these numbers growing each year. From organizing flights, coordinating between partners and pilots, telling the story of our work, fundraising efforts and managing the day-to-day details, LightHawk’s staff are experts in efficiency and keeping planes in the air. This year the staff has been working hard to construct the foundation for LightHawk to **Build Momentum for Lasting Change** in the coming years. We’re proud of the work that’s been done over the past year and honored to be able to share it with you. Thanks for flying along with us over the past 12 months! We hope you’ll stay in formation as we soar into 2025! These are just some of the numbers from 2024 and just a bit of the story of LightHawk’s work in conservation. If you haven’t already, follow us on our social media channels to stay up-to-date on all we’re doing throughout the year. Follow along with us as we put more flights in the air, transport more endangered species and **Build Momentum for Lasting Change** in 2025. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/747A5377-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ARDerr-2024-06-20-6318.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BDrummond-1-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4101-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8310-scaled.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-043.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-078.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lighthawk-Mexico-California-158.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mckeesick-2689.jpg)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rio-Grande-aerials-Mitch-Tobin-June-2024-1_web.png)![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GKS-LighthawkFlight-5_web.png) **Categories:** Featured Mission --- ### [Webinar: Easement Monitoring from the Air](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/webinar-easement-monitoring-from-the-air/) **Published:** May 9, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Excerpt:** A webinar for pilots and land trusts about aerial conservation easement monitoring. **Content:** ## Conducting Easement Monitoring from the Air: Tips & Tricks Join LightHawk to learn more about conducting aerial monitoring flights to survey your Land Trust’s conservation easements. Saving our partners on average 75 hours of staff time for every hour of flight, aerial easement monitoring is a great addition to your easement monitoring toolkit. We’ll hear from Jeremy Puckett of Colorado West Land Trust and LightHawk volunteer pilot Robert Keller, Jr. about what has worked well for them, and how to best prepare for these types of flights. **Date: May 22** **Time: 10am-11am MST** **Cost: Free!** [Register for the Webinar](https://www.tfaforms.com/4738049) Webinar information will be sent to you via email after you register. A recording will be made available to all who register. **Jeremy Puckett** *Stewardship Director, Colorado West Land Trust* ![Jeremy Puckett](https://www.tfaforms.com/forms/get_image/210088/mt1BHSa6hN3z7zfhKQuCa5MFuPVI3tJCxXbunMF2MTymBN4rOyNO2J5KgjTYfSS9-JeremyPuckettsmall.jpg) Jeremy holds a B.A. in Zoology, a M.S. in Environmental Studies, and a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems. His professional experience includes field biology, environmental education, conservation advocacy, environmental consulting, and county-level GIS mapping. As Stewardship Director for the Colorado West Land Trust, Jeremy has been on 12 flights with LightHawk since 2015. He consistently amazes LightHawk staff with his preparedness for these conservation easement monitoring flights and his understanding of General Aviation. The pilots he has worked with rave about what a pleasure it is to work with him. **Robert Keller, Jr.** *LightHawk Volunteer Pilot* ![Bob Keller](https://www.tfaforms.com/forms/get_image/210088/6NsCy48kpwfzLLEMaSqtYUoRCbx1SyFlLmHbVYmvwjd9kHr0T0z8YrHDIsJNPG1s-BobKellersmall.jpg) Bob joined LightHawk in 1994 after being one of the founders of Northern Wings, an organization that merged with LightHawk. He is one of our top-flyers, having completed over 200 flights for LightHawk since joining. Bob has been doing easement monitoring flights since joining, and is our go-to Easement Guru in the east. Bob is a part-time flight instructor and the Chair of the Board of the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust in Northern NY, as well as a conservation easement landowner himself for his property in Booneville, NY. Bob brings all three perspectives to the table when conducting easement monitoring flights: as a pilot, land trust board member and an owner of conserved lands. **Categories:** Webinars **Tags:** conservation easement, land trust, webinar --- ### [Webinar: Plan a King Tide Flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/webinar-plan-a-king-tide-flight/) **Published:** July 10, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/King-Tide-Mill-Valley-credit-Robb-Most-and-Lighthawk.jpg) A king tide floods roads in California, previewing how sea level rise will impact coastal communities in the near future. *Robert Most.* ## Thursday, July 18 ## 1pm-1:30pm MST Join LightHawk and [Surfrider Foundation](http://www.surfrider.org/) to hear how we plan to **raise awareness about sea level rise** during [King Tide events](https://www.surfrider.org/press-center/entry/surfrider-and-lighthawk-join-forces-during-king-tides-for-glimpse-into-futu), and how your group can participate. King Tides provide a sneak peek into what normal high-tides will look like due to sea level rise in the near future. These flights draw attention to coastal areas of concern through media coverage, powerful aerial imagery, citizen science photography efforts, and provide a platform to engage key decision-makers. King Tides are predicted in late July/early August on the East coast and in January on the West coast. We’ll hear from Stefanie Sekich-Quinn with Surfrider and Jonathan Milne, Esther Duke, and Audrey Ek-Psomas from LightHawk for details on the issue, and **how to request a flight from LightHawk**. Not able to join? The webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards. [Register](https://www.tfaforms.com/4748037) **Categories:** Webinars **Tags:** king tide, surfrider, webinar --- ### [LightHawk Flies 3 Endangered Mexican Wolves](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-flies-3-endangered-mexican-wolves/) **Published:** December 10, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** LightHawk flew three endangered Mexican Wolves between the Midwest and New Mexico to help enrich the species’ gene pool and reintroduction efforts. **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Merry Schroeder Awarded NAA Distinguished Volunteer Pilot Award](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/merry-schroeder-awarded-naa-distinguished-volunteer-pilot-award/) **Published:** November 20, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** LightHawk is proud to share that **Merry Schroeder**, a steadfast Volunteer Pilot, Board Member, Donor and all around LightHawk champion was recently selected as the [2018 National Aeronautic Association Distinguished Volunteer Pilot](https://naa.aero/userfiles/files/documents/Press%20Releases/Public%20Benefit%20Flying%20Awards%202018.pdf). Merry will be presented this award on 27 November at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia at a formal dinner.  Merry’s friends and family will be present, as well as a small cadre of LightHawk supporters, including CEO Terri Watson. We’d love to invite you to join us in celebrating this big event. If you are interested in attending, you can get the information and register (scroll to the bottom of the page): [HERE](https://naa.aero/events/upcoming-events/?action=form&eventID=2112) Watch our first installment of LightHawk Volunteer Pilot Interviews featuring Merry’s favorite LightHawk Missions on our YouTube Channel. **Categories:** Pilot View --- ### [A home for turtles and more](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-dome-for-turtles-and-more/) **Published:** November 12, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/sylvia-earle-stephanie-wells-armando-ubeda.jpg) This week, Armando Ubeda, Mesoamerican Program Manager for LightHawk traveled to Costa Rica as part of an expedition to promote the conservation and governability of the [Central American Dome](http://cadome.marviva.net/?page_id=1809). LightHawk is in Costa Rica supporting this initiative led by [MarViva](http://www.marviva.net/index.php/en/), donating flight to the expedition and helping raise the profile of this effort. The Central American Dome is an area just offshore from Costa Rica which boasts high productivity where cold water wells up from deep ocean areas to float just below the warm surface layer. This nutrient rich marine area is of great importance to critically endangered leatherback turtles. It also supports commercial fisheries and provides carbon sequestration in the ocean, playing a fundamental role in the mitigation of climate change. While in San Jose, Ubeda attended a press conference held at the offices of [MarViva ](http://cadome.marviva.net/?lang=en)packed with local media, local and regional non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and several government representatives. Notably, the Minister of the Environment, Dr. Rene Castro pledged that the government of Costa Rica is in favor of protecting the Central American Dome. Dr. Sylvia Earle from [Mission Blue](http://mission-blue.org/) was also in attendance and announced that the Dome had been declared a Hope Spot. It is our hope that more organizations and the governments of other regional nations join the effort to protect the Dome, a special place that is critical to the health of the oceans and the coastal communities of the region. **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Colorado Wolf Transport FAQ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/colorado-wolf-transport-faq/) **Published:** December 18, 2023 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![Colorado Grey Wolf](@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@) ### **What is LightHawk’s role in the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado?** LightHawk is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization that accelerates conservation initiatives through aviation. LightHawk volunteer pilots donate their time, aircraft, and resources to transport gray wolves from an airport near their capture location to an airport in Colorado where Colorado Parks & Wildlife will take them to their release location. ### **Why is LightHawk involved in the gray wolf reintroduction into Colorado?** LightHawk was approached by Colorado Parks & Wildlife to handle air transportation for gray wolves as part of their reintroduction into the state. Gray wolves are an endangered species. LightHawk partners with various organizations across the continent to promote the conservation of natural resources. This includes transporting and monitoring threatened and endangered species. ### **Why not transport the wolves on a commercial flight?** LightHawk’s specialized and flexible approach to conservation transport has distinct advantages. The flexibility of our pilots and shorter transport times minimize exposure to external conditions and stressors, promoting the well-being of the wolves. Our pilot’s general aviation aircraft can utilize small runways significantly reducing total transport time, a crucial advantage in remote areas lacking major airports. Additionally, veterinarians and handlers can be with the captured wolves during transport to address their immediate needs. ### **How many wolves will be transported?** According to [Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan](/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-Final-CO-Wolf-Plan.pdf), “wolf reintroduction efforts will require the transfer of about 30 to 50 wolves over a 3-to-5-year period from the NRM states, with assistance from other state wildlife management agencies. Based on the TWG recommendations, CPW will aim to capture 10-15 wild wolves annually from several different packs over the course of 3 to 5 years by trapping, darting, or net gunning in the fall and winter. These captures may be done by agency staff, contractors, or private trappers. The total number of wolves relocated in any year and in total will depend on capture success, continued participation by the cooperating states, and the degree to which relocated animals remain in Colorado and survive.” ### **Where are the wolves coming from and where will they be released?** LightHawk is not involved in the decision-making. The initial transport of gray wolves were moved from Oregon to Colorado. The second transport of wolves were moved from British Columbia to Colorado. ### **How are flights planned by LightHawk better for the wolves?** LightHawk Volunteer Pilots typically operate smaller aircraft, capable of traveling through smaller, more local airports. This means shorter travel times for the animals and less stress. Biologists and veterinarians can load the animals directly on and off the plane. The animals often travel within the climate-controlled cabin of the plane allowing them to be more comfortable and under less stress. This also allows a handler to ride along with them, attending to any needs during the flight. LightHawk transport flights have proven to lead to more successful outcomes for the animals. ### **Where can I learn more about gray wolf reintroduction in Colorado?** Visit the [Colorado Parks and Wildlife Wolves in Colorado FAQ site](https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Wolves-in-Colorado-FAQ.aspx) for more information about gray wolves and their reintroduction to the state. ### **How is LightHawk funded?** LightHawk is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to accelerating conservation success through the powerful perspective of flight. Our work is supported by a generous network of pilots, donors, foundations, as well as occasional program-related fees to advance our conservation programs. LightHawk Volunteer Pilots donate their time, skills, and resources to make each flight happen. If you would like to join us by supporting our work, you can [donate online](https://www.lighthawk.org/donatenav-2/lighthawk/) or learn more about becoming a [LightHawk VP](/become-a-lighthawk-pilot/). ### **What other conservation issues is LightHawk working to advance?** LightHawk collaborates with diverse conservation partners nationwide, such as nonprofit organizations, wildlife agencies, photographers, and journalists, to tackle critical conservation issues in wild places, wildlife, watersheds, oceans & coastlines, and climate change. By working closely with our partners to utilize aviation as part of their overall conservation strategy, LightHawk not only accelerates conservation impact, but saves our partners valuable time and resources. Together, we are making a difference for the planet, one flight at a time. **Categories:** Focus: Wildlife --- ### [Conservation FLYer: May 2019](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-may-2019-2/) **Published:** May 30, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Did you know Chinook Salmon can weight up to 126 pounds? ![](https://www.nwf.org/-/media/NEW-WEBSITE/Shared-Folder/Wildlife/Fish/fish_chinook-salmon_gregvandeleest-GettyImages_600x300.ashx)A chinook salmon flies above the water in a quest to get upstream. What does flying have to do with fish? Read our [latest newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/lighthawk/conservationflyer52019). **Categories:** The Archives **Tags:** salmon --- ### [Conservation FLYer: June 2019](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-june-2019/) **Published:** June 28, 2019 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Conservation-Flyer1.png)[![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Conservation-Flyer-Stats5.png)](https://mailchi.mp/lighthawk/conservationflyer-june2019) ### What happens when fly fishing doesn’t mean what you think? Read our [monthly newsletter](https://mailchi.mp/lighthawk/conservationflyer-june2019) to find out! [![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/AshleyTrudeau_FishScapes_BillflyingoverWisconsin-768x1024.jpg)](https://mailchi.mp/lighthawk/conservationflyer-june2019) *Overlooking the lakes of northern Wisconsin from William Menzel’s Piper. Researchers counted fishermen from the air to help guide future management and ensure a fish-filled future for a region dependent on nature tourism.  Photo Credit: Ashley Trudeau* **Categories:** The Archives **Tags:** fish --- ### [LightHawk stars in PBS documentary](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-stars-in-pbs-documentary/) **Published:** November 16, 2018 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://lighthawk.matrixmedia.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/documentarycover.jpg) We’re thrilled to star in an hour long PBS documentary about LightHawk and conservation! **Watch online for free.** Full version available: <https://video.nhpbs.org/show/lighthawk-destination-conservation/> Share with all your friends! Show them why LightHawk is awesome. **Categories:** Media --- ## Pages ### [Home](https://www.lighthawk.org/) **Published:** July 23, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![Aerial view over Lake Powell, red rock canyons winding through blue water](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LakePowell-hero-poster-v2.avif) Conservation Flying Since 1979 # From above, everything is connected. LightHawk puts aviation to work for conservation, helping protect wildlife, water, and landscapes across North America. [ See Conservation From Above ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/) ## What Conservation Looks Like From Above Some conservation work can only happen from the air. LightHawk brings aviation into conservation work where a broader view, faster access, or the right aircraft can change what’s possible. Our experienced team works with conservation partners to design missions around the need, then brings together highly skilled volunteer pilots and the aviation resources to reveal change, reach remote places, move wildlife, and strengthen decisions on the ground. [ See Our Work in Action ](/our-impact/) ![Aerial Flatirons](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-flatirons.jpg) Aerial perspective brings the scale, patterns, and connections of a landscape into view. Our Work ## Where Flight Makes a Difference LightHawk’s impact takes many forms, from protecting wildlife and waterways to revealing change across some of North America’s most important landscapes. LightHawk turns aerial perspective into insight, and insight into action. See how this work takes shape across our priorities: - [ Landscapes ](/our-impact/our-priorities/landscapes/) - [ Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) - [ Oceans & Coastlines ](/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) - [ Wildlife Recovery ](/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) - [ Climate Impact & Resilience ](/our-impact/our-priorities/climate/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) conservation at scale ## Our Impact in Numbers For more than four decades, LightHawk has put aviation to work for conservation across North America. Thousands of missions, hundreds of partners, and decades of experience show what’s possible when flight becomes a tool for conservation. Behind every number is real conservation work, from urgent wildlife transport and aerial research to documenting change across vast landscapes, watersheds, and coastlines. 8,000+ Conservation Flights 47+ Years of Conservation Flying 400+ Conservation Partners 40+ States, Mexico & Canada [ Support Conservation from Above ](/donate/) ![Story Wolves](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/story-wolves.webp) Mexican Gray Wolf Release · Arizona ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mexican-Wolf-AZ.webp) Mexican wolf back in the wild Mission Moments ## Hundreds of Wolves and a Second Chance for a Species When endangered Mexican gray wolves need to move between recovery facilities, ground transport can mean long, stressful hours. LightHawk volunteer pilots make those moves in a fraction of the time, carrying wolves safely and efficiently across the country as part of a recovery effort that has spanned years. It’s one mission among hundreds LightHawk flies every year, all beginning with a conservation goal and an aviation strategy designed to move that work forward. - Arizona - Wildlife transport - Ongoing since 2009 [ Explore more missions ](/our-impact/featured-missions/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-alaska.jpg) ## One Flight. Lasting Impact. > The sight of North Cascades National Park from the air truly shows the extent, diversity, and importance of this landscape and the need to protect it. **Theresa Haggerty**Washington’s National Park Fund > There would have been no way to get such a comprehensive view of the river and the issues it faces in just a few hours without flying over it. **Brynne Lazarus**U.S. Geological Survey > The flyover allowed us to view the entire watershed in a very short period of time – understanding conditions, challenges, and constraints. **Sarah Dyrdahl**American Rivers > An incredible experience and invaluable information on the importance, history and impact of the Everglades to Miami. **Betty De Aragon**Bricknell Magazine > Only from the air could you see the striations of this red tide which helped us inform our team where we should be taking samples from and looking for possible impacts on wildlife. **Aundi Mevoli**San Francisco Baykeeper > An incredible flight. It allowed us to capture beautiful aerial photos and video for our short film. This is a really special resource to be able to tap into for filmmaking and photography projects. **Liam Gallagher**Trout Unlimited > We were able to view more than 2,000 acres of woodlot, which on foot would have taken several days of staff time, but took just one morning thanks to the LightHawk flight. **Hannah Chamberlain**Maine Farmland Trust > The missions that LightHawk flies for us are invaluable in determining the status of the condor population in southern California. The expediency of aerial searches allows us to determine status quickly and, in some cases, locate mortalities to understand cause of death. **Dave Meyer**Santa Barbara Zoo > Seeing from above helped us understand how and where water is holding on the landscape and will inform our restoration work and wildlife programming in the future. **Erin Carroll**Yaak Valley Forest Council > It was invaluable to view areas burned by wildfire, as well as several significant mitigation projects, from the air. We were able to see the Wildland Urban Interface and observe areas that had been mitigated and some that had not. The flight provided a sense of scale that would have been impossible otherwise. **Julie Klett**Fire Adapted Colorado Newsroom ## From the Flight Log [ See All News ](https://www.lighthawk.org/newsroom/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Otter-Creek.-Photo-by-J.Milne-LightHawk-scaled.webp) Media October 24, 2026 ### [LightHawk Announces 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award Honorees](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-announces-2026-volunteer-pilot-award-honorees/) LightHawk has announced its 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award honorees, recognizing five volunteers whose dedication and generosity help put conservation missions… ![The plane flies above glaciers along Colorado's Continental Divide.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_4_GX040033.MP4.10_14_56_09.Still005.webp) Focus: Climate October 1, 2026 ### [Pilot’s View: Above Colorado’s Changing Glaciers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) Following a year of record-low snowfall, Colorado State University researchers are documenting how the state’s glaciers are changing. To capture… Flown with Colorado State University ![Ice from a glacier is barely visible thanks to dirt and rocks covering the ice, blending it into the rock face.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03729.webp) Featured Mission October 1, 2026 ### [Twelve Glaciers. Two and a Half Hours.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) Colorado’s glaciers and perennial snowfields are shrinking. Documenting those changes means reaching remote mountain sites and gathering photographs from many… Flown with Colorado State University ![A Lake Powell marina sits next to a boat ram that no longer reaches the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-6.webp) Featured Mission September 4, 2026 ### [From 1,300 Miles on Foot to One Powerful View from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) Starting high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River winds south through some of the most dramatic and heavily used… Flown with Keep the River Running ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pilot-and-passenger-by-plane.webp) Pilot View August 18, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Flying Montana’s Bitterroot Valley](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-montanas-bitterroot-valley/) “Ray Lee is a true professional.”  That’s how Northern Rockies Program Manager Chris Boyer described Lee after a recent LightHawk… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Meandering-Bitterroot-River.webp) Featured Mission August 1, 2026 ### [Aerial Tours Expose Mine Risk to Bitterroot Watershed](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/aerial-tours-expose-mine-risk-to-bitterroot-watershed/) The Bitterroot River winds through a picturesque valley in Western Montana, its meandering path carving a winding streambed across the… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead.webp) Focus: Waterways June 25, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Capturing Aerial Perspective on the Colorado River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) The Colorado River Basin is an area of intense interest this year. Record low snowfall has left the river system… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Serpentine_5-1.webp) Featured Mission June 25, 2026 ### [Protecting Maine’s Landscapes and Waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-june-2026-featured-mission/) There’s a narrow stretch of water in central Maine called the Serpentine that connects East and North Ponds. From the… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_6868.webp) NOTAM June 11, 2026 ### [NOTAM: Special Edition](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-june-2026-san-diego-fly-in/) Bringing LightHawk Volunteer Pilots Together at San Diego Fly-In Written by Jim Becker LightHawk held the first of our 2026… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55988-1.webp) Featured Mission May 29, 2026 ### [Telling the Story of a River Under Pressure](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-may-2026-featured-mission/) The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people, supports agriculture across the Southwest, and sustains communities, wildlife, and… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Passaic-River-NJ.webp) Focus: Waterways May 15, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Collecting Imagery of New Jersey’s Passaic River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-collecting-imagery-along-new-jerseys-passaic-river/) Most pilots avoid the airspace around New York City whenever possible. Volunteer pilot Mike McNamara volunteered for it. Partnering with… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9850.webp) Featured Mission April 30, 2026 ### [Improving Urban Conservation in New Jersey](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-april-2026-featured-mission/) Flying over northern New Jersey isn’t easy. The airspace is complex, but that’s exactly where LightHawk volunteer pilot Mike McNamara… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-glacier.jpg) The 50 in 50 Challenge ## Fifty flights. Fifty days. Countless impact. After 47 years of conservation flying, our pilots and partners take to the skies each summer for a unique Challenge — flying missions across North America from Alaska’s salmon rivers to Florida’s mangrove coasts. Join the cockpit, follow along, or help us put the power of aviation to work for conservation. [ Follow the Challenge ](/50-in-50/) 53/50 Flights logged ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-canyon.jpg) ## Conservation needs a better view. Give it wings. Your gift helps LightHawk design and coordinate conservation missions, mobilize skilled volunteer pilots, and put the right aircraft to work where aviation can make a difference. [Support Us](/donate/) [Request a Flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) --- ### [Our Pilots](https://www.lighthawk.org/about-lighthawk/our-pilots/) **Published:** September 3, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Cockpit-with-Sunset-WA-1.webp) our pilots # Flying with purpose LightHawk’s volunteer pilots bring exceptional skill, experience, and generosity to conservation flying. Meet the people behind the missions and learn how they to put their flying to work for something larger. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Otter-Creek.-Photo-by-J.Milne-LightHawk-scaled.webp) Featured · Media ## LightHawk Announces 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award Honorees LightHawk has announced its 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award honorees, recognizing five volunteers whose dedication and generosity help put conservation missions within reach across the country. This year’s honorees demonstrate the skill, flexibility and sustained commitment that make these missions possible. [ Meet the honorees ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-announces-2026-volunteer-pilot-award-honorees/) ### Volunteer Pilot Network **276** volunteer pilots ready to fly for conservation across North America. Pilot locations - Anaheim, California, 92807 - Anchorage, Alaska, 99507 - Anchorage, Alaska, 99516 - Andover, Massachusetts, 01810 - Ankeny, Iowa, 50021 - Apalachicola, Florida, 32329 - Appleton, Wisconsin, 54915 - Aptos, California, 95003 - Arvada, Colorado, 80004 - Auburn, California, 95603 - Austin, Texas, 78703 - Avoca, Wisconsin, 53506 - Bainbridge Island, Washington, 98110 - Baltimore, Maryland, 21218 - Bandon, Oregon, 97411 - Beaverton, Oregon, 97007 - Bellingham, Washington, 98229 - Belmont, California, 94002 - Belvedere, California, 94920 - Bend, Oregon, 97703 - Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722 - Bishop, California, 93514 - Bloomington, Indiana, 47408 - Boca Raton, Florida, 33486 - Bolton, Massachusetts, 01740 - Bonners Ferry, Colorado, 83805 - Boonville, New York, 13309 - Boulder Creek, California, 95006 - Boulder, Colorado, 80301 - Boulder, Colorado, 80302 - Boulder, Colorado, 80304 - Boulder, Colorado, 80305 - Bozeman, Montana, 59715 - Bradenton, Florida, 34208 - Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania, 15015 - Broomfield, Colorado, 80023 - Buckley, Washington, 98321 - Buellton, California, 93427 - Camarillo, California, 93010 - Camas, Washington, 98607 - Carbondale, Illinois, 62903 - Carefree, Arizona, 85377 - Carnelian Bay, California, 96140 - Carson City, Nevada, 89703 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514 - Chappaqua, New York, 10514 - Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37419 - Cimarron, New Mexico, 87714 - Claremore, Oklahoma, 74017 - Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44118 - Clifton Park, New York, 12065 - Cody, Wyoming, 82414 - Cohoes, New York, 12047 - Colleyville, Texas, 76034 - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80926 - Columbia, Tennessee, 38401 - Columbus, Ohio, 43220 - Coral Gables, Florida, 33143 - Corralitos, California, 95076 - Coventry, Connecticut, 06238 - Cumberland, Maine, 04021 - Cypress, California, 90630 - Dallas, Texas, 75206 - Dayton, Ohio, 45429 - Deer Park, Washington, 99006 - Del Norte, Colorado, 81132 - Denver, Colorado, 80209 - Denver, Colorado, 80238 - Des Moines, Iowa, 50313 - Dover, New Hampshire, 03820 - Driftwood, Texas, 78619 - Dublin, California, 94568 - Dumfries, Virginia, 22026 - Dunstable, Massachusetts, 01827 - Eagle, Colorado, 81631 - East Aurora, New York, 14052 - Edgartown, Massachusetts, 02539 - El Cajon, California, 92019 - El Dorado Hills, California, 95762 - El Prado, New Mexico, 87529 - Emerald Hills, California, 94062 - Erie, Colorado, 80516 - Eugene, Oregon, 97405 - Evans City, Pennsylvania, 16033 - Fairbanks, Alaska, 99709 - Fayetteville, Georgia, 30215 - Fernandina Beach, Florida, 32034 - Fillmore, California, 93015 - Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001 - Flagstaff, Arizona, 86004 - Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526 - Franklin, Michigan, 48025 - Georgetown, Maine, 04548 - Gig Harbor, Washington, 98335 - Gillette, Wyoming, 82716 - Gilroy, California, 95020 - Glenside, Pennsylvania, 19038 - Graham, Washington, 98338 - Grand Haven, Michigan, 49417 - Grand Junction, Colorado, 81505 - Grass Valley, California, 95945 - Greenland, New Hampshire, 03840 - Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742 - Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, 03844 - Harleysville, Pennsylvania, 19438 - Heber City, Utah, 84032 - Helena, Montana, 59601 - Hereford, Arizona, 85615 - High Rolls Mountain Park, New Mexico, 88325 - Hillsborough, California, 94010 - Hinesburg, Vermont, 05461 - Hingham, Massachusetts, 02043 - Homer, Alaska, 99603 - Houston, Texas, 77005 - Hudson, Ohio, 44236 - Irvine, California, 92620 - Ivins, Utah, 84738 - Jackson, Wyoming, 83002 - Jacksonville, Oregon, 97530 - Jersey City, New Jersey, 07306 - Juno Beach, Florida, 33408 - Ketchum, Idaho, 83340 - Key West, Florida, 33040 - Lander, Wyoming, 82520 - Laramie, Wyoming, 82073 - Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88001 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89113 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89138 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89183 - Leawood, Kansas, 66209 - Lee, New Hampshire, 14541 - Lexington, Massachusetts, 02420 - Littleton, Colorado, 80123 - Longmont, Colorado, 80503 - Los Altos, California, 94022 - Los Altos, California, 94024 - Lyme, Connecticut, 06371 - Madison, Wisconsin, 53705 - Madison, Wisconsin, 53711 - Mammoth, California, 93546 - Manhattan Beach, California, 90266 - Marblehead, Massachusetts, 01945 - Mazama, Washington, 98833 - Mazon, Illinois, 60444 - Melbourne Beach, Florida, 32951 - Mercer Island, Washington, 98040 - Meridian, Idaho, 83642 - Merion Station, Pennsylvania, 19066 - Merrimack, New Hampshire, 03054 - Milan, Illinois, 61264 - Milltown, Montana, 59851 - Minnetonka, Minnesota, 55345 - Missoula, Montana, 59808 - Moab, Utah, 84532 - Molalla, Oregon, 97038 - Monrovia, California, 91016 - Monsey, New York, 10952 - Montclair, New Hampshire, 07043 - Montgomery, Massachusetts, 01085 - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 29466 - Mountain View, California, 94043 - Napa, California, 94558 - Naples, Florida, 34113 - Nashville, Tennessee, 37215 - Nederland, Colorado, 80466 - New Castle, New Hampshire, 03854 - New York, New York, 10009 - Newport Beach, California, 92660 - Newton Center, Massachusetts, 02459 - Newtown, Pennsylvania, 19438 - Niwot, Colorado, 80503 - Norfolk, Virginia, 23508 - North Conway, New Hampshire, 03860 - Northfield Falls, Vermont, 05664 - Oakhurst, California, 93644 - Oakhurst, California, 93644 - Ocala, Florida, 34472 - Oceanside, California, 92057 - Oceanside, California, 92054 - Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 53066 - Odessa, Florida, 33556 - Omaha, Nebraska, 68114 - Orange, California, 92867 - Overgaard, Arizona, 85933 - Oyster Bay Cove, New York, 11771 - Palm Beach, Florida, 33480 - Palm Desert, California, 92211 - Palo Alto, California, 94303 - Park City, Utah, 84060 - Parkland, Florida, 33076 - Peck, Idaho, 83545 - Phoenix, Arizona, 85032 - Pickerington, Ohio, 43147 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15217 - Port Orange, Florida, 32128 - Portland, Oregon, 97218 - Pottsdam, Pennsylvania, 19464 - Prescott, Arizona, 86305 - Quartz Hill, California, 93536 - Queenstown, Maryland, 21658 - Rapid City, South Dakota, 57703 - Redondo Beach, California, 90277 - Richland, Washington, 99352 - Ridgway, Colorado, 81432 - Romulus, New York, 14541 - Salmon, Idaho, 83467 - San Diego, California, 92131 - San Diego, California, 92128 - San Diego, California, 92116 - San Francisco, California, 94118 - San Francisco, California, 94122 - San Luis Obispo, California, 93405 - Sandwich, Massachusetts, 02563 - Santa Barbara, California, 93460 - Santa Clara, California, 95050 - Santa Cruz, California, 95060 - Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505 - Santa Rosa, California, 95404 - Santa Rosa, California, 95403 - Saugerties, New York, 12477 - Scottsdale, Arizona, 85266 - Scottsdale, Arizona, 85254 - Seattle, Washington, 98105 - Seattle, Washington, 98118 - Seattle, Washington, 98122 - Seattle, Washington, 98144 - Sebastopol, California, 95472 - Sedona, Arizona, 86336 - Seeley Lake, Montana, 59868 - Seminole, Florida, 33776 - Sharon, Massachusetts, 02459 - Sonoma, California, 95476 - South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02748 - Southold, New York, 11971 - Sparks, Nevada, 89436 - Sparks, Nevada, 89441 - Spokane Valley, Washington, 99206 - St Bonifacius, Minnesota, 55375 - St. George, Utah, 84770 - Stanwood, Washington, 98292 - Stone Ridge, New York, 12484 - Superior, Colorado, 80027 - Surprise, Arizona, 85387 - Talkeetna, Alaska, 99676 - Toms River, New Jersey, 08757 - Truckee, California, 96161 - Tucson, Arizona, 85701 - Tustin, California, 92782 - Upland, California, 91786 - Vail, Arizona, 85641 - Van Nuys California, 91406 - Venice, Florida, 34292 - Ventura, California, 93001 - Ventura, California, 93003 - Vero Beach, Florida, 32963 - Vienna, Virginia, 22180 - Viola, Idaho, 83872 - Vonore, Tennessee, 37885 - Warrenton, Oregon, 97146 - Warwick, New York, 10990 - Washington, District of Columbia, 20008 - Watsonville, California, 95076 - Waunakee, Wisconsin, 53597 - Wayland, Massachusetts, 01778 - West Grove, Pennsylvania, 19390 - West Linn, Oregon, 97068 - Westerville, Ohio, 43082 - Westminster, Colorado, 80023 - Westport, Connecticut, 06880 - White Salmon, Washington, 98672 - Windsor, California, 95492 - Woodinville, Washington, 98072 - Wyoming, Michigan, 49519 - Yarmouth, Maine, 04096 - Yerington, Nevada, 89447 - Yorkville, California, 95494 LightHawk’s volunteer pilot corps spans the country, making it possible to respond to conservation needs across North America. pilots of the month ## Celebrating the People Behind the Perspective Each month, we recognize a LightHawk volunteer pilot whose time, skill, and commitment help make conservation flying possible. Click a photo to learn more about these pilots and how they’re helping move conservation forward. [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/LightHawk-VP-Douglass-Sisk.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/LightHawk-VP-Douglass-Sisk.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Eric-Berman.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Eric-Berman.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Bob-Keller.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Bob-Keller.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Barbara-Filkins.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Barbara-Filkins.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Chuck-Schroll.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Chuck-Schroll.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-John-Priscu.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-John-Priscu.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Jay-Apt.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Jay-Apt.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Thomas-AmRhein.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Thomas-AmRhein.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Barry-Harper.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Barry-Harper.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/LightHawk-Volunteer-Pilot-Chuck-Yanke.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/LightHawk-Volunteer-Pilot-Chuck-Yanke.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Jack-Long.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Jack-Long.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Gabrielle-and-Ken-Adelman.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Gabrielle-and-Ken-Adelman.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Lane-Gormley.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Lane-Gormley.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Alan-Kinback.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Alan-Kinback.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Roy-Lewallen.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Roy-Lewallen.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Rick-Turley.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Rick-Turley.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Ken-Adelman.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/VP-Ken-Adelman.webp) the Latest ## From a Pilot’s Perspective Hear directly from the volunteer pilots behind the missions. These firsthand stories offer a closer look at the flying, the conservation challenge, and the moments that stay with them long after they land. Search posts Search Categories Filter posts by category - Pilot View Tags Filter posts by tag - aerial monitoring - Awards - birds - bobwhite quail - Climate - climate change - Colorado - Colorado River - conservation easement - endangered species - fish - glacier - glaciers - king tide - land trust - LightHawk - Pennsylvania - Puget Sound - Puget Soundkeeper - salmon - students - surfrider - Unleash the Brilliance - Volunteer Pilot - webinar Reset filters Showing all 22 posts - [ ![The plane flies above glaciers along Colorado's Continental Divide.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_4_GX040033.MP4.10_14_56_09.Still005-1024x576.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) Focus: Climate October 1, 2026 ### [Pilot’s View: Above Colorado’s Changing Glaciers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) Following a year of record-low snowfall, Colorado State University researchers are documenting how the state’s glaciers are changing. To capture the images they need,… - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pilot-and-passenger-by-plane-1024x768.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-montanas-bitterroot-valley/) Pilot View August 18, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Flying Montana’s Bitterroot Valley](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-montanas-bitterroot-valley/) “Ray Lee is a true professional.”  That’s how Northern Rockies Program Manager Chris Boyer described Lee after a recent LightHawk mission through Montana’s Bitterroot Valley.… - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-1024x768.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) Focus: Waterways June 25, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Capturing Aerial Perspective on the Colorado River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) The Colorado River Basin is an area of intense interest this year. Record low snowfall has left the river system with very little water,… Load more ## Never miss a flight. The Conservation FLYer lands monthly — flight logs, partner stories, and what’s next. [ Sign Up for the Newsletter ](#footer-nl-email) --- ### [Donate](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/) **Published:** July 23, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/banner-canyon-scaled.webp) POWER THE WORK # Make more *possible* Your gift brings skilled pilots and conservation expertise to the places, species, and challenges where aviation can make a difference. [ Donate Now ](#give) your impact ## Moving Conservation Forward Your gift creates lift. It puts aviation to work for conservation, turning urgency into action and insight into results for the wildlife, waters, and wild places that can’t wait. **Here’s the impact that you make possible.** ![Aerial Flatirons](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-flatirons.jpg) ### Seeing What Others Can’t From the air, fragmented forests, changing waterways, and shifting coastlines come into focus at a scale the ground can’t provide. Your donation helps LightHawk turn that broader view into stronger conservation decisions and better outcomes on the ground. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Whooping-Crane.webp) ### Giving Wildlife Another Chance Endangered species like red wolves and California condors are running out of time. Your donation helps LightHawk use aviation to move endangered wildlife quickly and safely, strengthening recovery efforts when timing, distance, and coordination can shape the outcome. ![Aerial Baylands](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) ### Understanding a Changing Climate Rising seas and stronger storms are reshaping coastlines every year. Your donation helps LightHawk document environmental change from above, building the understanding needed to plan, adapt, and act in time. ![Hero Canyon](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-canyon.jpg) ### Changing Minds through Storytelling Some conservation challenges only come fully into view from the air. Your donation helps LightHawk reveal the scale, connections, and impacts unfolding across landscapes, turning aerial perspective into imagery and stories that inform decisions, influence action, and strengthen conservation outcomes. [ See Our Impact ](/our-impact/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-mountains-scaled.jpg) Why your gift matters ## The Stakes Are Real Landscapes are changing. Species are under pressure. Water systems are being pushed to their limits. Your gift helps LightHawk respond with the perspective, access, and speed conservation sometimes requires. Make your gift ## Give the Gift of Flight Your secure donation is processed through Bloomerang. Choose an amount and frequency below to get started. **Every gift supports LightHawk’s conservation work across North America.** LightHawk is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Tax ID (EIN) 84-0852104. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/APR2022-Utahs-Grand-Staircase-Escalante-National-Monument-by-Jon-Waterman.webp) See where your support flies ## Every Flight Tells a Story A wolf flown cross-country for recovery. Algal blooms tracked in Florida Bay. The Colorado River crisis documented for policymakers fighting to save it. Every mission has a story. Explore our interactive Flight Map to see LightHawk’s conservation impact across the country. *Image: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah by Jon Waterman* [ View the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) MORE WAYS TO GIVE ## Other Paths to Impact Your generosity can take many forms. Explore additional ways to support LightHawk’s conservation work, including options that may offer tax advantages. [ ### Donor Advised Funds Recommend a grant to LightHawk through your donor-advised fund. Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/) [ ### Qualified Charitable Distributions If you’re 70½ or older, you may be able to make a gift directly from your IRA through a QCD. Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/qualified-charitable-distributions/) [ ### Tribute & Memorial Gifts Honor someone special through a gift that reflects what they loved. Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/memorials-and-tribute-gifts/) [ ### Stocks & Securities Turn appreciated stock into meaningful support for LightHawk’s conservation work. Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/stocks-and-securities/) See all giving options on our [Ways to Give](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/ "More Ways to Give") page. --- ### [Accountability](https://www.lighthawk.org/about-lighthawk/accountability/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) Our Transparency # A clear view of *LightHawk* Annual reports, audited financials, Form 990s, and governance policies that reflect LightHawk’s commitment to accountability and responsible stewardship. ![Expansive aerial landscape of valleys and ridgelines](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-scale.jpg) 2024/2025 Conservation Impact Report ## Expanding Horizons for a Better World Every LightHawk flight offers a rare view of our world — one that shapes the future of conservation. This perspective is made possible because of you. Read the year in flights, outcomes, and the partners who made them count. [ Download the Report ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-LH-Impact-Report_web.pdf) Annual Reports ## The Year From Above Explore LightHawk’s annual reports for a year-by-year look at our conservation work, growth, partnerships, and impact. - [ **2023** ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024-LH-Annual-Report.pdf) - [ **2022** ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-Annual-Report-ONLINE.pdf) - [ **2021** ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Annual-report-2021_online.pdf) In 2019 the naming convention changed to recognize the year in which the fiscal year ends. Additional reports can be viewed in the [Archive](https://www.lighthawk.org/accountability-archive/). Our Financials ## A Clear View of Our Finances LightHawk is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Federal Tax ID: **84-0852104**. - [ **Form 990 — 2023/2024** Most recent filing ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/LightHawk-Form-990-2023-2024.pdf) - [ **Audited Financial Statements — 2022** Independent audit ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/03.31.22-Audited-Financial-Statements-LightHawk.pdf) - [ **Form 990 — 2021/2022** Public inspection copy ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/03.31.22-Form-990-LightHawk-Public-Inspection-Copy.pdf) - [ **Audited Financial Statements — 2021** Independent audit ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Lighthawk-FS-3.31.21-Final.pdf) - [ **Employee Conflict of Interest Policy** Governance ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Employee-Conflict-of-Interest.pdf) - [ **Board Conflict of Interest Policy** Governance ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Board-Conflict-of-Interest-policy.pdf) - [ **LightHawk Bylaws** Governance ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/LightHawk-Bylaws-9.21.18.pdf) Independently Vetted ## Accountability, verified - ![Candid Gold Transparency 2026 seal](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/badge-candid-gold-2026.png) Candid Gold Transparency - ![Charity Navigator Three-Star rating](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/badge-charity-navigator-2026.png) Charity Navigator - ![1% for the Planet member](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/badge-one-percent-for-the-planet.png) 1% for the Planet member - ![IUCN member](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/badge-iucn.png) IUCN member ## Give with confidence. Every dollar donated to LightHawk translates into tangible conservation achievements. [ Donate Now ](/donate/) [ Read the Impact Report ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-LH-Impact-Report_web.pdf) --- ### [Ways to Give](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/) **Published:** August 12, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-mission.jpg) ways to give # Give in the way that moves you Your generosity can take many forms. Explore ways to support LightHawk that align with your goals, from monthly giving and appreciated assets to legacy and future gifts. [ Make a One-Time Gift ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/#give) SUPPORT CONSERVATION FLYING ## Give Now Choose the way of giving that works best for you and put your support behind LightHawk’s conservation work. ![Partially filled reservoir with sand shorelines exposed.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IMG_7261-preview.webp) ### Monthly Giving Power the future of conservation by joining *The Lift* through reliable support that makes sustained action possible. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/monthly-giving/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/091616_HOTR_GREYSLAKE_5.jpg) ### Tributes & Memorials Honor a loved one or celebrate a special occasion with a memorial or tribute gift that carries forward a love of conservation, aviation, or both. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/memorials-and-tribute-gifts/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Osa_Aerial_2521_web.jpg) ### Donor Advised Funds Recommend a grant from your DAF and put charitable dollars already set aside to work for LightHawk. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4101-scaled.jpg) ### Stocks, Securities & Other Assets Turn a gift of appreciated securities into lasting support for LightHawk’s conservation work. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/stocks-and-securities/) ![Flight 52: Locating Missing California Condors](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_52B-scaled.webp) ### Qualified Charitable Distribution If you’re 70½ or older, put your IRA to work for conservation through a tax-smart Qualified Charitable Distribution. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/qualified-charitable-distributions/) ![Gray wolf being released into the wild. Empty crate and people in the background.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Wolves-photo-CPW.jpeg) ### Legacy Circle Join a community of LightHawk’s most committed supporters investing in the long-term future of conservation flying. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/legacy-circle/) **Looking to make a one-time gift?[ Donate online ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/)→** LEAVE A LEGACY ## Give Later Make a future gift that helps ensure LightHawk’s unique role in conservation endures. ![Sheep Creek mine update calls for 2,200 helicopter flights in first season](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/DailyMontanan_2.jpg) ### Wills, Trusts or Beneficiary Designations Include LightHawk in your estate plans through a will, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, or other beneficiary designation. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/wills-and-trusts/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/impact-scale.jpg) ### Endowment Fund Help build long-term financial strength so LightHawk can continue putting aviation to work for conservation well into the future. [ Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/endowment-fund/) **Not sure which giving option is right for you?** Joanna Weitzel, LightHawk’s Chief Advancement Officer, would be happy to help you explore your options. **jweitzel@lighthawk.org** **(970) 797-9355 ext. 12** --- ### [Our Impact](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/) **Published:** July 23, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Fall-Colors-Photo-scaled.webp) Our Impact # Seeing More. *Protecting More.* Through aviation, LightHawk reveals landscape-scale conservation challenges, opportunities, and connections that are impossible to understand from the ground. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Centennial-Valley-Chris-Boyer.webp) 01 Our Mission ## Designed for the Bigger Picture LightHawk brings aviation into conservation work when the view from the ground is not enough. We design missions to reveal scale, connections, and change in ways that strengthen conservation strategy and outcomes. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NLN07174JPG.webp) 02 A Legacy of Impact ## Experience Built Over Decades For more than four decades, LightHawk has built a depth of conservation and aviation experience few organizations can match. That history has shaped a model rooted in expertise, strong partnerships, and an understanding of where aviation can make the greatest difference for habitats, species, and ecosystems across North America. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-scale.jpg) ## Conservation at Scale Conservation happens at landscape scale. A single flight can survey terrain that would take a ground team days to cover, catch a species decline before it’s irreversible, or hand a policymaker the one image that changes a decision. That’s the difference altitude makes. In 2025 800+ Donated Flight Hours 237 Conservation Flights 98 Program Partners WhAT flight makes possible LightHawk brings aviation into conservation work when a broader view, faster access, or greater reach can *change what’s possible.* 1. 01 ### See the Whole Picture Reveal landscapes too large to understand from the ground, making patterns and connections easier to see. 2. 02 ### Reach Remote Places Reach remote and roadless places faster, providing access when distance, terrain, or timing would stand in the way. 3. 03 ### Turn Insight Into Action Strengthen research, inform decisions, document change, and tell conservation stories more powerfully. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pups-Introduced-In-Wild-Den-scaled.webp) aviation in action ## When Hours Matter LightHawk has transported endangered Mexican gray wolf pups across the country in a matter of hours, helping biologists place them into wild dens for cross-fostering while reducing travel time and stress. Since 2010, 51 conservation flights have transported 169 wolves in support of the species’ recovery. By making these time-sensitive moves possible, aviation is helping strengthen genetic diversity and build a healthier wild population. [ Explore Wildlife Missions ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) --- ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-testimonial-bg.jpg) in their words ## What Changes From Above > There is really nothing like the aerial view to showcase the intersection of the natural and built environment. Without LightHawk we can use maps and on the ground images but it just does not tell the story in the same powerful way. **Amanda Brown-Stevens**director, Greenbelt Alliance > LightHawk has and continues to be a vital tool in the effort to recover the condor. Population surveys, nest finding, and locating mortalities from the air enables us to much more effectively manage the species. **Dave Meyer**biologist, Santa Barbara Zoo > We could not have reached the milestone of 14,000 endangered animals released without LightHawk’s consistent and steadfast support of our program. LightHawk is instrumental in saving this critically endangered species. **Dr. Alyssa Frederick**Director, White Abalone Captive Breeding Program > Without Lighthawk the monitoring of these properties would’ve taken months of on-the-ground staff time. We also captured some of the best photos yet of conserved lands, which will be helpful for ongoing stewardship reference and for communications with our communities we serve. **Drake McDonough**Agricultural Stewardship Association > We could not have accomplished this without LightHawk and their amazing volunteer pilots. This helps Cheetah Outreach Trust immensely towards meeting our goals for Livestock Guarding dogs to work in conflict mitigation with predators in South Africa – namely Cheetah. **Jackie Navarro**Wild Wonders > These visuals would not have been possible without LightHawk. The ability to circle areas in real time of particular interest to be sure that visuals were captured, and also having experts there familiar with the landscape to help me read the topography and what I was seeing correctly was critical. **Caitlin Ochs**JOURNALIST, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER > This really was the most incredible experience and I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity. Taking a group of people on this overflight created a tangible connection between us all and a rich discussion about fire challenges. I am thankful for the skilled pilots who so generously volunteered their time and planes. **Caroline Godkin**ConservationXLabs > This flight allowed us to complete a critical piece of our visual storytelling for an investigation produced with ProPublica. We knew the only way to convey the scale and impacts of water-intensive activities was from the air, and we could not have done it without LightHawk and Chuck’s expertise. **Bear Guerra**Photographer, High Country News > Minimizing holding time during bobwhite translocation is extremely important to the survival of the birds. Traveling from Florida to Pennsylvania by vehicle would have greatly increased holding time, could have increased mortality, and would have been dangerous for our employees. LightHawk was instrumental in protecting the birds and allowing us to release them in a fast and effective manner. **Alex Jackson**biologist, Tall Timbers Research, Inc > What would have been 13+ hour drives through the night was accomplished in 2.5–3 hour flights during daylight hours. Reaching our goal of reintroducing the wolves by December 31 was due in large part to our collaboration with LightHawk. **Eric Odell**Colorado Parks & Wildlife join the work ## Be Part of The Impact Every flight depends on people who give their time, their skills, and their support. Here are two ways to help us keep conservation in the air. [ ![Aerial Flatirons](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-flatirons.jpg) For Pilots### Join the Cockpit Volunteer pilots are the backbone of LightHawk’s mission — donating their time, expertise, and aircraft to conservation across North America. Learn More ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/) [ ![Impact Bepart](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-bepart.jpg) For Everyone### Support Conservation Flying Your generosity provides the aerial perspective, imagery, and insights needed to address critical conservation challenges and advance informed action. Donate Today ](/donate/) --- ### [Newsroom](https://www.lighthawk.org/newsroom/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-sunrise.jpg) lighthawk newsroom # **Flights that**  **move the needle** From wildlife transports to watershed restoration campaigns, these are the missions where the aerial perspective is changing what is possible on the ground. mission of the month ## Inside This Month’s Featured Mission Each month, we take a closer look at one LightHawk mission and what aviation made possible for conservation. ![Ice from a glacier is barely visible thanks to dirt and rocks covering the ice, blending it into the rock face.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03729.webp) Featured · Featured Mission ## Twelve Glaciers. Two and a Half Hours. Colorado’s glaciers and perennial snowfields are shrinking. Documenting those changes means reaching remote mountain sites and gathering photographs from many angles, work that once required long hikes across difficult terrain. LightHawk and Colorado State University researchers are using flight to… [ Read the Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) the Latest ## Stories, updates, and news from across LightHawk From wildlife transports to watershed restoration campaigns, these are the missions where aerial perspective is changing what’s possible on the ground. Read the latest LightHawk stories and news, or search by topic. Search posts Search Categories Filter posts by category - Blog - Featured Mission - Focus: Climate - Focus: Oceans - Focus: Waterways - Focus: Wild Places - Focus: Wildlife - Media - Newsletters - NOTAM - Pilot View - The Archives - Webinars Tags Filter posts by tag - aerial monitoring - Awards - birds - bobwhite quail - Climate - climate change - Colorado - Colorado River - conservation easement - endangered species - fish - glacier - glaciers - king tide - land trust - LightHawk - Pennsylvania - Puget Sound - Puget Soundkeeper - salmon - students - surfrider - Unleash the Brilliance - Volunteer Pilot - webinar Reset filters Showing all 97 posts - [ ![The plane flies above glaciers along Colorado's Continental Divide.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_4_GX040033.MP4.10_14_56_09.Still005-1024x576.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) Focus: Climate October 1, 2026 ### [Pilot’s View: Above Colorado’s Changing Glaciers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) Following a year of record-low snowfall, Colorado State University researchers are documenting how the state’s glaciers are changing. To capture the images they need,… - [ ![Ice from a glacier is barely visible thanks to dirt and rocks covering the ice, blending it into the rock face.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03729-1024x682.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) Featured Mission October 1, 2026 ### [Twelve Glaciers. Two and a Half Hours.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) Colorado’s glaciers and perennial snowfields are shrinking. Documenting those changes means reaching remote mountain sites and gathering photographs from many angles, work that once… - [ ![A Lake Powell marina sits next to a boat ram that no longer reaches the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-6-1024x684.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) Featured Mission September 4, 2026 ### [From 1,300 Miles on Foot to One Powerful View from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) Starting high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River winds south through some of the most dramatic and heavily used landscapes in the American… - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pilot-and-passenger-by-plane-1024x768.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-montanas-bitterroot-valley/) Pilot View August 18, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Flying Montana’s Bitterroot Valley](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-montanas-bitterroot-valley/) “Ray Lee is a true professional.”  That’s how Northern Rockies Program Manager Chris Boyer described Lee after a recent LightHawk mission through Montana’s Bitterroot Valley.… - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Meandering-Bitterroot-River-1024x768.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/aerial-tours-expose-mine-risk-to-bitterroot-watershed/) Featured Mission August 1, 2026 ### [Aerial Tours Expose Mine Risk to Bitterroot Watershed](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/aerial-tours-expose-mine-risk-to-bitterroot-watershed/) The Bitterroot River winds through a picturesque valley in Western Montana, its meandering path carving a winding streambed across the landscapes and depositing rich… - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-1024x768.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) Focus: Waterways June 25, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Capturing Aerial Perspective on the Colorado River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) The Colorado River Basin is an area of intense interest this year. Record low snowfall has left the river system with very little water,… Load more ## Never miss a flight. The Conservation FLYer lands monthly — flight logs, partner stories, and what’s next. [ Sign Up for the Newsletter ](#footer-nl-email) --- ### [Abalone](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/abalone/) **Published:** September 23, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Sunset-Transport-White-Abalone.webp) OCEANS & COASTLINES # Advancing Conservation Along California’s Coast Across California, we advance marine conservation through time-sensitive white abalone transport and sustained monitoring of the habitats their recovery depends on. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Bodega-Marine-Lab-UC-Davis-scaled.webp) The Commitment ## White Abalone and Kelp Forests **White abalone and kelp forests are part of the same recovery story.** As keystone grazers, white abalone help sustain the diversity and stability of these ecosystems, while healthy kelp forests provide the habitat they need to survive. With white abalone populations down more than 99 percent, LightHawk provides the rapid planning and transportation needed to move larvae, juveniles and adults through a network of specialized facilities within narrow biological windows. We are extending that commitment through aerial monitoring of kelp forests and Marine Protected Areas, helping protect both an integral species and the ecosystem its recovery depends on. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rocky-Reef-Pacific-Coast-2-scaled.webp) PROTECTING HABITAT ## Extending Recovery Beyond the Species White abalone recovery depends on healthy kelp forests and protected waters. Our sustained commitment includes aerial monitoring of kelp forests and Marine Protected Areas along California’s coast. These surveys document changing canopy conditions across long stretches of coastline, filling gaps left by satellites and ground monitoring and providing the information needed to detect decline early, target restoration and strengthen habitat protection for white abalone and other marine life. the impact ## From the Lab to the Sea *Our Contributions to White Abalone Recovery* 2020-2026 11M+ Million Embryos & Larvae Transported 3,200+ Juvenile Abalone Transported 6+ Years Supporting Recovery 26,000+ Abalone Outplanted by the Recovery Program ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Team-White-Abalone-scaled.webp) > “Because of LightHawk, we have been able to increase the number of spawning attempts, which has increased our productivity, bringing us much closer to meeting our ultimate restoration goals and saving this species… the LightHawk staff and volunteer pilots have become integral members of Team White Abalone.” **Dr. Alyssa R. Frederick** — Director, White Abalone Captive Breeding Program ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_8488-Large.jpeg) Featured · Featured Mission ## Meet Myrtle: One Abalone with a Big Role in Recovery Myrtle is no ordinary LightHawk passenger. She is one of just 10 wild-origin white abalone living in captivity, making her an important part of the effort to save the species. LightHawk volunteer pilot Michael Baum flew Myrtle from Long Beach… [ Read the Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/november-2024-mission-of-the-month/) ## Help Restore California’s Marine Ecosystems Your gift supports time-sensitive wildlife transport and sustained monitoring of kelp forests, protected waters and coastal habitats, strengthening recovery for vulnerable species and marine ecosystems. [ Support Marine Conservation ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/) --- ### [Chief Executive Officer](https://www.lighthawk.org/careers/ceo-search/) **Published:** August 5, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Careers # Chief Executive Officer LightHawk is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer and guide the organization into its next chapter of growth and conservation impact. ## About LightHawk LightHawk is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that advances conservation through aviation. By leveraging volunteer pilots and strategic partnerships, LightHawk enables scientists, land trusts, Tribal nations, government agencies, and conservation organizations to access remote landscapes, gather critical data, protect wildlife, and steward natural resources more effectively. Since 1979, LightHawk has provided thousands of conservation flights across North America, supporting efforts that range from endangered species recovery to documenting environmental change. Today, LightHawk continues to work alongside partners across the continent to ensure that conservation decisions are informed by the powerful perspective of flight. ## The Opportunity LightHawk’s next CEO will lead a mission-driven organization at a unique intersection of aviation, conservation, and philanthropy. Working closely with a dedicated staff, volunteer pilots, and conservation partners, the CEO will guide the organization’s strategic direction while expanding financial support and strengthening LightHawk’s national presence. The role requires a leader who can inspire donors, engage partners across conservation and aviation communities, and translate LightHawk’s unique model into compelling impact. ## Key Responsibilities The CEO will provide leadership across four key areas: ### Strategic Leadership - Lead the organization’s strategic direction in partnership with the Board of Directors - Ensure LightHawk delivers measurable conservation outcomes - Identify emerging opportunities to expand conservation impact through aviation ### Fundraising and External Leadership - Personally engage in major gift fundraising and foundation partnerships - Strengthen LightHawk’s relationships across aviation, conservation, and philanthropic communities - Serve as a compelling public ambassador for LightHawk’s mission ### Organizational Leadership - Lead and develop a high-performing team across conservation planning, development, communications, marketing, human resources, and finance - Ensure financial sustainability through sound budgeting and long-term planning - Maintain a collaborative and mission-driven organizational culture ### Program and Safety Oversight - Support LightHawk’s conservation flight programs and partnerships - Maintain strong relationships with volunteer pilots and aviation partners - Uphold the highest standards of aviation safety and operational stewardship ## The Ideal Candidate The successful candidate will bring: - A strong track record of nonprofit leadership and fundraising success - Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills - The ability to engage effectively with donors, pilots, conservation partners, and board members - The ability to translate LightHawk’s aviation-based model into compelling mission impact - Passion for conservation and environmental stewardship A pilot’s license and experience in environmental conservation are valuable but not required. ## Location and Travel This role may be based remotely within the United States. The CEO should expect to travel regularly for donor engagement, board meetings, conservation partner visits, and organizational events. ## Compensation Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package. ## Equal Opportunity Employer As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified candidates will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military service or veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation at any point in the hiring process, please note it in your application. ## How to Apply To apply, please email your resume and a cover letter (see below) to <talent@lighthawk.org>. Include your name and the job title in the subject line (i.e., \[Your Name\] – \[Job Title\]). All applications must include a one-page cover letter. The cover letter should clearly state your interest in the position and our organization, outline 2–3 specific skills or accomplishments relevant to the role, and demonstrate how your experience aligns with our mission. We expect concrete examples that illustrate measurable impact and collaborative problem-solving in aviation or conservation. **Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.** ## Ready to lead the mission? Email your resume and one-page cover letter to info@lighthawk.org. [ Apply by Email ](mailto:info@lighthawk.org) [ Back to Careers ](/careers/) --- ### [Events](https://www.lighthawk.org/events/) **Published:** August 21, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AMFI.webp) Fly-Ins & Events # Where aviation and conservation connect LightHawk events bring together volunteer pilots, conservation partners, supporters, and friends to build community, share ideas, and experience conservation flying from a different perspective. LOOKING AHEAD ## Upcoming Regional Fly-Ins Keep an eye on this space for upcoming Regional Fly-In Events! We want to see you when we’re in your area! ![Hartford, Connecticut skyline.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/HartfordCT.webp) ### Hartford, Connecticut Date TBD KBDL Hartford Bradley International [New England Air Museum](https://neam.org/) ![Beach and pier in Titusville, Florida with Kennedy Space Center in the distance.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TitusvilleFL.webp) ### Titusville, Florida Jan. 29-30, 2027 KTIX Space Coast Regional Kennedy Space Center --- ### [Colorado River](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/coloradoriver/) **Published:** September 19, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55988-1.webp) WATERSHEDS # From Headwaters to Delta LightHawk works across the Colorado River Basin to document changing conditions, guide conservation, inform decisions and build public understanding. ![The Colorado River winds through a canyon.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-14.webp) The Commitment ## Seeing the Colorado River Whole The Colorado River connects snowpack, forests, communities, agriculture, Tribal lands, reservoirs and wildlife across the West. For more than a decade, LightHawk helps partners see those connections and puts the aerial perspective to work across the Basin. From the headwaters to the Delta, our flights inform research, strengthen conservation planning, bring decision-makers into the landscape and help people around the world better understand the river through powerful reporting and imagery. ## Bringing the Colorado River Into View *Our reach across the Colorado River Basin* June 2022–July 2026 131+ Flights across the Basin 66 Partners & Collaborators 65 Media Stories & Features 41 Media Outlets THE IMPACT We bring the Colorado River Basin into view, revealing changing conditions and connections that *inform conservation decisions and build support for action.* 1. 01 ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Mountain-Icon.webp) ### Document Changing Conditions Track snowpack, water levels, restoration, glacier and land use changes over time. 2. 02 ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Leaf-Icon.webp) ### Guide Research, Restoration and Decisions Provide aerial data and firsthand perspective to inform science, habitat restoration, conservation planning and decision-making. 3. 03 ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Camera-Icon-1.webp) ### Build Understanding Over Time Long-term collaboration with photographers, journalists and storytellers to build awareness, action & support across the Basin. documented outcomes ## What the Work Makes Possible LightHawk strengthens conservation efforts on the ground with perspective, imagery and data gathered from the air. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Glacier-Research.-Photo-by-Harlan-Ulmer-scaled.webp) ### Building a Record for Glacier Monitoring Flight campaigns allowed researchers to photograph 12 glaciers capturing over 2,000 images for 3D models to establish a baseline for measuring change. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Golden-Eagle-Montioring-Navajo-Nation.-By-James-Erdmann-scaled.webp) ### Strengthening Golden Eagle Populations Monitoring flights with Navajo Nation biologists documented more than a dozen nests, multiple eagles and several previously undocumented nest sites. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Surveying-Birds-in-the-Colorado-River-Delta.webp) ### Strengthening Shorebird Monitoring in the Delta Five coordinated shorebird surveys over multiple years gathered data on bird numbers across Delta mudflats, contributing to the large-scale monitoring needed to evaluate and adapt restoration efforts. the colorado river basin ## Connecting People, Building Understanding Decades of work across the Basin allows LightHawk to bring a broader view to many of the river’s defining challenges and solutions. ![A Lake Powell marina sits next to a boat ram that no longer reaches the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-6.webp) ### Telling the Story of a River Under Pressure Starting high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River winds south through some of the most dramatic and heavily used landscapes in the American West before reaching toward the Delta in Mexico. This summer, ultra-marathon runner Mina Guli has been following that same path on foot. [ Full Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lake-Powell-Shrinking.webp) ### Two Days. Hundreds of Miles. One River. The Colorado River is a majestic and essential waterway, flowing from the mountains of Colorado through several western states and into Mexico. Once, it reached the Pacific Ocean; today, the water rarely makes it that far. Water use along the Colorado is a complicated and often controversial topic, especially as millions rely on its flows. [ Full Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-november-2025-featured-mission/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Bull-frog-Matina-on-north-side-of-Lake-Powell.webp) ### Flying the Colorado River with The Denver Post The Colorado River Basin is an area of intense interest this year. Record low snowfall has left the river system with very little water, highlighting the ongoing water crisis in the West. Massive reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell are far below their average water levels. [ Full Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/CO-Light-Snowpack.webp) ### Low Snowpack Threatens Colorado River Water Supplies The snowpack in Colorado is a topic of great interest to the people of Arizona. Why? Because that snowpack is what feeds the Colorado River. The water travels down the basin, providing much-needed water to communities and farming operations across the American Southwest. Millions of people rely on that water. [ Full Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/april-2025-mission-of-the-month-snowpack-affects-millions-along-the-colorado-river/) our partners ## Working Across the Basin - ![American Rivers logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/american-rivers.png) American Rivers - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AZGFD_logo.webp) Arizona Game & Fish - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/COCO-logo.webp) Collations & Collaborations - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CSUsig-Seal.webp) Colorado State University - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/faco-logo.webp) Fire Adapted Colorado - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Getches-Wilkinson-logo.webp) Getches-Wilkinson Center - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Denver-Post-Logo.webp) The Denver Post - ![High Country News logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/high-country-news.png) High Country News - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Arizona-Republic.webp) The Arizona Republic - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Redford-Center.webp) The Redford Center - ![Water Desk logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/water-desk.png) The Water Desk, University of Colorado Boulder - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/tu-logo-xl.png) Trout Unlimited - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Walton_Family_Foundation_logo.svg_-scaled.webp) Walton Family Foundation - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WTI-Logo-02.avif) Water & Tribes Initiative - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WRA-logo-scaled.webp) Western Resources Associates ## Protect the river that sustains the West. From mountain snowpack to desert wetlands, your gift advances conservation of the water, landscapes and wildlife connected by the Colorado River. [ Make Your Gift Today ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/) --- ### [Everglades](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/everglades/) **Published:** September 22, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Central-WCA3A-Steve-Davis-Everglades-Foundation-scaled.webp) WATERSHEDS # Seeing One Connected System From Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay, LightHawk provides the planning, access and aerial perspective needed to understand changing conditions and advance conservation across South Florida. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Aerial-View-Everglades-scaled.webp) The Commitment ## Following the Water **The Everglades is more than a single landscape.** Water connects Lake Okeechobee, wetlands, estuaries, coastal communities, Florida Bay and the wildlife habitats between them. A change in one place can affect the entire system. LightHawk works alongside researchers, conservation organizations, journalists and public agencies to reveal those connections. Our flights document change over time, support science and restoration, bring decision-makers into the landscape and help the public understand what is happening across places that can be difficult to see from the ground. THE IMPACT **Our sustained work across the Everglades strengthens science, guides restoration and habitat protection, brings urgent threats to light and connects vulnerable wildlife with specialized care.** 1. 01 ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Mountain-Icon.webp) ### Document Changing Conditions Create visual records of algal blooms, drought, wildfire, development and habitat change to compare over time. 2. 02 ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Leaf-Icon.webp) ### Guide Research and Restoration Provide scientists and conservation teams with landscape-scale information that supports monitoring, restoration planning and wildlife recovery. 3. 03 ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Camera-Icon-1.webp) ### Inform Decisions and Public Understanding Bring decision-makers, researchers, and journalists into the landscape so complex conservation issues become understandable and actionable. the work in action ## Impact Across the Everglades Through a sustained commitment to the Everglades, LightHawk strengthens the science, decisions and public support needed to restore and protect its connected waters, wetlands, coasts and wildlife habitat. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Algal-Blooms-Calusa-Waterkeeper.webp) ### Tracking Harmful Algal Blooms Year after year, we return to Lake Okeechobee, its connected rivers and Florida Bay to document harmful algal blooms and changing water conditions. This sustained record helps researchers compare conditions over time, understand how problems move through the system and keep water quality before the public and policymakers. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Port-Everglades-Dredging.webp) ### Monitoring Coastal Waters Over months of recurring missions, we worked with Miami Waterkeeper to document dredging activity and reported sediment plumes near coral habitat at Port Everglades. The dated record provided a comparison of conditions to guide further investigation and communicate concerns to agencies. Miami Waterkeeper secured a temporary halt to dredging upon further review. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Everglades-restoration-flyover-scaled.webp) ### Building Support for Restoration Over years of work alongside The Everglades Foundation, we have documented major restoration projects and their connections across the system. That work has informed coverage in the Miami Herald, Associated Press, Sun Sentinel and other outlets, helping audiences understand the scale of restoration and why continued investment matters. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Woodstork-Monitoring-scaled.webp) ### Tracking Wood Stork Recovery Long-term aerial monitoring has tracked wood stork nesting in the Everglades and at colony sites across Florida. By returning to known colonies, the surveys document nesting activity, estimate chick numbers and create imagery for digital nest counts, building the consistent record needed to measure recovery and inform decisions about the species’ protected status. our partners and COLLABORATORS ## Working Across the Everglades - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Audubon_V_BLK_FL.webp) - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/btt-knockout-logo-1.webp) Bonefish & Tarpon Trust - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/captains_logo_blue.webp) Captains for Clean Water - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Conservancy-of-SW-Florida-logo-color.webp) Conservancy of Southwest Florida - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ERAU_logo.webp) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/fiu-white-logo.webp) Florida International University - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/friends-of-the-everglades-logo-new-2x.webp) - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Miami-Waterkeeper-Logo.webp) - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rivers-Coalition-2.jpeg) Rivers Coalition - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SMC-Logo_Blue-Border-1.webp) Save the Manatee Club - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/sunsentinal.webp) Sun Sentinel - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SurfriderFoundation.png) Surfrider Foundation - ![Everglades Foundation logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/everglades-foundation.png) The Everglades Foundation - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/miami-herald-logo.webp) The Miami Herald - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/US-Fish-Wildlife-Service.webp) US Fish & Wildlife Service ## Help Protect the Everglades. Your support keeps LightHawk flying across the Everglades to track change, strengthen research and respond when conservation action depends on timely information. [ Support This Work ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/) --- ### [Our Priorities](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-mountains-scaled.jpg) Our Priorities # Why we fly LightHawk flies for the landscapes, wildlife, and waters that define North America, and for the people and communities who depend on them. Where We Focus ## Five priorities. One perspective. LightHawk’s conservation team plans and coordinates every mission with partners and volunteer pilots, turning flights into real conservation results across five focus areas. ![Red rock formations from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) ### Landscapes Using aviation to to protect ecologically important landscapes and reveal the changes shaping them. [ Explore Landscapes ](/our-impact/our-priorities/landscapes/) ![River bends winding through the landscape from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) ### Watersheds From water-quality monitoring to habitat restoration, using flight to protect the rivers and wetlands that keep ecosystems alive. [ Explore Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) ![Aerial view of wetlands and waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) ### Oceans & Coastlines Taking flight to protect oceans, coastlines, and the rich biodiversity they sustain. [ Explore Oceans & Coastlines ](/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) ![Two Mexican gray wolves in snow](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/story-wolves.webp) ### Wildlife A lifeline for endangered species — from safe wildlife transport to aerial tracking and habitat connectivity. [ Explore Wildlife ](/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) ![Glacier meeting the sea in Prince William Sound, Alaska](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-glacier.jpg) ### Climate Leveraging the power of flight to document climate impacts, track change, and strengthen resilience. [ Explore Climate ](/our-impact/our-priorities/climate/) BEYOND A SINGLE FLIGHT ## Sustained campaigns, cumulative impact. Some conservation work requires more than a single flight. LightHawk commits to sustained conservation campaigns across the country, returning over multiple months, even years, as the work evolves and progress builds. These are a few of the long-term efforts where that commitment is taking shape. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/californiacondornps.jpg) ### Bringing Back California Condors California condors nearly vanished in the 1980s, down to 22 birds. Our flights transport birds between breeding facilities and release sites, track radio-tagged condors and help protect a population still fighting its way back. [ Explore Our Condor Work ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/condors/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/TDP-L-Colorado-River-Flight1-RJS-21478_sm.jpg) ### Telling the Story of the Colorado River The Colorado River supplies water to 40 million people and is shrinking. LightHawk designs and flies recurring campaigns that put aviation to work documenting change, supporting science, raising awareness, and informing decisions across the Basin. [ See Our Impact Across the Basin ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/coloradoriver/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a5l3b0000011qbEAAQ-scaled.jpeg) ### Revealing the Everglades Under Pressure Monitoring habitat loss, water withdrawals, and runoff across the nation’s largest wetland, LightHawk missions are uniquely suited to reach this remote, roadless terrain. From above, partners can better document change, guide restoration, and show decision-makers what is happening across the system. [ Explore Our Impact ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/everglades/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/White-Abalone-Recovery-1-scaled.webp) ### Advancing White Abalone Recovery After white abalone declined by more than 99 percent, recovery came to depend on both careful movement through specialized breeding facilities and healthy coastal habitat. LightHawk provides rapid transport during critical stages of the recovery process and aerial monitoring of the kelp forests and protected waters the species needs to recover. [ Learn About Our Work ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/abalone/) **Discover how these priorities take shape across North America.** **[Explore the Flight Map](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/flight-map/) →** ## See conservation from a new angle. Every flight starts with a conservation goal. See the missions behind the landscapes, waters, wildlife, and coastlines we fly to protect. Have a project in mind? Let’s talk. [ Explore Featured Missions ](/our-impact/newsroom/) [ Become A Partner ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/) --- ### [Condors](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/condors/) **Published:** September 18, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rugged-California-Terrain-scaled.webp) Wildlife # Bringing back California Condors For more than a decade, LightHawk has helped move, monitor and protect one of North America’s most endangered birds. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Captive-Condor.webp) The Commitment ## Every Bird Matters. California condors nearly disappeared in the 1980s, when the population fell to just 22 birds. Their return to the wild is an extraordinary conservation achievement, but the recovery remains fragile. Condors still depend on managed breeding, careful releases, ongoing monitoring and rapid intervention when a bird is in danger.   LightHawk works alongside the organizations leading this recovery, providing flights that move condors and eggs where they need to go and help biologists locate missing birds across vast, rugged terrain. ## A Decade Of Flight for Condors LightHawk California condor transport and aerial monitoring missions. since 2014 55+ Condor Missions 37+ Birds Transported 3 Eggs Transported 35 Aerial Telemetry Flights ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Condor-Transport-Leah-Esquivel-scaled.webp) TRANSPORT ## Moving Condors Towards Recovery California condor recovery depends on moving birds among breeding facilities, veterinary centers and release sites. Since 2014, LightHawk has flown to shorten these journeys, reducing stress while giving recovery teams greater control over timing and care. Flights have moved adults to form genetically important breeding pairs, placed experienced birds with younger condors as mentors and carried sick or injured birds to treatment. In LightHawk’s largest condor transport, seven volunteer pilots carried nine young birds from Boise to central California for release at Pinnacles National Park and Big Sur. Other missions transported a condor with a badly broken leg for specialized treatment and condor 171, the 25-year-old matriarch of the Central California Coast flock, for surgery after she developed lead poisoning. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing-Strut-with-Aerial-Telemetry-Antenna.webp) MONITORING ## Tracking Condors In Rugged Terrain Once released, condors may travel hundreds of miles across mountains, canyons and remote coastline. When a radio signal disappears, biologists must determine whether the bird has moved beyond ground detection, its transmitter has failed or it needs urgent help. Aerial telemetry allows recovery teams to scan vast areas quickly and direct ground crews to likely locations. From January 2023 through August 2026, LightHawk completed 35 monitoring flights working alongside Santa Barbara Zoo, Pinnacles National Park and Ventana Wildlife Society. These missions searched for missing, sick and injured condors, monitored nesting activity, focused ground searches and helped locate mortalities for recovery and investigation. > > “The missions that LightHawk flies for us are invaluable in determining the status of the condor population in southern California. The expediency of aerial searches allows us to determine status quickly and, in some cases, locate mortalities to understand cause of death.” > > ****Dave Meyer**** — Santa Barbara Zoo ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CS4A5431.jpg) Featured · Featured Mission ## Capturing a Condor’s Story of Survival The return of California condors to Northern California is a story best understood from both the ground and the air. Their vast range stretches across rugged forests, mountains and coastline, connecting landscapes that are difficult to comprehend from any single… [ Read the Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-february-2026-featured-mission/) ## Put aviation to work for condors. Your gift keeps LightHawk flying, putting aviation to work to transport condors, monitor them across vast landscapes and help recovery teams respond when birds need care. [ Support Wildlife ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/) --- ### [Program Partners](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-lakepowell.jpg) let's wsork together # No mission *flies* alone LightHawk collaborates with a range of partners working to understand and protect North America’s ecosystems and biodiversity. [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Condor-Mission-Photo-June-15-2026-scaled.webp) Collaboration in action ## Who flies with us LightHawk collaborates with groups and individuals across the U.S. and parts of Mexico and Canada, from land trusts and researchers to tribes, journalists, and photographers, who need the aerial perspective to move a project forward. LightHawk works with partners to define the conservation goal, determine where aviation can make the greatest difference, and build the right flight strategy around it. Our network of 275+ experienced volunteer pilots then contributes the aircraft, time, and expertise needed to carry out those missions at **no direct cost to qualifying partners,** making aviation accessible. Partners return with the imagery, data, and firsthand understanding needed to inform decisions, strengthen advocacy, advance research, and engage others in the work. [ View the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) Our Partners ## Organizations that fly with us - [ ![AWWF](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AWWF.webp) Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation ](https://www.awwf.org/) - [ ![American Rivers logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/american-rivers.png) American Rivers ](https://www.americanrivers.org/) - [ ![Everglades Foundation logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/everglades-foundation.png) Everglades Foundation ](https://www.evergladesfoundation.org) - [ ![Fire Adapted Colorado logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/fire-adapted-colorado.png) Fire Adapted Colorado ](https://fireadaptedco.org) - [ ![Sutton Avian Research Center](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/GMS-Avian-Research-Center.webp) George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center ](https://www.fws.gov/partner/sutton-aviation-research-center) - [ ![High Country News logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/high-country-news.png) High Country News ](https://www.hcn.org) - [ ![International Crane Foundation logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/international-crane-foundation.png) International Crane Foundation ](https://www.savingcranes.org) - [ ![Miami Waterkeeper](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Miami-Waterkeeper-Logo.webp) Miami Waterkeeper ](https://miamiwaterkeeper.org/) - [ ![NPCA](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NPCA.webp) National Parks Conservation Association ](https://www.npca.org/) - [ ![Seal of the Navajo Nation](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Navajo-Seal_Logo.webp) Navajo Nation ](https://www.navajo-nsn.gov/) - [ ![Santa Barbara Zoo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SB-Zoo.webp) Santa Barbara Zoo ](https://www.sbzoo.org/) - [ ![SAFE Program](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AZA-SAFE-Program.webp) SAFE Program (AZA) ](https://www.aza.org/safe-species) - [ ![Surfrider Foundation logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/surfrider-foundation.png) Surfrider Foundation ](https://www.surfrider.org) - [ ![The Arizona Republic](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Arizona-Republic.webp) The Arizona Republic ](https://www.azcentral.com/) - [ ![The Denver Post](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Denver-Post-Logo.webp) The Denver Post ](https://www.denverpost.com/) - [ ![The Nature Conservancy logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/the-nature-conservancy.png) The Nature Conservancy ](https://www.nature.org) - [ ![Water Desk logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/water-desk.png) Water Desk ](https://waterdesk.org) - [ ![US Fish & Wildlife Service](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/US-Fish-Wildlife-Service.webp) US Fish & Wildlife Service ](https://www.fws.gov/) - [ ![Ventana Wildlife Society](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ventana-Wildlife-Society.webp) Ventana Wildlife Society ](https://www.ventanaws.org/) - [ ![WA DNR](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WDNR.webp) Washington Department of Natural Resources ](https://www.dnr.wa.gov/) - [ ![Washington National Park Fund logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/washington-national-park-fund.png) Washington National Park Fund ](https://www.wnpf.org) The Process ## What a partnership looks like From first conversation to first flight, here’s what working with LightHawk looks like. ### 1. Bring us the mission Tell us the conservation outcome you’re working toward. If aviation can make a significant contribution, we’ll get there together. ### 2. Co-design the campaign Our conservation team plans routes, altitudes, timing, and goals with you and the pilot— so every hour in the air moves the mission forward. ### 3. Fly, at no direct cost A volunteer pilot donates the flight. You bring the mission home: imagery, data, stories, and momentum. ### **4. Close the loop** Share your flight feedback and imagery upon landing. It doesn’t just wrap up your mission, it opens the door to the next one. LET'S PARTNER ## Your flight starts here. New to LightHawk? Coming back for your next mission? Here is the next step. [ ### Start your first flight Interested in flying with LightHawk? Complete the partner form at the link below and tell us about your work. We’ll reach out to talk about how flight can move it forward. Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/new-partner-inquiry/) [ ### Welcome back aboard Are you a returning partner? Visit the Partner Portal to log in, manage requests, and coordinate your next mission with our program team. Partner Portal ](https://lighthawk.my.site.com/portal/s/login/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Serpentine_5.webp) ## Let’s put wings on the mission. Tell us about the conservation outcome you’re working toward. We’ll bring the aerial expertise and insight that only flight makes possible. [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) [ Explore Our Priorities ](/our-impact/our-priorities/) --- ### [Contact](https://www.lighthawk.org/contact/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Cienega-de-Santa-Clara-Colorado-River-scaled.webp) Contact # Radio *check.* Grand Junction, Colorado — and wherever the mission is. Here’s how to reach us. ### Mail LightHawk PO Box 2751 Grand Junction, CO 81502 ### Phone [(970) 797-9355](tel:+19707979355) Weekdays, Mountain Time ### Press & media For media inquiries, use the form below and note “Media inquiry” in your message for faster routing to our Communications team. Say Hello ## We Read Every Message Questions about flights, partnerships, giving, or a story you’re chasing? Tell us what you need and we’ll make sure it reaches the right person. Δ Name(Required) First Last How can we reach you?(Required)Select one optionEmailPhone Phone(Required) Email(Required) Your message(Required) Submit ## Go Deeper Explore the missions behind the stories, or meet the people helping shape LightHawk’s conservation work. [ Explore Featured Missions ](/featured-missions/) [ Meet Our People ](/about-us/our-people/) --- ### [Media Hub](https://www.lighthawk.org/about-lighthawk/media-hub/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Red-Rock-River-in-Montana-by-Jon-Waterman-scaled.webp) Media Hub # Where flight becomes *story* News coverage, stories, images, and media resources that show where LightHawk flies, what we see, and why it matters. media and storytelling ## LightHawk in the media LightHawk works with journalists, photographers, filmmakers, and other partners to bring complex environmental stories into view from above. The resulting coverage and imagery help people see conservation challenges more clearly and connect aerial perspective to action on the ground. Browse news stories and photos shaped by LightHawk’s aerial perspective below. Each story links to the original publication. Search posts Search Categories Filter posts by category - Climate - Landscapes - LightHawk - Watersheds - Wildlife Tags Filter posts by tag - 50 in 50 Challenge - Aerial Imagery - Aerial Perspective - Aerial Photography - Aerial Transport - Aero-News Network - Agriculture - AI - Air Quality - Alexander Heilner - Animas River - Arizona - Artificial Intelligence - Aviation - Between Two Wings - Bitterroot - Bitterroot River - Broadview - Bull Mountains Mine - Butte - Callaway Nuclear Power Plant - Capital & Main - Central Arizona Project - Chris Boyer - Clark Fork River - Climate - Climate & Resilience - Climate Change - Coal Mining - Colorado - Colorado River - Colorado River Basin - Conservation - Conservation Aviation - Conservation Flying - Conservation Through Aviation - Corn Belt - Crop Diversification - Cross-Fostering - Data Center - Data Centers - Delaware River - Development - Drought - Duane Arnold Energy Center - Durango - Elliott Wright - Endangered Species - Energy Development - Energy Infrastructure - Energy Policy - Environmental Policy - Everglades - Florida - ForeFlight - Forest Health - Fracking - General Aviation - Glen Canyon Dam - Google - Gravel Mining - Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem - Headwaters - Hydropower - Iowa - Jim Becker - Journalism - Kremmling - Lake Mead - Lake Nighthorse - Lake Powell - Land Use - Leadership - LightHawk - LightHawk CEO - Media - Mexican Gray Wolf - Mining - Missouri - Mitch Tobin - Montana - Nevada - New Jersey - New Mexico - Northern Rockies - Nuclear Energy - Oil & Gas - Oil and Gas - Paradise Valley - Pecos River - Pennsylvania - Pine Beetle Damage - Podcast - Project Jupiter - Public Lands - Rare Earth Mining - Recreation - Restoration - River - River Islands - RJ Sangosti - San Juan Basin - Sheep Creek - Snowpack - Soil Health - Species Recovery - Sustainable Agriculture - technology - The Denver Post - The Water Desk - Utah - Utilities - Vermont - Volunteer Pilots - Water - Water Infrastructure - water levels - Water Management - Water Policy - Water Quality - Water Resources - Water Storage - Water Supply - Watersheds - Wildfire - Wildlife Conservation - Wildlife Corridors - Wildlife Habitat - Wolf Recovery - Working Landscapes - Yellowstone National Park - Yellowstone River Reset filters Showing all 49 posts - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MO-Upper-Thompson-and-Crystal-Lakes-1024x683.webp) ](https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2026/oct/25/a-snapshot-in-time-volunteer-pilot-helps-residents-look-at-a-treasured-resource-from-a-new-angle/) October 26, 2026 ### [A snapshot in time: Volunteer pilot helps residents look at a treasured resource from a new angle](https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2026/oct/25/a-snapshot-in-time-volunteer-pilot-helps-residents-look-at-a-treasured-resource-from-a-new-angle/) High above the forests of northwestern Montana, meet Gary Matson, the LightHawk volunteer pilot helping residents document changes in their treasured Thompson Chain of Lakes, one aerial photograph at a time. - LightHawk - Watersheds - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AeroLinx-Logo-1205a.webp) ](https://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0B73417D-A6F0-4373-B280-F74882C07B56) October 23, 2026 ### [Aero-News Network Spotlights LightHawk](https://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0B73417D-A6F0-4373-B280-F74882C07B56) LightHawk earns an industry shoutout in Aero-News Network’s Daily Aero-Linx, introducing readers to our new website and the volunteer pilots who put aviation to work for conservation. - LightHawk - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CO-Pine-trees-killed-by-pine-beetles.-Photo-by-Michael-Ciaglo-1024x683.webp) ](https://www.denverpost.com/2026/10/15/proposition-137-forest-health-wildfires/) October 15, 2026 ### [What’s best for Colorado’s sick forests? ](https://www.denverpost.com/2026/10/15/proposition-137-forest-health-wildfires/) What’s best for Colorado’s struggling forests? Denver Post readers weigh forest thinning and wildfire preparedness, alongside aerial imagery captured during a LightHawk mission to document pine beetle damage. - Climate - Landscapes - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Views-of-the-Pecos-Valley.webp) ](https://capitalandmain.com/life-along-a-threatened-river) October 13, 2026 ### [VIDEO: Life Along a Threatened River](https://capitalandmain.com/life-along-a-threatened-river) What does life along New Mexico’s Pecos River look like as pollution and dwindling water reshape the landscape? This Capital & Main video, with aerial perspective provided by LightHawk, explores what’s at stake for residents. - Climate - Watersheds - [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/VIDEO-of-the-Threatened-Pecos-River.webp) ](https://capitalandmain.com/new-mexicos-threatened-pecos-river) October 7, 2026 ### [VIDEO: New Mexico’s Threatened Pecos River](https://capitalandmain.com/new-mexicos-threatened-pecos-river) From mountain headwaters to Permian Basin oilfields, Capital & Main follows New Mexico’s Pecos River as shrinking snowpack and a warming climate threaten its flows. Aerial imagery made possible by LightHawk brings the river’s beauty and the pressures it faces into focus. - Climate - Watersheds - [ ![Project Jupiter New Mexico](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Construction-Project-Jupiter-NM-1024x576.webp) ](https://www.kanw.org/new-mexico-news/2026-09-01/new-mexicos-top-court-denies-project-jupiter-request-to-partially-resume-air-quality-case) September 3, 2026 ### [New Mexico’s top court denies Project Jupiter request to partially resume air quality case](https://www.kanw.org/new-mexico-news/2026-09-01/new-mexicos-top-court-denies-project-jupiter-request-to-partially-resume-air-quality-case) LightHawk aerial imagery helped illustrate the scale of Project Jupiter as New Mexico’s Supreme Court allowed the air quality case surrounding the proposed data center to continue. - Climate - Landscapes - Watersheds Load more PHOTOs OF THE MONTH #### The view from our seats Each month, we feature a new image that captures a moment, landscape, or perspective only possible from above. Together, they form a growing collection of LightHawk’s conservation work through the years. [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Northern-Washington-Near-Canadian-Border-by-Lane-Gormely-MARCH-2026.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Northern-Washington-Near-Canadian-Border-by-Lane-Gormely-MARCH-2026.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Southern-California-Coast-by-John-Baker-JAN-2026.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Southern-California-Coast-by-John-Baker-JAN-2026.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Colorado-River-Delta-by-Abigail-Keel-DEC-2025-scaled.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Colorado-River-Delta-by-Abigail-Keel-DEC-2025-scaled.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Grand-Canyon-by-Steve-Meyer-NOV-2025-scaled.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Grand-Canyon-by-Steve-Meyer-NOV-2025-scaled.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Snake-River-in-Oregon-by-Rick-Utermoehlen-OCT-2025-scaled.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Snake-River-in-Oregon-by-Rick-Utermoehlen-OCT-2025-scaled.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Big-Sky-Resort-in-Montana-by-Chris-Boyer-SEPT-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Big-Sky-Resort-in-Montana-by-Chris-Boyer-SEPT-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Meadows-in-Cape-May-NJ-by-Jim-Wright-AUG-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Meadows-in-Cape-May-NJ-by-Jim-Wright-AUG-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sacramento-and-San-Joaquin-Delta-by-Misty-Kaltreider-JULY-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sacramento-and-San-Joaquin-Delta-by-Misty-Kaltreider-JULY-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Cultural-Sites-Jemez-Pueblo-NM-and-Hopi-Lands-AZ-by-Bryn-Fragua-JUNE-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Cultural-Sites-Jemez-Pueblo-NM-and-Hopi-Lands-AZ-by-Bryn-Fragua-JUNE-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Utahs-Redrock-by-John-Priscu-MAY-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Utahs-Redrock-by-John-Priscu-MAY-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Selkirk-and-Cabinet-Mountains-Idaho-by-J-Michael-Short-APR-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Selkirk-and-Cabinet-Mountains-Idaho-by-J-Michael-Short-APR-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Red-Tide-Algal-Bloom-Sanibel-Island-FL-by-Jay-Apt-MAR-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Red-Tide-Algal-Bloom-Sanibel-Island-FL-by-Jay-Apt-MAR-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Great-Bay-Estuary-NY-by-Jonathan-Milne-FEB-2025.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Great-Bay-Estuary-NY-by-Jonathan-Milne-FEB-2025.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Upper-Skagit-River-BC-by-Benjamin-Drummond-NOV-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Upper-Skagit-River-BC-by-Benjamin-Drummond-NOV-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Colorado-River-Delta-by-Mark-Henle-OCT-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Colorado-River-Delta-by-Mark-Henle-OCT-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Naushon-Island-in-Massachusetts-by-Arlene-Myers-Alexander-SEPT-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Naushon-Island-in-Massachusetts-by-Arlene-Myers-Alexander-SEPT-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Washington-lake-by-Andrea-Christensen-AUG-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Washington-lake-by-Andrea-Christensen-AUG-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Orgeon-Shoreline-by-Rena-Olson-JULY-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Orgeon-Shoreline-by-Rena-Olson-JULY-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rio-Grande-Gorge-NM-by-Mitch-Tobin-JUNE-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Rio-Grande-Gorge-NM-by-Mitch-Tobin-JUNE-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mississippi-and-Missouri-River-Basins-by-Eric-Lee-MAY-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Mississippi-and-Missouri-River-Basins-by-Eric-Lee-MAY-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/King-Tide-Mass-and-Nh-by-Kent-Wien-APRIL-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/King-Tide-Mass-and-Nh-by-Kent-Wien-APRIL-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dead-Mangrove-Ponding-Florida-Bay-by-Jonathan-Rodemann-MARCH-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dead-Mangrove-Ponding-Florida-Bay-by-Jonathan-Rodemann-MARCH-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sunset-on-Red-Wolf-Transport-TX-to-NY-FEB-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Sunset-on-Red-Wolf-Transport-TX-to-NY-FEB-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Fisher-Towers-Utah-JAN-2024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Fisher-Towers-Utah-JAN-2024.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NOV-2023The-Tijuana-Estuary-north-of-the-Mexican-border-Photo-by-Roberto-Bear-Guerra.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NOV-2023The-Tijuana-Estuary-north-of-the-Mexican-border-Photo-by-Roberto-Bear-Guerra.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NOV-2023-the-original-delta-of-the-Colorado-River-in-Mexico-Photo-by-Alexander-Heilner.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/NOV-2023-the-original-delta-of-the-Colorado-River-in-Mexico-Photo-by-Alexander-Heilner.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SEPT-2023-the-Colorado-River-and-its-tributaries-Photo-by-Eric-Lee.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SEPT-2023-the-Colorado-River-and-its-tributaries-Photo-by-Eric-Lee.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AUG-2023-The-Salton-Sea-as-captured-by-Jay-Calderon-of-the-Desert-Sun.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AUG-2023-The-Salton-Sea-as-captured-by-Jay-Calderon-of-the-Desert-Sun.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JUL-2023-Loxahatchee-National-Wildlife-Refuge-Everglades-by-Steve-Davis.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JUL-2023-Loxahatchee-National-Wildlife-Refuge-Everglades-by-Steve-Davis.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JUN-2023-lower-Kennebec-and-upper-headwaters-where-the-endangered-Atlantic-salmon-has-spawning-habitat-in-Maine-by-Andres-S-Lewis.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/JUN-2023-lower-Kennebec-and-upper-headwaters-where-the-endangered-Atlantic-salmon-has-spawning-habitat-in-Maine-by-Andres-S-Lewis.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MAY-2023-Howard-Hanson-Dam-on-the-Green-River-Photo-by-Sarah-Dyrdahl.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MAY-2023-Howard-Hanson-Dam-on-the-Green-River-Photo-by-Sarah-Dyrdahl.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/APR-2023-Locate-a-missing-California-over-the-Big-Sur-coastline-Photo-by-Ken-Newbury.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/APR-2023-Locate-a-missing-California-over-the-Big-Sur-coastline-Photo-by-Ken-Newbury.webp) [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MAY-2023-Howard-Hanson-Dam-on-the-Green-River-Photo-by-Sarah-Dyrdahl.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MAY-2023-Howard-Hanson-Dam-on-the-Green-River-Photo-by-Sarah-Dyrdahl.webp) media resources ## Downloads for Press & Partners Everything you need to quickly understand, represent, and share LightHawk’s work. ![Flights 32-34: Highlighting Wildlife Corridors in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_32B.jpg) ### LightHawk Fact Sheet A concise overview of LightHawk’s mission, conservation aviation model, geographic reach, key statistics, and organizational background. [ Download Fact Sheet ](https://lighthawk182.filecamp.com/download/file/tEIE6Dlv2Mf5uqa3) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/LightHawk-logo-in-white-with-blue-scaled.webp) ### Logos & Brand Assets Approved LightHawk logos and basic brand assets for editorial, partner, and promotional use. [ Download Logo ](https://lighthawk182.filecamp.com/s/o/nMHZdKNwziVl8iIx) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FEB-2020Delaware-River-by-Jonathan-Milne.webp) ### Photo & Visual Assets A curated collection of publication-ready images from LightHawk conservation missions, with captions, context, and photographer credits. [ View Photo Library ](https://lighthawk182.filecamp.com/s/o/D7TghwWYxFReBCRS) **MEDIA CONTACT** Clint Burson Strategic Communications Manager For interview requests, background information, photography, or other media needs, contact Clint Burson. **[For Media Inquiries→](https://www.lighthawk.org/contact/)** ## Let’s Build the Story Journalists and media partners fly with LightHawk to show what words alone can’t. Contact our communications team for interviews, assets, and story leads, or sign up for our newsletter to follow the latest missions and stories. [ Media Inquiries ](/contact/) [ Sign Up for LightHawk News ](https://www.lighthawk.org/newsroom/#footer-nl-email) --- ### [Join the Community](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Mountain-Sunset-in-Washington-by-Gre-Mares.webp) Join the Community # Conservation needs wings Pilots donate the flight. Partners bring the mission. Donors fund what keeps it all in the air. Find your seat. [ Become a Pilot ](/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/) Get Involved ## Three Ways to Join Our Community Pilots donate their time and aircraft. Your support covers what it takes to turn that generosity into a mission. Whether you fly, give, or partner, you put the aerial perspective to work for conservation. ![View from the cockpit of a small aircraft in flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/people-cockpit.jpg) ### Power the Mission Every contribution helps LightHawk bring conservation and aviation expertise where it can make an impact for lands, waters, and wildlife. [ Support us ](/donate/) ![Ranching Impact Along Missouri River](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_26A-scaled.jpeg) ### Become a Volunteer Pilot Fly with purpose on conservation missions that put your experience to work in ways you won’t find anywhere else. 1,000 hours PIC required. [ Start flying ](/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/) ![Partners in Greater Yellowstone Project](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_32A.jpg) ### Become a Partner Nonprofits, land trusts, scientists, tribes, and storytellers fly with LightHawk to gain perspective and access at no direct cost to qualifying partners. [ Partner with us ](/join-the-community/program-partners/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_45A.webp) The Network ## 275+ pilots. Nationwide reach. LightHawk volunteer pilots are spread across the United States, ready to make conservation fly wherever the mission is. [Explore Our Priorities](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/) [See Missions In Action](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/featured-missions/) ### Volunteer Pilot Network **276** volunteer pilots ready to fly for conservation across North America. Pilot locations - Anaheim, California, 92807 - Anchorage, Alaska, 99507 - Anchorage, Alaska, 99516 - Andover, Massachusetts, 01810 - Ankeny, Iowa, 50021 - Apalachicola, Florida, 32329 - Appleton, Wisconsin, 54915 - Aptos, California, 95003 - Arvada, Colorado, 80004 - Auburn, California, 95603 - Austin, Texas, 78703 - Avoca, Wisconsin, 53506 - Bainbridge Island, Washington, 98110 - Baltimore, Maryland, 21218 - Bandon, Oregon, 97411 - Beaverton, Oregon, 97007 - Bellingham, Washington, 98229 - Belmont, California, 94002 - Belvedere, California, 94920 - Bend, Oregon, 97703 - Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722 - Bishop, California, 93514 - Bloomington, Indiana, 47408 - Boca Raton, Florida, 33486 - Bolton, Massachusetts, 01740 - Bonners Ferry, Colorado, 83805 - Boonville, New York, 13309 - Boulder Creek, California, 95006 - Boulder, Colorado, 80301 - Boulder, Colorado, 80302 - Boulder, Colorado, 80304 - Boulder, Colorado, 80305 - Bozeman, Montana, 59715 - Bradenton, Florida, 34208 - Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania, 15015 - Broomfield, Colorado, 80023 - Buckley, Washington, 98321 - Buellton, California, 93427 - Camarillo, California, 93010 - Camas, Washington, 98607 - Carbondale, Illinois, 62903 - Carefree, Arizona, 85377 - Carnelian Bay, California, 96140 - Carson City, Nevada, 89703 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514 - Chappaqua, New York, 10514 - Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37419 - Cimarron, New Mexico, 87714 - Claremore, Oklahoma, 74017 - Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44118 - Clifton Park, New York, 12065 - Cody, Wyoming, 82414 - Cohoes, New York, 12047 - Colleyville, Texas, 76034 - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80926 - Columbia, Tennessee, 38401 - Columbus, Ohio, 43220 - Coral Gables, Florida, 33143 - Corralitos, California, 95076 - Coventry, Connecticut, 06238 - Cumberland, Maine, 04021 - Cypress, California, 90630 - Dallas, Texas, 75206 - Dayton, Ohio, 45429 - Deer Park, Washington, 99006 - Del Norte, Colorado, 81132 - Denver, Colorado, 80209 - Denver, Colorado, 80238 - Des Moines, Iowa, 50313 - Dover, New Hampshire, 03820 - Driftwood, Texas, 78619 - Dublin, California, 94568 - Dumfries, Virginia, 22026 - Dunstable, Massachusetts, 01827 - Eagle, Colorado, 81631 - East Aurora, New York, 14052 - Edgartown, Massachusetts, 02539 - El Cajon, California, 92019 - El Dorado Hills, California, 95762 - El Prado, New Mexico, 87529 - Emerald Hills, California, 94062 - Erie, Colorado, 80516 - Eugene, Oregon, 97405 - Evans City, Pennsylvania, 16033 - Fairbanks, Alaska, 99709 - Fayetteville, Georgia, 30215 - Fernandina Beach, Florida, 32034 - Fillmore, California, 93015 - Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001 - Flagstaff, Arizona, 86004 - Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526 - Franklin, Michigan, 48025 - Georgetown, Maine, 04548 - Gig Harbor, Washington, 98335 - Gillette, Wyoming, 82716 - Gilroy, California, 95020 - Glenside, Pennsylvania, 19038 - Graham, Washington, 98338 - Grand Haven, Michigan, 49417 - Grand Junction, Colorado, 81505 - Grass Valley, California, 95945 - Greenland, New Hampshire, 03840 - Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742 - Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, 03844 - Harleysville, Pennsylvania, 19438 - Heber City, Utah, 84032 - Helena, Montana, 59601 - Hereford, Arizona, 85615 - High Rolls Mountain Park, New Mexico, 88325 - Hillsborough, California, 94010 - Hinesburg, Vermont, 05461 - Hingham, Massachusetts, 02043 - Homer, Alaska, 99603 - Houston, Texas, 77005 - Hudson, Ohio, 44236 - Irvine, California, 92620 - Ivins, Utah, 84738 - Jackson, Wyoming, 83002 - Jacksonville, Oregon, 97530 - Jersey City, New Jersey, 07306 - Juno Beach, Florida, 33408 - Ketchum, Idaho, 83340 - Key West, Florida, 33040 - Lander, Wyoming, 82520 - Laramie, Wyoming, 82073 - Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88001 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89113 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89138 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89183 - Leawood, Kansas, 66209 - Lee, New Hampshire, 14541 - Lexington, Massachusetts, 02420 - Littleton, Colorado, 80123 - Longmont, Colorado, 80503 - Los Altos, California, 94022 - Los Altos, California, 94024 - Lyme, Connecticut, 06371 - Madison, Wisconsin, 53705 - Madison, Wisconsin, 53711 - Mammoth, California, 93546 - Manhattan Beach, California, 90266 - Marblehead, Massachusetts, 01945 - Mazama, Washington, 98833 - Mazon, Illinois, 60444 - Melbourne Beach, Florida, 32951 - Mercer Island, Washington, 98040 - Meridian, Idaho, 83642 - Merion Station, Pennsylvania, 19066 - Merrimack, New Hampshire, 03054 - Milan, Illinois, 61264 - Milltown, Montana, 59851 - Minnetonka, Minnesota, 55345 - Missoula, Montana, 59808 - Moab, Utah, 84532 - Molalla, Oregon, 97038 - Monrovia, California, 91016 - Monsey, New York, 10952 - Montclair, New Hampshire, 07043 - Montgomery, Massachusetts, 01085 - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 29466 - Mountain View, California, 94043 - Napa, California, 94558 - Naples, Florida, 34113 - Nashville, Tennessee, 37215 - Nederland, Colorado, 80466 - New Castle, New Hampshire, 03854 - New York, New York, 10009 - Newport Beach, California, 92660 - Newton Center, Massachusetts, 02459 - Newtown, Pennsylvania, 19438 - Niwot, Colorado, 80503 - Norfolk, Virginia, 23508 - North Conway, New Hampshire, 03860 - Northfield Falls, Vermont, 05664 - Oakhurst, California, 93644 - Oakhurst, California, 93644 - Ocala, Florida, 34472 - Oceanside, California, 92057 - Oceanside, California, 92054 - Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 53066 - Odessa, Florida, 33556 - Omaha, Nebraska, 68114 - Orange, California, 92867 - Overgaard, Arizona, 85933 - Oyster Bay Cove, New York, 11771 - Palm Beach, Florida, 33480 - Palm Desert, California, 92211 - Palo Alto, California, 94303 - Park City, Utah, 84060 - Parkland, Florida, 33076 - Peck, Idaho, 83545 - Phoenix, Arizona, 85032 - Pickerington, Ohio, 43147 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15217 - Port Orange, Florida, 32128 - Portland, Oregon, 97218 - Pottsdam, Pennsylvania, 19464 - Prescott, Arizona, 86305 - Quartz Hill, California, 93536 - Queenstown, Maryland, 21658 - Rapid City, South Dakota, 57703 - Redondo Beach, California, 90277 - Richland, Washington, 99352 - Ridgway, Colorado, 81432 - Romulus, New York, 14541 - Salmon, Idaho, 83467 - San Diego, California, 92131 - San Diego, California, 92128 - San Diego, California, 92116 - San Francisco, California, 94118 - San Francisco, California, 94122 - San Luis Obispo, California, 93405 - Sandwich, Massachusetts, 02563 - Santa Barbara, California, 93460 - Santa Clara, California, 95050 - Santa Cruz, California, 95060 - Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505 - Santa Rosa, California, 95404 - Santa Rosa, California, 95403 - Saugerties, New York, 12477 - Scottsdale, Arizona, 85266 - Scottsdale, Arizona, 85254 - Seattle, Washington, 98105 - Seattle, Washington, 98118 - Seattle, Washington, 98122 - Seattle, Washington, 98144 - Sebastopol, California, 95472 - Sedona, Arizona, 86336 - Seeley Lake, Montana, 59868 - Seminole, Florida, 33776 - Sharon, Massachusetts, 02459 - Sonoma, California, 95476 - South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02748 - Southold, New York, 11971 - Sparks, Nevada, 89436 - Sparks, Nevada, 89441 - Spokane Valley, Washington, 99206 - St Bonifacius, Minnesota, 55375 - St. George, Utah, 84770 - Stanwood, Washington, 98292 - Stone Ridge, New York, 12484 - Superior, Colorado, 80027 - Surprise, Arizona, 85387 - Talkeetna, Alaska, 99676 - Toms River, New Jersey, 08757 - Truckee, California, 96161 - Tucson, Arizona, 85701 - Tustin, California, 92782 - Upland, California, 91786 - Vail, Arizona, 85641 - Van Nuys California, 91406 - Venice, Florida, 34292 - Ventura, California, 93001 - Ventura, California, 93003 - Vero Beach, Florida, 32963 - Vienna, Virginia, 22180 - Viola, Idaho, 83872 - Vonore, Tennessee, 37885 - Warrenton, Oregon, 97146 - Warwick, New York, 10990 - Washington, District of Columbia, 20008 - Watsonville, California, 95076 - Waunakee, Wisconsin, 53597 - Wayland, Massachusetts, 01778 - West Grove, Pennsylvania, 19390 - West Linn, Oregon, 97068 - Westerville, Ohio, 43082 - Westminster, Colorado, 80023 - Westport, Connecticut, 06880 - White Salmon, Washington, 98672 - Windsor, California, 95492 - Woodinville, Washington, 98072 - Wyoming, Michigan, 49519 - Yarmouth, Maine, 04096 - Yerington, Nevada, 89447 - Yorkville, California, 95494 LightHawk’s volunteer pilot corps spans the country, making it possible to respond to conservation needs across North America. ![Southern-California-Coast-by-John-Baker](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Southern-California-Coast-by-John-Baker-JAN-2026.webp) Flagship Event ## 50 in 50 Challenge Every summer, LightHawk pilots and partners take on our ambitious nationwide Challenge — fifty flights in fifty days. Join the cockpit, follow along, or help power the next missions. [ Explore the Challenge ](/50-in-50/) ## Not sure where to start? Tell us who you are and what you care about — we’ll point you to the right seat. [ Contact Us ](/contact/) [ Explore Our Impact ](/our-impact/) --- ### [Featured Missions](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/featured-missions/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-hellscanyon.jpg) Featured Missions # Flights that *move the needle* From wildlife transports to watershed restoration campaigns, these are the missions where the aerial perspective is changing what is possible on the ground. ![Painted Rock Reservoir, Bitterroot Watershed](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/unnamed.webp) Featured Mission — Watersheds ### Exposing Mine Risk to a Montana Watershed The **Bitterroot River** winds through a picturesque valley in **Western Montana**, its meandering path carving a winding streambed across the landscapes and depositing rich soils that have served family farms for generations. The area’s beauty served as the backdrop for the Dutton Ranch in the TV series Yellowstone. The Bitterroot River’s West Fork headwaters have been attracting attention long before the show, drawing fly-fishing enthusiasts from across the country and the world. Lately, those headwaters have been drawing a different kind of attention: government officials are considering a proposed rare earth mine in the Sheep Creek area, and developers are hoping to fast-track its approval. [ Read the Story ](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/aerial-tours-expose-mine-risk-to-bitterroot-watershed/) Key Initiatives ## Sustained campaigns, lasting outcomes Some conservation work cannot be completed in a single flight. These are the multi-year efforts we keep showing up for, campaign after campaign, until the outcome is realized. [ ![Mountain range from the air](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-mountains-scaled.jpg) Wildlife### Bringing back California condors California condors nearly vanished in the 1980s, down to 22 birds. Our flights help transport birds between breeding facilities and release sites, and track radio-tagged condors to protect a population still fighting its way back. Explore Wildlife ](/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) [ ![The Colorado River runs winds through the desert Southwest. ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CO_River-scaled.webp) Watersheds### Keeping watch over a shrinking Colorado River The river that supplies water to 40 million people and 11 National Parks is shrinking. Our recurring flight campaign keeps its story, and its science, in front of the people who decide its future. Explore Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) [ ![Algal bloom in dark water seen from the air](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-algae.jpg) COASTLINEs### Revealing the Everglades under pressure Monitoring habitat loss, water withdrawals, and runoff across the nation’s largest wetland, our flight campaigns are uniquely suited to reach this remote, roadless terrain. Explore Coastlines ](/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) [ ![Braided glacial river in Alaska from the air](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-alaska.jpg) watersheds### **Documenting salmon habitat and threats to it** Protect salmon and you protect forests, food, water, communities, and economies. LightHawk flies missions to advance wild salmon recovery, documenting dams that block salmon from their spawning grounds and the habitat recovery that follows when they’re removed. Explore Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_43A-scaled.jpeg) ## Every mission needs wings. Explore the flight map to see where we’ve flown, or bring LightHawk a mission of your own. [ Explore the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) --- ### [Memorials and Tribute Gifts](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/memorials-and-tribute-gifts/) **Published:** August 14, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lighthawk-Flight-PREVIEW-6685.jpg) Ways to Give # Tributes & Memorials Honor someone special. Celebrate a life, a milestone, or a memory with a gift to LightHawk **YOUR TRIBUTE GIFT** ## A Gift Given With Love A tribute gift to LightHawk is a meaningful way to honor someone special while supporting conservation work they would be proud to stand behind. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, remembering a loved one, or simply recognizing someone who cares deeply about aviation and the natural world, your gift carries that connection forward. Choose whether your gift is in honor or in memory of someone special, add a personal message if you wish, and let us know if you’d like someone notified of your tribute. ### In Honor or In Memory **In Honor Of** Celebrate someone special, mark a milestone, or recognize a person who cares deeply about conservation. **In Memory Of** Remember someone you love with a gift that honors the life they lived and the things they cared about. **Select “Dedicate this gift” on the donation form below to make a gift in honor or memory of someone special.** LightHawk is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. --- ### Sharing Your Tribute If you choose to notify someone, LightHawk will send a tribute Select “Dedicate this gift” on the donation form to make your gift in honor or memory of someone special.message on your behalf. Your gift amount will remain private. **Questions about a tribute gift?** Our Advancement Team is here to help. **info@lighthawk.org** **(970) 797-9355 ext. 12** --- ### [Embed block test](https://www.lighthawk.org/embed-block-test/) **Published:** September 3, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** LightHawk is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Tax ID (EIN) 84-0852104. --- ### [Landscapes](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/landscapes/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-canyon.jpg) Landscapes # Wild places seen *whole* Some landscapes are too vast, too remote, or too ecologically important to protect from the ground alone. LightHawk leads the way from above, using aviation to accelerate impact. ![Red rock formations from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) The Focus ## A landscape is more than scenery. It is habitat, a watershed, working land, and a living history woven together at a scale that can only truly be understood from above. From the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau to the ridgelines of the Appalachians, LightHawk helps reveal how these different systems connect, and what it will take to hold them together. Our program team co-designs flight campaigns with our pilots and partners so that every hour in the air produces the desired outcomes: imagery for easement monitoring, insights for storytelling, data for science and research, and the kind of firsthand aerial experience that turns a decision-maker’s uncertainty into resolve. [ View the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) How Flight DELIVERS ## What wings make possible Conservation flights can accelerate land protection, reveal change across vast landscapes, and give decision-makers the perspective to act. Here’s how. ### Land protection Aerial imagery supports conservation easements, land-trust acquisitions, and wilderness designations — covering in hours what would take field teams weeks. ### Monitoring at scale Year-over-year overflights track restoration progress, development pressure, and landscape change across millions of acres. ### Decision-maker flights Legislators, funders, and journalists see contested landscapes whole — the fastest way to build the will to protect them. From the Flight Log ## Recent developments ![Ice from a glacier is barely visible thanks to dirt and rocks covering the ice, blending it into the rock face.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03729.webp) Featured Mission October 1, 2026 ### [Twelve Glaciers. Two and a Half Hours.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) Colorado’s glaciers and perennial snowfields are shrinking. Documenting those changes means reaching remote mountain sites and gathering photographs from many… Flown with Colorado State University ![A Lake Powell marina sits next to a boat ram that no longer reaches the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-6.webp) Featured Mission September 4, 2026 ### [From 1,300 Miles on Foot to One Powerful View from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) Starting high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River winds south through some of the most dramatic and heavily used… Flown with Keep the River Running ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Meandering-Bitterroot-River.webp) Featured Mission August 1, 2026 ### [Aerial Tours Expose Mine Risk to Bitterroot Watershed](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/aerial-tours-expose-mine-risk-to-bitterroot-watershed/) The Bitterroot River winds through a picturesque valley in Western Montana, its meandering path carving a winding streambed across the… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Serpentine_5-1.webp) Featured Mission June 25, 2026 ### [Protecting Maine’s Landscapes and Waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-june-2026-featured-mission/) There’s a narrow stretch of water in central Maine called the Serpentine that connects East and North Ponds. From the… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55988-1.webp) Featured Mission May 29, 2026 ### [Telling the Story of a River Under Pressure](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-may-2026-featured-mission/) The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people, supports agriculture across the Southwest, and sustains communities, wildlife, and… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/842A9850.webp) Featured Mission April 30, 2026 ### [Improving Urban Conservation in New Jersey](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-april-2026-featured-mission/) Flying over northern New Jersey isn’t easy. The airspace is complex, but that’s exactly where LightHawk volunteer pilot Mike McNamara… Keep Exploring ## More priorities Beyond landscapes, LightHawk drives a wider range of conservation work forward. [ ![River bends winding through the landscape from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) Priority ### Watersheds From water-quality monitoring to habitat restoration, safeguarding the rivers and wetlands that keep ecosystems alive. Explore Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) [ ![Aerial view of wetlands and waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) Priority ### Coastlines Taking flight to protect oceans, coastlines, and the rich biodiversity that coastal communities depend on. Explore Coastlines ](/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) [ ![Two Mexican gray wolves in snow](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/story-wolves.webp) Priority### Wildlife A lifeline for endangered species — from safe wildlife transport to aerial tracking and habitat connectivity. Explore Wildlife ](/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) ## Put the aerial perspective to work. If your organization works on landscapes conservation, a LightHawk flight is available at no direct cost to qualifying partners. [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) [ Become a Partner ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/) --- ### [Privacy Notice](https://www.lighthawk.org/privacy-notice/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Legal # Privacy Notice How LightHawk collects, uses, and protects your information. Last updated: July 2026 ## Information we collect We collect information you provide directly — when you donate, sign up for our newsletter, apply to volunteer, request a flight, or contact us. This may include your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and payment information processed by our donation providers. We also collect limited technical information automatically (such as browser type and pages visited) to understand how the site is used and improve it. ## How we use it - To process donations and issue tax receipts - To respond to flight requests, pilot applications, and inquiries - To send newsletters and mission updates you’ve requested - To improve our website and programs We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only with service providers who help us operate (such as payment processors and email platforms) under confidentiality obligations, or where required by law. ## Cookies & analytics This site uses cookies and similar technologies for essential functionality and aggregate analytics. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies; some features may not function without them. ## Your choices You may unsubscribe from emails at any time using the link in any message, and you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting us. ## Data security & retention We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, and retain it only as long as needed for the purposes above or as required by law. ## Children’s privacy Our site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. ## Contact Questions about this policy? Write to LightHawk, PO Box 2751, Grand Junction, CO 81502, call [(970) 797-9355](tel:+19707979355), or use the [contact form](/contact/). --- ### [Terms of Use](https://www.lighthawk.org/terms-of-use/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Legal # Terms of Use The ground rules for using lighthawk.org. Last updated: July 2026 ## Acceptance of terms By accessing this website, you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the site. LightHawk may update these terms from time to time; continued use constitutes acceptance of the current version. ## Use of content Content on this site — text, photography, video, and graphics — belongs to LightHawk or its contributors and is protected by copyright. You may share and reference it for personal, educational, or journalistic purposes with attribution. Commercial use requires written permission via our [Media Hub](/about-us/media-hub/). ## Donations Donations are processed by third-party providers subject to their own terms. LightHawk is a 501(c)(3) public charity (Tax ID 84-0852104); contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. ## External links This site links to third-party services (including our pilot and partner portals). LightHawk is not responsible for the content or practices of external sites. ## Disclaimer & limitation of liability This site is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by law, LightHawk is not liable for damages arising from use of the site or reliance on its content. ## Governing law These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. ## Contact Questions about this policy? Write to LightHawk, PO Box 2751, Grand Junction, CO 81502, call [(970) 797-9355](tel:+19707979355), or use the [contact form](/contact/). --- ### [Watersheds](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-mission.jpg) Watersheds # Nurturing nature’s *watersheds* From water-quality monitoring to habitat restoration, LightHawk flies to ensure our rivers and wetlands remain vibrant and healthy ecosystems for all who call them home. ![River bends winding through the landscape from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) The Focus ## Rivers are the arteries of the continent And nowhere is their story clearer than from a light aircraft at a thousand feet. Braided channels, drying deltas, restored wetlands, and the slow return of a river after dam removal: these are patterns no ground survey can capture whole. LightHawk flies for the rivers and watersheds that connect ecosystems and communities across the country, from the Colorado River, lifeline to 40 million people and 5.5 million acres of farmland, to the Klamath River and the Everglades, giving scientists and water managers the recurring aerial record they need to act. [ View the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) How Flight delivers ## What wings make possible Rivers shift fast, sometimes day to day. Here’s how LightHawk keeps watch. ### Water-quality overflights Recurring flights track algal blooms, sediment plumes, and runoff events with a timeliness no satellite pass can match. ### Restoration documentation Before-and-after aerial records show funders and agencies exactly what riparian recovery looks like. ### Waterway campaigns Recurring flight campaigns on the Colorado, the Klamath, and the Everglades watershed keep our changing rivers and waterways in the public eye. From the Flight Log ## Recent developments ![A Lake Powell marina sits next to a boat ram that no longer reaches the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-6.webp) Featured Mission September 4, 2026 ### [From 1,300 Miles on Foot to One Powerful View from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) Starting high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River winds south through some of the most dramatic and heavily used… Flown with Keep the River Running ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Meandering-Bitterroot-River.webp) Featured Mission August 1, 2026 ### [Aerial Tours Expose Mine Risk to Bitterroot Watershed](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/aerial-tours-expose-mine-risk-to-bitterroot-watershed/) The Bitterroot River winds through a picturesque valley in Western Montana, its meandering path carving a winding streambed across the… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead.webp) Focus: Waterways June 25, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Capturing Aerial Perspective on the Colorado River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-capturing-the-aerial-perspective-on-colorado-river-water/) The Colorado River Basin is an area of intense interest this year. Record low snowfall has left the river system… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ME_Serpentine_5-1.webp) Featured Mission June 25, 2026 ### [Protecting Maine’s Landscapes and Waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-june-2026-featured-mission/) There’s a narrow stretch of water in central Maine called the Serpentine that connects East and North Ponds. From the… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TDP-L-Lake-Powell-Mead-RJS-55988-1.webp) Featured Mission May 29, 2026 ### [Telling the Story of a River Under Pressure](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-may-2026-featured-mission/) The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people, supports agriculture across the Southwest, and sustains communities, wildlife, and… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Passaic-River-NJ.webp) Focus: Waterways May 15, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Collecting Imagery of New Jersey’s Passaic River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-collecting-imagery-along-new-jerseys-passaic-river/) Most pilots avoid the airspace around New York City whenever possible. Volunteer pilot Mike McNamara volunteered for it. Partnering with… Keep Exploring ## More priorities [ ![Red rock formations from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) Priority### Landscapes Using aviation to ensure a sustainable future for our planet’s most remarkable and ecologically important landscapes. Explore Landscapes ](/our-impact/our-priorities/landscapes/) [ ![Aerial view of wetlands and waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) Priority ### Coastlines Taking flight to protect oceans, coastlines, and the rich biodiversity that coastal communities depend on. Explore Coastlines ](/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) [ ![Two Mexican gray wolves in snow](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/story-wolves.webp) Priority ### Wildlife A lifeline for endangered species — from safe wildlife transport to aerial tracking and habitat connectivity. Explore Wildlife ](/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) ## Put the aerial perspective to work. If your organization works on watersheds conservation, a LightHawk flight is available at no direct cost to qualifying partners. [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) [ Become a Partner ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/) --- ### [Wildlife](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-alaska.jpg) Wildlife # A lifeline for *wild species* With a focus on wildlife recovery, LightHawk plays a vital role in protecting North America’s most critically endangered wildlife. ![Two Mexican gray wolves in snow](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/story-wolves.webp) The Focus ## **Wildlife doesn’t wait** Species recovery runs on a clock set by nature. A wolf pup has to reach a wild den within days of birth. A rehabilitated condor needs safe access to its remote release site. A population of island foxes requires post-release monitoring to ensure its continued health. Recovery depends on getting animals where they need to go, and knowing how they’re doing once they’re there. That’s where LightHawk comes in. Small aircraft move wildlife faster, safer and with less stress than any highway or commercial airline can, on the animals’ schedule, not ours. This is the work behind the ongoing recovery of species like California condors, black-footed ferrets, whooping cranes, Mexican and red wolves, and white abalone. Every flight is a small, time-sensitive act with an outsized result: one more species given a shot at survival. [ View the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) How Flight DELIVERS ## What wings make possible Every recovery effort depends on two things: getting animals where they need to go, and knowing how they are doing once they get there. ### Wildlife transport Endangered species moved between recovery facilities and release sites — wolves, condors, sea turtles, ferrets, and more. ### Aerial tracking Radio-telemetry flights collect movement and health data for species like the California condor, Island fox and wolverine. ### Habitat connectivity Mapping the corridors wildlife actually use, so protection follows the animals. From the Flight Log ## Recent developments ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mexican-Wolf-NH-NM.webp) Focus: Wildlife March 20, 2026 ### [On The Wing News: Winter 2026](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/on-the-wing-winter-2026/) In this edition of On The Wing, we look at LightHawk’s role in the long-term recovery of the Mexican wolf,… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CS4A4660.webp) Focus: Wildlife March 19, 2026 ### [Pilot View: California Condors Return to Northern California](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/featured-mission-the-pilots-perspective/) The reintroduction of California condors to parts of Northern California is an interesting story. It’s one that deserves to be… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CS4A5431.jpg) Featured Mission February 26, 2026 ### [Capturing a Condor’s Story of Survival](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-february-2026-featured-mission/) The return of California condors to Northern California is a story best understood from both the ground and the air.… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sandhill-Crane-Habitat.webp) Focus: Wildlife January 14, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Preserving Pacific Flyway Habitat for Sandhill Cranes](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-featured-mission-january-2026/) There’s one thing for certain when you take to the skies – once you leave the ground, you’ll eventually need… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Flying-MB-Quail.webp) Focus: Wildlife December 17, 2025 ### [Pilot View: Flying West with Endangered Masked Bobwhite Quail](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/notam-featured-mission-december-2025/) When first described by scientists, the masked bobwhite quail thrived across the Southwestern United States and into Central Mexico. By… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/aerials-8-1-scaled.webp) Featured Mission December 17, 2025 ### [Documenting Critical Habitat for Sandhill Cranes](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-december-2025-featured-mission/) Sandhill Cranes are one of the oldest living bird species, with a fossil record stretching back millions of years. Today,… Keep Exploring ## More priorities [ ![Red rock formations from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) Priority### Landscapes Using aviation to ensure a sustainable future for our planet’s most remarkable and ecologically important landscapes. Explore Landscapes ](/our-impact/our-priorities/landscapes/) [ ![River bends winding through the landscape from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) Priority### Watersheds From water-quality monitoring to habitat restoration, safeguarding the rivers and wetlands that keep ecosystems alive. Explore Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) [ ![Aerial view of wetlands and waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) Priority ### Coastlines Taking flight to protect oceans, coastlines, and the rich biodiversity that coastal communities depend on. Explore Coastlines ](/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-hellscanyon.jpg) ## Put the aerial perspective to work. If your organization works on wildlife conservation, a LightHawk flight is available at no direct cost to qualifying partners. [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) [ Become a Partner ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/) --- ### [Climate](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/climate/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-testimonial-bg.jpg) Climate # Impact seen at scale From retreating glaciers to returning wetlands, LightHawk documents climate impacts and how communities are building resilience in response. ![Glacier meeting the sea in Prince William Sound, Alaska](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-glacier.jpg) The Focus ## Climate change is a story of scale Scale is exactly what the aerial perspective delivers. Shrinking reservoirs, retreating glaciers, drought-stressed forests, and advancing wildfire risk: LightHawk turns abstract trends into evidence no one can dismiss. We fly with researchers documenting change, journalists telling the story, and communities planning for resilience against what’s coming — because the window to act is limited, and seeing clearly is the first step to action. [ View the Flight Map ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/flight-map/) How Flight delivers ## What wings make possible Some change is too vast to see from the ground. Here’s how LightHawk gets above it. ### Documenting change Repeat photography of reservoirs, snowpack, and shorelines builds the visual record of a warming West. ### Science in the air Researchers collect imagery and data across landscapes too vast to sample from the ground. ### Storytelling that moves Journalists and photographers fly with us so the climate story is seen — not just read. From the Flight Log ## Recent developments ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Otter-Creek.-Photo-by-J.Milne-LightHawk-scaled.webp) Media October 24, 2026 ### [LightHawk Announces 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award Honorees](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-announces-2026-volunteer-pilot-award-honorees/) LightHawk has announced its 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award honorees, recognizing five volunteers whose dedication and generosity help put conservation missions… ![The plane flies above glaciers along Colorado's Continental Divide.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_4_GX040033.MP4.10_14_56_09.Still005.webp) Focus: Climate October 1, 2026 ### [Pilot’s View: Above Colorado’s Changing Glaciers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) Following a year of record-low snowfall, Colorado State University researchers are documenting how the state’s glaciers are changing. To capture… Flown with Colorado State University ![Ice from a glacier is barely visible thanks to dirt and rocks covering the ice, blending it into the rock face.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03729.webp) Featured Mission October 1, 2026 ### [Twelve Glaciers. Two and a Half Hours.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) Colorado’s glaciers and perennial snowfields are shrinking. Documenting those changes means reaching remote mountain sites and gathering photographs from many… Flown with Colorado State University Keep Exploring ## More priorities Climate is one piece. LightHawk drives conservation forward across many fronts. [ ![Red rock formations from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) Priority ### Landscapes Using aviation to ensure a sustainable future for our planet’s most remarkable and ecologically important landscapes. Explore Landscapes ](/our-impact/our-priorities/landscapes/) [ ![River bends winding through the landscape from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) Priority ### Watersheds From water-quality monitoring to habitat restoration, safeguarding the rivers and wetlands that keep ecosystems alive. Explore Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) [ ![Aerial view of wetlands and waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) Priority ### Coastlines Taking flight to protect oceans, coastlines, and the rich biodiversity that coastal communities depend on. Explore Coastlines ](/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-alaska.jpg) ## Put the aerial perspective to work. If your organization works on climate conservation, a LightHawk flight is available at no direct cost to qualifying partners. [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) [ Become a Partner ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/) --- ### [Coastlines](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/our-priorities/coastlines/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-algae.jpg) Coastlines # Protecting our *coastal waters* LightHawk flies to safeguard our oceans, coastlines, and the rich biodiversity essential for ecosystem health and the well-being of coastal communities. ![Aerial view of wetlands and waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) The Focus ## What happens on land reaches the sea Eroding shorelines, shifting estuaries, mangroves retreating and recovering: the aerial perspective captures these dynamic edges in a way that reveals both the threat and the opportunity. LightHawk flies to meet both. We document fragile coasts and protect the species that depend on them, from salmon runs in the North Pacific to marine wildlife along the Gulf. We help communities prepare for what’s coming: sea-level rise, stronger storms, a changing coastline. Every flight is a chance to catch the threat early, and the opportunity with it. [ View the Flight Map ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/flight-map/) How Flight DELIVERs ## What wings make possible The coast holds still for no one. LightHawk keeps pace with it. ### Estuary & shoreline surveys Documenting forage-fish habitat, eelgrass beds, and shoreline armoring across entire coastal reaches. ### Marine biodiversity monitoring Aerial surveys, imagery, and transport supporting the species and habitats that sustain coastal food webs. ### Resilience planning Imagery and insights that helps coastal communities prepare for sea-level rise and storm recovery. From the Flight Log ## Recent developments ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Lighthawk-4.webp) Focus: Oceans April 22, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Documenting Port Pollution in Southern California](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/a-pilots-perspective-documenting-emissions-in-southern-california-ports/) Along the coast of Southern California lies the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, a maze of cargo ships,… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Photo-021086.webp) Featured Mission March 30, 2026 ### [Studying Nutrient-Rich Runoff in Florida with Flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/conservation-flyer-march-2026-featured-mission/) When you think of Florida, you picture clear blue water stretching beyond sandy beaches. But from above, a different story… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Kelp-Monitoring-in-San-Juan-Archipelago.webp) Featured Mission August 29, 2024 ### [Protecting Bull Kelp in the San Juan Archipelago](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/august-2024-mission-of-the-month-preserving-bull-kelp-beds-with-samish-indian-nation/) LightHawk partnered with the Samish Indian Nation on a test flight to prepare for monthly aerial monitoring of bull kelp… Keep Exploring ## More priorities From tide lines to tree lines, LightHawk’s work doesn’t stop at the coast. [ ![Red rock formations from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-redrock.jpg) Priority ### Landscapes Using aviation to ensure a sustainable future for our planet’s most remarkable and ecologically important landscapes. Explore Landscapes ](/our-impact/our-priorities/landscapes/) [ ![River bends winding through the landscape from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) Priority ### Watersheds From water-quality monitoring to habitat restoration, safeguarding the rivers and wetlands that keep ecosystems alive. Explore Watersheds ](/our-impact/our-priorities/watersheds/) [ ![Two Mexican gray wolves in snow](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/story-wolves.webp) Priority ### Wildlife A lifeline for endangered species — from safe wildlife transport to aerial tracking and habitat connectivity. Explore Wildlife ](/our-impact/our-priorities/wildlife/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) ## Put the aerial perspective to work. If your organization works on coastlines conservation, a LightHawk flight is available at no direct cost to qualifying partners. [ Request a Flight ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) [ Become a Partner ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/) --- ### [Flight Map](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/flight-map/) **Published:** July 23, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-scale.jpg) Conservation in motion # Flight Map & Directory Every pin on this map represents conservation in action. Explore our missions, filter by focus area, or find the work happening in your region. Search the directory Filter by region All regions AtlanticCentralMesoamericaPacificRockies & Plains Filter by date Any date 2026202520242023 Sort the directory Partner (A–Z) Most recent State (A–Z) All issues Climate ChangeOceans & CoastsWatershedsWildlifeWild Places Filter by issue All issues Climate ChangeOceans & CoastsWatershedsWildlifeWild Places **24** of 350 flights ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000000CvYAI) ME Watersheds Connecting Land Conservation and Water Quality Maine This LightHawk flight for 7 Lakes Alliance captured aerial imagery of Great Meadow Stream and the Serpentine, which connects East and North Ponds and can serve… Flown with **7Lakes Alliance** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000005B1FYAU) ON Watersheds Building Wildlife Connections Across Highway 401 Eastern Ontario LightHawk flew with the A2A Collaborative over the Highway 401 corridor in southern Ontario to show how the highway fragments landscapes just north of the St… Flown with **A2A Collaborative** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000055ezYAA) UT Watersheds Showing the Colorado River Water Crisis from Above Utah As drought deepens across the Colorado River Basin, LightHawk worked with journalists from ABC4 News in Salt Lake City to capture aerial imagery of Lake Powell… Flown with **ABC4 News/KTVX TV Salt Lake City** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000000YOKYA2) NY Wild Places Annual Easement Review Across Eastern New York New York LightHawk worked with the Agricultural Stewardship Association to complete annual aerial reviews of conservation easements across Washington and Rensselaer… Flown with **Agricultural Stewardship Association** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000005DmDYAU) ME Wild Places Forest Clearing Near Northern Maine Watersheds Maine This LightHawk flight with the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation allowed for the capture images and video of existing conditions along boundary of… Flown with **Allagash Wilderness Waterway** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000055dNYAQ) ME Watersheds Assessing Conditions Along the Allagash River Maine Working with the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation, LightHawk captured aerial imagery of the Allagash River and surrounding forests and watersheds to… Flown with **Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000054cTYAQ) ME Watersheds Forest Stand Conditions Along the Allagash Waterway Maine LightHawk flew with the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation to photograph leaf-off conditions along the waterway and assess the current condition of dams… Flown with **Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000005BCXYA2) ME Wild Places Annual Review of the Appalachian Trail Corridor Maine LightHawk worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to conduct its annual aerial review of lands adjacent to the Appalachian Trail corridor. The flight… Flown with **Appalachian Trail Conservancy** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000005DizYAE) ME Wild Places Establishing a Baseline for the Hundred Mile Wilderness Maine LightHawk worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to capture baseline video and still imagery of lands bordering the Appalachian Trail corridor. The… Flown with **Appalachian Trail Conservancy** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000000oo1YAA) AZ Wild Places Documenting SunZia Impacts in the San Pedro Valley Arizona Working with Archaeology Southwest, LightHawk flew sections of Arizona’s San Pedro River Valley to document environmental impacts associated with development… Flown with **Archaeology Southwest** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000003BerYAE) AZ Wild Places Ancient Gardens Visible Only from the Air Arizona LightHawk provided an aerial platform for an Archaeology Southwest photographer and editor to document nearly 1.7 million square yards of roughly… Flown with **Bailey Images** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000053DNYAY) ME Watersheds Documenting Erosion and Habitat in the Kennebec Estuary Maine This flight for Maine’s Beginning with Habitat program captured aerial imagery across the Kennebec Estuary focus area, including erosion impacts at Popham… Flown with **Beginning With Habitat Program** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000056PlYAI) MT Proposed Sheep Creek Mine and the Bitterroot Watershed Montana Working alongside the Bitterroot Water Partnership, LightHawk pilots flew community leaders, media, elected officials, and other decision-makers over the… Flown with **Bitterroot Water Partnership** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000003YoLYAU) NY Wildlife Transporting 31 Endangered Black-Footed Ferrets for Recovery New York LightHawk transported 31 endangered black-footed ferrets from the Toronto Zoo to the Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center in Colorado. Some will remain in… Flown with **Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center- USFWS** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000055lRYAQ) MT Wildlife Conducting an Aerial Inventory of Swans and Cygnets Montana Partnering with Blackfoot Challenge, LightHawk took to the air to inventory trumpeter swan nests and cygnets across the Blackfoot and Clearwater river systems… Flown with **Blackfoot Challenge** 2026 Wild Places Jaguar Corridors and Border Wall Impacts in the Sonoran Borderlands Arizona As the second flight in a larger effort with Borderlands Restoration Network, LightHawk flew over the Sierra Madre Occidental corridor in Sonora and along the… Flown with **Borderlands Restoration Network** 2025 Wild Places Photographing Jaguar Corridors Across the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands Arizona As the first flight in a larger effort with Borderlands Restoration Network, LightHawk flew to focus on two of the three primary jaguar corridors connecting… Flown with **Borderlands Restoration Network** 2025 Wild Places Showing the Borderlands’ Most Critical Wildlife Corridors Arizona Borderlands Restoration Network flew with LightHawk to give a potential donor a firsthand view of the conservation challenges facing the U.S.-Mexico… Flown with **Borderlands Restoration Network** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000052afYAA) AZ Wild Places Viewing the Borderlands from Above Arizona The view from above can have a tremendous impact on people seeing it from a new perspective. It inspires awe, motivates people to action and makes a lasting… Flown with **Borderlands Restoration Network** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000005Ay1YAE) MA Oceans & Coasts Assessing Eelgrass Across Cape Cod Bay Massachusetts LightHawk provided a Boston University graduate student with an aerial platform to assess and photograph eelgrass beds across Cape Cod Bay. The flight captured… Flown with **Boston University** 2025 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000054PZYAY) CO Wild Places Connecting Supporters to Boulder’s Open Space Legacy Colorado LightHawk worked with Boulder Open Space Conservancy to give donors a broader view of Boulder’s past, present, and future conservation work. From the air… Flown with **Boulder Open Space Conservancy** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000005G5lYAE) ME Watersheds Photographing Farmland for Preservation Maine LightHawk partnered with the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust to photograph agricultural lands along Pleasant Road in Brunswick, Maine that are being considered… Flown with **Brunswick Topsham Land Trust** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC0000004NZCYA2) CA Wildlife Aerial Monitoring for Channel Island Fox Recovery California LightHawk conducts monthly aerial telemetry surveys with the California Institute of Environmental Studies to monitor federally listed Channel Island foxes as… Flown with **California Institute of Environmental Studies** 2026 ![](https://dch6urr7kp4dg.cloudfront.net/fit-in/250x250//photos/a5lPC00000055a9YAA) CA Wildlife Aerial Monitoring for Channel Island Fox Recovery California LightHawk conducts monthly aerial telemetry surveys with the California Institute of Environmental Studies to monitor federally listed Channel Island foxes as… Flown with **California Institute of Environmental Studies** 2026 **No flights match your filters.** Try clearing the search or choosing “All issues.” Load more flights Issues Issues - Climate Change - Oceans & Coasts - Watersheds - Wildlife - Wild Places ![]() --- ### [Pilot Requirements](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/requirements/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-flatirons.jpg) For Pilots # The preflight *checklist* Requirements for joining the LightHawk volunteer pilot corps — shorter than a POH. The Checklist ## What it takes to fly with LightHawk Everything you need to know before joining our pilot community — expand each item for the details. ### Core requirements for all volunteer pilots - Have an interest in conservation issues. - Have logged at least 1,000 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) with an excellent safety record. - Provide a copy of your Private, Commercial or ATP certificate. - Provide a copy of your Third Class or higher Medical Certificate. If operating under BasicMed, provide your Comprehensive Medical Exam Checklist and Medical Education Course Completion Certificate. - Own or have access to a suitable aircraft. - Maintain at least $1 million/$100K liability coverage, with LightHawk named as an additional insured, and provide a Certificate of Insurance with a 10-day notice of cancellation clause. - Provide two or more references, at least one with a pilot who has flown with you recently. - Complete an orientation call with a member of the LightHawk aviation committee. - Provide photographs of the inside and outside of your aircraft and of yourself. - Keep your pilot file current — updated annually, with prompt trip reports after every flight. - Maintain all FAA currency, flight, and medical standards, plus LightHawk Pilot Standards, and sign the LightHawk Volunteer Pilot Agreement (you fly as PIC on your own behalf, not as an employee or agent of LightHawk). ### Why 1,000 hours PIC? LightHawk flights are generally scenic in nature: lower altitudes (still around 1,000’ AGL minimum), maneuvering for views of specific points on the ground, and flight profiles that are more challenging and less common than straight-line transport. The 1,000-hour requirement is based on respected statistical analyses of General Aviation safety and has been consistently upheld by our board. A majority of our volunteers substantially exceed this minimum. ### Insurance requirements in detail - $1 million in liability coverage per occurrence, with a minimum of $100,000 per person. - LightHawk listed as an “additional insured” on your policy. - A 10-day notice of cancellation clause, so your underwriter notifies LightHawk if the policy lapses. The additional-insured listing primarily ensures our legal defense costs are covered; there is usually no premium increase. You remain the PIC and sole operating authority on every flight — LightHawk never acts as operator, which preserves the integrity of your insurance. ### Can I fly a rented or flying-club aircraft? Yes, with documented permission of the listed owner. You must show proof of insurance covering you and your passengers to the same limits required of owners ($1 million per incident, $100,000 minimum per person), with LightHawk as an additional insured — usually via a renter’s/non-owned aircraft liability policy. These steps take lead time, so start early. LightHawk does not own or operate any aircraft. ### Jet aircraft minimums 1,000 hours airplane PIC, of which 500 are jet PIC; 200 hours PIC in the make and model to be flown; 25 hours PIC in make and model within the previous 90 days; instrument rating and currency. Additional insurance requirements may apply. Compliance with these recency requirements before each flight is the volunteer pilot’s responsibility. ### Seaplane and ski flying Water operations: 1,000 hours PIC, a seaplane rating, and at least 100 water landings. Ski operations: 1,000 hours PIC and at least 100 ski landings. Aircraft must carry FAA-approved float or ski installations, and the decision to land on water, snow, or ice always rests with the pilot in command based on current conditions. ### Helicopter minimums 1,000 hours total PIC (fixed-wing and rotorcraft may be mixed), including at least 500 hours PIC in rotorcraft; at least 100 hours in the helicopter make and model proposed, with 10 of those hours in the past 90 days. Certificated helicopter models only, with all legally required inspections and Airworthiness Directives complied with. ### Light sport, experimental, balloons and gliders Factory-built S-LSA light sport aircraft are welcome (1,000 hours PIC, private or higher certificate, current third class or higher medical). Balloons and gliders are excluded from our operations. Experimental aircraft are not allowed on flights carrying passengers — and passenger-free flights make up less than 1% of our missions. ### What happens on the orientation call? LightHawk staff — ideally joined by an experienced volunteer pilot — walk you through the organization, our flight planning process, expectations, paperwork, and reporting. We emphasize your role as PIC and sole operating authority, cover common flight profiles, and discuss working with photographers and reporters. We want to see that you are passenger-oriented and that you and your aircraft can represent LightHawk safely and professionally. ### Expenses, reimbursement, and taxes Expenses of flying a mission in your own aircraft are normally borne by the pilot as part of the volunteer donation. Reimbursement of fuel or other aircraft operating costs is illegal under Part 91 — if a partner insists on paying, a donation to LightHawk is the right answer. Rarely, pre-approved per-diem support is available for multi-day tours. Each February you receive a letter documenting your mission hours for the prior year; direct expenses such as fuel and landing fees can often be claimed as an in-kind charitable deduction — check with your tax advisor. ### Where does LightHawk fly? Four regions: Southern US & Mexico (border areas, Baja California, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona); Rocky Mountain (CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY, plus limited Alberta and Great Plains operations); Pacific (CA, WA, OR, limited Alaska and British Columbia); and Atlantic (Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states south through Florida, Louisiana and Texas, with limited Midwest, Ontario and Quebec operations). Mountain missions call for real experience with density altitude, mountain wave and turbulence, and higher-performance aircraft (235+ hp or turbocharged). Mexico/Baja missions additionally look for substantial Mexico and ADIZ experience, Spanish, deep time in type, schedule flexibility, and insurance valid in Mexico. ### Passengers and operating rules All passengers sign a liability release before flying — usually arranged by your program manager. Minors under 18 fly only with a parent aboard, and the pilot always has the final say. LightHawk does not usually conduct point-to-point transportation flights. Camera or tracking mounts are possible, but FAA approval and insurance acceptance are the pilot’s responsibility. Charity-event flights under Part 91.146 are not part of our operations. ## Meet the bar? Take the seat. The application takes five minutes — and the flying lasts a lifetime. [ Apply Now ](/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/#apply) [ Talk to Us First ](/contact/) --- ### [Volunteer Pilots](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/people-photographer.jpg) For Pilots # Fly for something *bigger* Join the largest conservation flying organization in the world — 275+ volunteer pilots donating time, expertise, and aircraft to protect the places we fly over. [ Apply Now ](#apply) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Photo-014166-scaled.webp) Why Fly With Us ## **A two-hour flight. An impact that lasts for years.** LightHawk offers a unique opportunity for 1,000-hour-PIC qualified pilots to volunteer their time and aircraft for conservation missions across North America — a different kind of adventurous flying. Some pilots fly for the view. LightHawk pilots fly for what happens because of it: a story that gets told, a species that gets a second chance, a decision that finally gets made with the facts in hand. LightHawk volunteer pilots donate their expertise, time, aircraft, and fuel. Your support helps turn that generosity into conservation action, giving scientists, community leaders, journalists, and photographers the perspective they need to understand what’s happening on the ground and help shape what happens next. *Already flying with us?* Head to the [Pilot Portal](https://lighthawk.my.site.com/portal/s/login/) for mission scheduling, paperwork, and the pilot community. [ View the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) versatile missions ## Every aircraft has a mission No two conservation missions look the same, and neither do the aircraft that fly them. ### Single-engine, 1-4 seats Ideal for photography flights, aerial survey and for giving partners the low and slow perspective conservation work depends on. ### Turboprops & Jets Perfect for wildlife transport and longer distance missions, like wolves, condors and time critical projects. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bill-Rush.jpeg) > Working with LightHawk and their partners has enriched my flying experience ten fold and is very addictive. The more I fly, the more I want to fly for causes and issues in which I believe strongly. **Bill Rush** — Volunteer Pilot, Boulder Creek, CA ### Volunteer Pilot Network **276** volunteer pilots ready to fly for conservation across North America. Pilot locations - Anaheim, California, 92807 - Anchorage, Alaska, 99507 - Anchorage, Alaska, 99516 - Andover, Massachusetts, 01810 - Ankeny, Iowa, 50021 - Apalachicola, Florida, 32329 - Appleton, Wisconsin, 54915 - Aptos, California, 95003 - Arvada, Colorado, 80004 - Auburn, California, 95603 - Austin, Texas, 78703 - Avoca, Wisconsin, 53506 - Bainbridge Island, Washington, 98110 - Baltimore, Maryland, 21218 - Bandon, Oregon, 97411 - Beaverton, Oregon, 97007 - Bellingham, Washington, 98229 - Belmont, California, 94002 - Belvedere, California, 94920 - Bend, Oregon, 97703 - Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722 - Bishop, California, 93514 - Bloomington, Indiana, 47408 - Boca Raton, Florida, 33486 - Bolton, Massachusetts, 01740 - Bonners Ferry, Colorado, 83805 - Boonville, New York, 13309 - Boulder Creek, California, 95006 - Boulder, Colorado, 80301 - Boulder, Colorado, 80302 - Boulder, Colorado, 80304 - Boulder, Colorado, 80305 - Bozeman, Montana, 59715 - Bradenton, Florida, 34208 - Bradford Woods, Pennsylvania, 15015 - Broomfield, Colorado, 80023 - Buckley, Washington, 98321 - Buellton, California, 93427 - Camarillo, California, 93010 - Camas, Washington, 98607 - Carbondale, Illinois, 62903 - Carefree, Arizona, 85377 - Carnelian Bay, California, 96140 - Carson City, Nevada, 89703 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514 - Chappaqua, New York, 10514 - Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37419 - Cimarron, New Mexico, 87714 - Claremore, Oklahoma, 74017 - Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44118 - Clifton Park, New York, 12065 - Cody, Wyoming, 82414 - Cohoes, New York, 12047 - Colleyville, Texas, 76034 - Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80926 - Columbia, Tennessee, 38401 - Columbus, Ohio, 43220 - Coral Gables, Florida, 33143 - Corralitos, California, 95076 - Coventry, Connecticut, 06238 - Cumberland, Maine, 04021 - Cypress, California, 90630 - Dallas, Texas, 75206 - Dayton, Ohio, 45429 - Deer Park, Washington, 99006 - Del Norte, Colorado, 81132 - Denver, Colorado, 80209 - Denver, Colorado, 80238 - Des Moines, Iowa, 50313 - Dover, New Hampshire, 03820 - Driftwood, Texas, 78619 - Dublin, California, 94568 - Dumfries, Virginia, 22026 - Dunstable, Massachusetts, 01827 - Eagle, Colorado, 81631 - East Aurora, New York, 14052 - Edgartown, Massachusetts, 02539 - El Cajon, California, 92019 - El Dorado Hills, California, 95762 - El Prado, New Mexico, 87529 - Emerald Hills, California, 94062 - Erie, Colorado, 80516 - Eugene, Oregon, 97405 - Evans City, Pennsylvania, 16033 - Fairbanks, Alaska, 99709 - Fayetteville, Georgia, 30215 - Fernandina Beach, Florida, 32034 - Fillmore, California, 93015 - Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001 - Flagstaff, Arizona, 86004 - Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526 - Franklin, Michigan, 48025 - Georgetown, Maine, 04548 - Gig Harbor, Washington, 98335 - Gillette, Wyoming, 82716 - Gilroy, California, 95020 - Glenside, Pennsylvania, 19038 - Graham, Washington, 98338 - Grand Haven, Michigan, 49417 - Grand Junction, Colorado, 81505 - Grass Valley, California, 95945 - Greenland, New Hampshire, 03840 - Hagerstown, Maryland, 21742 - Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, 03844 - Harleysville, Pennsylvania, 19438 - Heber City, Utah, 84032 - Helena, Montana, 59601 - Hereford, Arizona, 85615 - High Rolls Mountain Park, New Mexico, 88325 - Hillsborough, California, 94010 - Hinesburg, Vermont, 05461 - Hingham, Massachusetts, 02043 - Homer, Alaska, 99603 - Houston, Texas, 77005 - Hudson, Ohio, 44236 - Irvine, California, 92620 - Ivins, Utah, 84738 - Jackson, Wyoming, 83002 - Jacksonville, Oregon, 97530 - Jersey City, New Jersey, 07306 - Juno Beach, Florida, 33408 - Ketchum, Idaho, 83340 - Key West, Florida, 33040 - Lander, Wyoming, 82520 - Laramie, Wyoming, 82073 - Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88001 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89113 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89138 - Las Vegas, Nevada, 89183 - Leawood, Kansas, 66209 - Lee, New Hampshire, 14541 - Lexington, Massachusetts, 02420 - Littleton, Colorado, 80123 - Longmont, Colorado, 80503 - Los Altos, California, 94022 - Los Altos, California, 94024 - Lyme, Connecticut, 06371 - Madison, Wisconsin, 53705 - Madison, Wisconsin, 53711 - Mammoth, California, 93546 - Manhattan Beach, California, 90266 - Marblehead, Massachusetts, 01945 - Mazama, Washington, 98833 - Mazon, Illinois, 60444 - Melbourne Beach, Florida, 32951 - Mercer Island, Washington, 98040 - Meridian, Idaho, 83642 - Merion Station, Pennsylvania, 19066 - Merrimack, New Hampshire, 03054 - Milan, Illinois, 61264 - Milltown, Montana, 59851 - Minnetonka, Minnesota, 55345 - Missoula, Montana, 59808 - Moab, Utah, 84532 - Molalla, Oregon, 97038 - Monrovia, California, 91016 - Monsey, New York, 10952 - Montclair, New Hampshire, 07043 - Montgomery, Massachusetts, 01085 - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 29466 - Mountain View, California, 94043 - Napa, California, 94558 - Naples, Florida, 34113 - Nashville, Tennessee, 37215 - Nederland, Colorado, 80466 - New Castle, New Hampshire, 03854 - New York, New York, 10009 - Newport Beach, California, 92660 - Newton Center, Massachusetts, 02459 - Newtown, Pennsylvania, 19438 - Niwot, Colorado, 80503 - Norfolk, Virginia, 23508 - North Conway, New Hampshire, 03860 - Northfield Falls, Vermont, 05664 - Oakhurst, California, 93644 - Oakhurst, California, 93644 - Ocala, Florida, 34472 - Oceanside, California, 92057 - Oceanside, California, 92054 - Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, 53066 - Odessa, Florida, 33556 - Omaha, Nebraska, 68114 - Orange, California, 92867 - Overgaard, Arizona, 85933 - Oyster Bay Cove, New York, 11771 - Palm Beach, Florida, 33480 - Palm Desert, California, 92211 - Palo Alto, California, 94303 - Park City, Utah, 84060 - Parkland, Florida, 33076 - Peck, Idaho, 83545 - Phoenix, Arizona, 85032 - Pickerington, Ohio, 43147 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15217 - Port Orange, Florida, 32128 - Portland, Oregon, 97218 - Pottsdam, Pennsylvania, 19464 - Prescott, Arizona, 86305 - Quartz Hill, California, 93536 - Queenstown, Maryland, 21658 - Rapid City, South Dakota, 57703 - Redondo Beach, California, 90277 - Richland, Washington, 99352 - Ridgway, Colorado, 81432 - Romulus, New York, 14541 - Salmon, Idaho, 83467 - San Diego, California, 92131 - San Diego, California, 92128 - San Diego, California, 92116 - San Francisco, California, 94118 - San Francisco, California, 94122 - San Luis Obispo, California, 93405 - Sandwich, Massachusetts, 02563 - Santa Barbara, California, 93460 - Santa Clara, California, 95050 - Santa Cruz, California, 95060 - Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505 - Santa Rosa, California, 95404 - Santa Rosa, California, 95403 - Saugerties, New York, 12477 - Scottsdale, Arizona, 85266 - Scottsdale, Arizona, 85254 - Seattle, Washington, 98105 - Seattle, Washington, 98118 - Seattle, Washington, 98122 - Seattle, Washington, 98144 - Sebastopol, California, 95472 - Sedona, Arizona, 86336 - Seeley Lake, Montana, 59868 - Seminole, Florida, 33776 - Sharon, Massachusetts, 02459 - Sonoma, California, 95476 - South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02748 - Southold, New York, 11971 - Sparks, Nevada, 89436 - Sparks, Nevada, 89441 - Spokane Valley, Washington, 99206 - St Bonifacius, Minnesota, 55375 - St. George, Utah, 84770 - Stanwood, Washington, 98292 - Stone Ridge, New York, 12484 - Superior, Colorado, 80027 - Surprise, Arizona, 85387 - Talkeetna, Alaska, 99676 - Toms River, New Jersey, 08757 - Truckee, California, 96161 - Tucson, Arizona, 85701 - Tustin, California, 92782 - Upland, California, 91786 - Vail, Arizona, 85641 - Van Nuys California, 91406 - Venice, Florida, 34292 - Ventura, California, 93001 - Ventura, California, 93003 - Vero Beach, Florida, 32963 - Vienna, Virginia, 22180 - Viola, Idaho, 83872 - Vonore, Tennessee, 37885 - Warrenton, Oregon, 97146 - Warwick, New York, 10990 - Washington, District of Columbia, 20008 - Watsonville, California, 95076 - Waunakee, Wisconsin, 53597 - Wayland, Massachusetts, 01778 - West Grove, Pennsylvania, 19390 - West Linn, Oregon, 97068 - Westerville, Ohio, 43082 - Westminster, Colorado, 80023 - Westport, Connecticut, 06880 - White Salmon, Washington, 98672 - Windsor, California, 95492 - Woodinville, Washington, 98072 - Wyoming, Michigan, 49519 - Yarmouth, Maine, 04096 - Yerington, Nevada, 89447 - Yorkville, California, 95494 PILOTS Start Here ## Become a Volunteer Pilot Ready to put your wings to work? Tell us about yourself and your aircraft — our flight team reviews every application and will be in touch. Check our [Pilot Requirements](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/requirements/ "Pilot Requirements") first. Δ First Name(Required) Last Name(Required) Phone Phone TypeSelect oneHomeWorkMobileOther Email(Required) Email TypeSelect onePersonalWorkAlternate Birthday(Required) Month Day Year Street Address(Required) CountryUnited StatesCanadaMexico City(Required) Postal Code(Required) How many hours of Pilot in Command (PIC) time do you have?(Required) Do you have access to aircraft?(Required) Yes No Aircraft Type(Required)Select oneSingle Engine – Low WingSingle Engine – High WingTwin Engine – Low WingTwin Engine – High WingHelicopterBiplaneExperimentalJetOther Aircraft Make & Model(Required) Do you have at minimum a private pilot’s license?(Required) Yes No Current Class MedicalSelect oneClass 1Class 2Class 3Basic MedNo Current Medical Please describe why you are interested in flying with LightHawk. Please tell us how you heard about LightHawk Submit Application Required fields are marked \*. We respond promptly to all inquiries. ## Already flying with us? Head to the Pilot Portal for mission scheduling, paperwork, and the pilot community. [ Open the Pilot Portal ](https://lighthawk.my.site.com/portal/s/login/) [ Pilot Requirements ](/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/requirements/) --- ### [Request a Flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/program-partners/request-a-flight/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-river-dam.jpg) For Partners # Tell us where *to point the nose* Every mission starts with a conversation. Tell us what you’re working toward, and let’s find out what flight can do. How It Works ## From request to wheels-up Flight requests are reviewed by our conservation team around the desired goals. Most partners hear back from a member of our program team within a day. Here is how it works. ### Submit Tell us the conservation goal, the geography, and who needs to be aboard. ### Review Our team evaluates fit against our five conservation priorities. ### Co-design We plan the route, timing, and outcomes with you and our volunteer pilot. ### Fly The LightHawk volunteer pilot donates the flight. You return with the imagery, data, and insights to act. ### Close the loop Share your flight feedback and imagery. It doesn’t just wrap up your mission, it helps build a case for the next one. ## Request a Flight Existing partners can request directly through the [Partner Portal](https://lighthawk.my.site.com/portal/s/login/). New to LightHawk? Fill out the below form. Δ First Name(Required) Last Name(Required) Title(Required) Email(Required) Phone(Required) Organization Name(Required) Organization Type(Required)Select oneLand TrustWaterkeeperNonprofitFoundationFor-Profit OrganizationGovernment AgencyIndividualOther Street(Required) City(Required) Country(Required)Select oneUnited StatesMexicoCanada Zip/Postal Code(Required) Website What do you hope to accomplish by partnering on a flight with LightHawk?(Required) How did you hear about LightHawk?(Required) Submit Application Required fields are marked \*. We typically respond within five business days. ## Not a partner yet? Learn what a LightHawk partnership makes possible — and who qualifies to fly at no direct cost. [ Become a Partner ](/join-the-community/program-partners/) [ See Featured Missions ](/our-impact/featured-missions/) --- ### [Corporate Partners](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/corporate-partners/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-bepart.jpg) Corporate & Foundation Partners # Power the *perspective* Corporate partners and foundations keep LightHawk in the air through campaign sponsorship, 1% for the Planet giving, and in-kind support. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lake-Powell-Shrinking.webp) For Companies & Foundations ## Some fly with us. Others make it possible. LightHawk’s corporate and foundation partnerships create meaningful ways for organizations to put their values into action. From sponsoring signature campaigns and special initiatives to helping expand the reach of conservation flying, these partnerships connect philanthropic investment with tangible outcomes across North America. Partners align with nearly five decades of conservation and aviation expertise. Protecting lands, waters, and wildlife requires more than good intentions. It takes experience, access, perspective, and the resources to act when it matters. [ View the Flight Map ](/our-impact/flight-map/) Ways to Partner ## Choose your flight plan Every partnership takes off differently. Whether it’s an annual gift, 1% for the Planet giving, or in-kind support, there’s a place for your company as a **Wings Partner**, with recognition and benefits that grow with your commitment. ### **Wings Partner**ships Join LightHawk as a Wings Partner. Your annual commitment brings recognition, co-branded storytelling, event visibility, and other benefits that grow with your support. ### In-Kind, Storytelling & Services Donate design, technology, production, or other professional services and expertise, and help move LightHawk’s mission forward. ### 1% for the Planet Direct your 1% membership giving to conservation flying — LightHawk is a certified environmental partner. LightHawk is a member of **1% for the Planet** and the **IUCN**, holds a **Candid Gold Transparency Seal**, and is rated by **Charity Navigator**, reflecting an organization built for accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship. With gratitude ## To Our Wings Partners - ![Esri Logo](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Esri-Logo-2048x1365-1.webp) Esri - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ForeFlight-Logo.webp) ForeFlight - ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CJI_Logo.webp) Corporate Jet Investor Start Here ## Learn More About a Wings Partnership Tell us about your organization and the impact you’d like to make. Our Advancement team will follow up with next steps. Δ ### Corporate Partnership Your Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Company/Organization(Required) Title/Role Address(Required) City State / Province / Region What interests you about a Wings Partnership?(Required)Select from listCorporate social responsibilityEmployee engagementConservation impactBrand visibilityAviation connectionPhilanthropic partnershipOther What level of partnership are you interested in?Select from listExploring optionsAnnual sponsorshipMulti-year partnershipEvent or campaign partnershipIn-kind supportNot sure yet Tell us a little about your company and what you'd like this partnership to accomplish. Submit Required fields are marked \*. We respond promptly to all inquiries. ## Power the Next Flight Challenge The **50 in 50 Challenge**, LightHawk’s most visible campaign, shows what’s possible when the power of flight meets the power of collaboration, coast to coast. [ Explore the Challenge ](/50-in-50/) [ Make a Gift Instead ](/donate/) --- ### [New Partner Inquiry](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/new-partner-inquiry/) **Published:** September 1, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-lakepowell.jpg) let's work together # No mission *flies* alone LightHawk collaborates with a range of partners working to understand and protect North America’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Start Here ## New Partner Inquiry Tell us about your organization and the conservation work a flight would advance. Our program team reviews every application and follows up on requests personally. ***Are You a Returning Partner?*** Visit the [Partner Portal](https://lighthawk.my.site.com/portal/s/login/) to request a flight. Δ First Name(Required) Last Name(Required) Title(Required) Email(Required) Phone(Required) Organization Name(Required) Organization Type(Required)Select oneLand TrustWaterkeeperNonprofitFoundationFor-Profit OrganizationGovernment AgencyIndividualOther Street(Required) City(Required) Country(Required)Select oneUnited StatesMexicoCanada Zip/Postal Code(Required) Website What do you hope to accomplish by partnering on a flight with LightHawk?(Required) How did you hear about LightHawk?(Required) Submit Application Required fields are marked \*. We respond promptly to all inquiries. --- ### [Endowment Fund](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/endowment-fund/) **Published:** August 12, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4101-scaled.jpg) WAYS TO GIVE # LightHawk Endowment Fund LightHawk’s endowment ensures that conservation flying continues long after any single gift, grant, or generation. It provides permanent support for protecting wild places, waterways, and wildlife from above. ### Invest in LightHawk’s Future Our volunteer pilots understand what it means to use flight in service of something larger. Anyone who has ever looked down at a wild place and wanted it protected knows what moves them: the belief that a few hours in the air can help protect a river, a forest, or a species for good. The **LightHawk Endowment Fund** carries that idea forward. It is built by pilots, partners, and supporters who share that instinct and want conservation flying to continue for generations to come. A gift to the endowment strengthens LightHawk for the long term, generating support year after year so we can remain ready as conservation needs change and new opportunities emerge. --- ### A Gift That Lasts Unlike an annual gift, an endowment gift is designed to keep working over time. Your contribution becomes part of a permanent fund that can help sustain LightHawk’s mission for years to come. #### Lasting impact Your gift keeps working long after it is made, funding conservation flights for generations of pilots and partners. #### A lasting commitment Every flight supported by this fund carries forward the belief that aviation can protect the natural world. #### Institutional stability Endowment income gives LightHawk a stable foundation, reducing dependence on year to year fundraising and enabling long term planning. #### A growing fund LightHawk’s endowment has reached $1 million and continues to grow. Your gift adds to something that already has real momentum. --- ### Build Something Enduring You can support LightHawk’s endowment through several types of charitable gifts, including cash, appreciated securities, estate plans, beneficiary designations, and other giving vehicles. Whether you make an endowment gift today or include LightHawk in your long-term plans, your support helps strengthen the foundation for what comes next. ### **Interested in making an endowment gift?** Joanna Weitzel, LightHawk’s Chief Advancement Officer, would be happy to help you explore the options. <jweitzel@lighthawk.org> \| (970) 797-9355 ext. 12 --- ### [Stocks and Securities](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/stocks-and-securities/) **Published:** August 12, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/aerials-4.webp) WAYS TO GIVE # Gifts of Stocks & Securities Donating appreciated stock or other publicly traded securities can be a tax-efficient way to support LightHawk while potentially increasing the value of your gift. ### A Tax-Smart Way to Give Giving appreciated stock can be a simple way to make a meaningful gift to LightHawk while also taking advantage of potential tax benefits. If you donate securities held for more than one year, you may generally be eligible to deduct their fair market value, subject to tax rules and limitations, while avoiding capital gains tax that could apply if you sold them first. *We encourage you to consult your financial or tax advisor to determine what’s right for your situation.* ### Give Stock in Three Simple Steps **1** **Instruct your stockbroker to transfer the shares.** Provide your broker with the name and number of shares you wish to donate, along with LightHawk’s transfer information: | Receiving Broker | **Vanguard** | |---|---| | For the Benefit Of | **LightHawk** | | DTC Number | **0062** | | Account Number | **85654498** | | Federal Tax ID | **84-0852104** | **2** **Notify LightHawk of your gift.** Email **info@lighthawk.org** or call **(970) 797-9355 ext. 12** with your name and information about the securities being transferred. Because brokerage transfers may arrive without donor-identifying information, notifying us helps ensure we can properly acknowledge your gift. **3** **Receive your acknowledgment.** Once your gift is received, LightHawk will send you a written acknowledgment for your records. IRS substantiation requirements apply to charitable gifts, including noncash contributions. ***One more thing:** If possible, ask your broker to include your name and contact information with the transfer so we can identify and acknowledge your gift promptly.* ### Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I need to notify LightHawk about my stock transfer? Yes, we strongly encourage it. Stock transfers often arrive without enough information to identify the donor. Letting us know your gift is coming helps us acknowledge it promptly and accurately. Email **info@lighthawk.org** or call **(970) 797-9355 ext. 12** with your name and information about the securities being transferred. ### What is LightHawk's tax identification number? LightHawk’s Federal Tax ID (EIN) is 84-0852104. ### I have other questions. Who do I contact? Our Advancement Team is glad to help. See our contact information below. ### STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? ### Our Advancement Team is glad to help with transfer instructions or other questions about making a gift of securities. info@lighthawk.org \| (970) 797-9355 ext. 12 --- ### [Legacy Circle](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/legacy-circle/) **Published:** August 13, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Anderman01_notailnumber.png) WAYS TO GIVE # The Legacy Circle A community of supporters making an enduring commitment to LightHawk and the future of conservation. A LASTING COMMITMENT ## What it means to join the Legacy Circle **The Legacy Circle** honors those who choose to make a lasting commitment to LightHawk, whether through extraordinary lifetime giving or a planned gift. Their generosity helps strengthen LightHawk for the future and ensures that aviation remains a powerful tool for conservation for years to come. MEMBERSHIP ## Who is part of the Legacy Circle? Legacy Circle members are among LightHawk’s most committed supporters. Membership recognizes those who give **$10,000 or more annually**, have contributed **$100,000 or more over time**, or have chosen to include LightHawk in their **estate plans**. ### Explore planned giving options → However they choose to give, they share something important: **a belief in LightHawk’s future and a commitment to helping shape it.** #### Explore Planned Giving → --- ### A Closer Connection to LightHawk Legacy Circle members are part of a community whose commitment helps shape LightHawk’s future. Membership offers a closer connection to the people, missions, and conservation work their generosity helps sustain. #### Recognition Recognition in LightHawk publications and events, if desired. #### Exclusive updates Special updates and behind-the-scenes stories from LightHawk’s work. #### Invitations Invitations to select events, briefings, and regional gatherings. #### Connection Opportunities to engage more closely with pilots, staff, and conservation leaders. #### Impact reports Personal updates on the impact and direction of LightHawk’s work. #### A lasting legacy The knowledge that wild places, waterways, and wildlife will have a champion in the sky for years to come. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/aerial-algae.jpg) ## A Legacy That Keeps Looking Forward > “LightHawk occupies a place in conservation that few organizations can. We bring together skilled pilots and deep conservation expertise to make work possible at a scale few others can match. By joining the Legacy Circle, you are choosing to ensure that this remarkable resource is here for whatever conservation needs next.” **Joanna Weitzel**Chief Advancement Officer, LightHawk ## Be part of LightHawk’s future The Legacy Circle brings together people whose extraordinary commitment helps ensure LightHawk is ready for the conservation challenges still ahead. Whether that commitment is expressed through significant giving over time or through a future gift, each member becomes part of something larger: sustaining a unique conservation resource for years to come. If you qualify for the Legacy Circle, have included LightHawk in your estate plans, or simply want to learn more, we would be honored to hear from you. Letting us know allows us to thank you personally and welcome you into the Legacy Circle. All communications are completely confidential. **Interested in the Legacy Circle?** Our Advancement Team would be honored to talk with you about membership and answer any questions, in complete confidence. **info@lighthawk.org** **(970) 797-9355 ext. 12** PO Box 2751 Grand Junction, CO 81502 --- ### [Monthly Giving](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/monthly-giving/) **Published:** August 14, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tail_High_03_GX030068.MP4.09_14_04_05.Still001.webp) JOIN the lift # Keep conservation in *motion* Monthly support helps LightHawk stay ready for the conservation work that can’t wait. [ Join The Lift Today ](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/) ##### MONTHLY GIVING ## Why The Lift Matters Lift is what keeps an aircraft in the air. At LightHawk, The Lift is the community that helps keep conservation moving. By giving monthly, you become part of an ongoing story of wildlife recovery, changing landscapes, healthy waters, and the people using aviation to protect them. In Florida, it can mean tracking seagrass loss before struggling manatees or sea turtles signal a larger problem. In the West, it can mean watching a watershed through drought and recovery. For endangered wildlife, it can mean staying engaged as recovery unfolds over years. The Lift is about staying with the work. **Not for one flight or one moment, but for what comes next.** It gives LightHawk the consistent support to keep looking, learning, responding, and moving conservation forward. **That’s what it means to be part of The Lift: showing up month after month for the work that takes time. A one-time gift meets a moment.** **A monthly gift helps us plan for what’s ahead.** **As part of The Lift, you’ll receive:** - Insider updates from the field and the air - Early looks at stories, missions and updates - Special member-only moments throughout the year ### Find Your Place in The Lift ### $10/month Be Part of The Lift Keep conservation moving month after month. [Join at $10/mo](https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lighthawkmonthlygivingform/amount/10.00/frequency/m) MOST POPULAR ### $25/month Strengthen The Lift Support the planning behind the missions. [Join at $25/mo](https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lighthawkmonthlygivingform/amount/25.00/frequency/m) ### $50/month Sustain The Lift Help LightHawk stay ready for what comes next. [Join at $50/mo](https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lighthawkmonthlygivingform/amount/50.00/frequency/m) ### $100/month Build The Lift Expand LightHawk’s capacity to take on more. [Join at $100/mo](https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lighthawkmonthlygivingform/amount/100.00/frequency/m) **Choose the amount that’s right for you. Every monthly gift makes you part of The Lift.** ![Flight 26: Documenting Ranching Operations Impacting Missouri River](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_26A-scaled.jpeg) MEMBER UPDATES ## Inside The Lift When you join The Lift, you’ll receive regular updates that bring you closer to the missions, landscapes, and conservation stories your support helps move forward. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/a5lPC0000000253YAA-scaled.webp) JOIN THE COMMUNITY ## Be Part of What Comes Next The Lift is more than a monthly gift. It’s a community committed to staying with the work, seeing what changes, and helping LightHawk keep conservation moving. --- ### [Wills and Trusts](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/wills-and-trusts/) **Published:** August 13, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Designations ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rio-Grande-aerials-Mitch-Tobin-June-2024-1_web.png) Ways to give # Leave a lasting *legacy* Wills, Trusts & Beneficiary Designations ## Plan Your Gift The wild places, waterways, and wildlife LightHawk works to protect will need champions for years to come. Including LightHawk in your will, trust, or beneficiary designations is a meaningful way to extend your commitment to conservation beyond your lifetime, without affecting your finances today. These gifts can be changed at any time and may offer estate-planning or tax advantages depending on your circumstances. *We encourage you to consult your attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional when considering a legacy gift.* ## Four Simple Ways to Leave a Legacy ### 1. Include LightHawk in your will or living trust You can leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other gifts are made. A bequest can be included when you create or update your estate plan, or added to an existing will through a simple amendment called a codicil. No minimum amount is required. ### 2. A life insurance beneficiary designation Naming LightHawk as a primary or contingent beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy is a simple way to make a future gift. The benefit is paid directly to LightHawk upon your passing, according to the terms of the policy. You may also choose to donate ownership of a paid-up policy during your lifetime, which may qualify for a charitable tax deduction. Contact your insurance company to request a beneficiary designation or ownership transfer form. ### 3. A retirement account beneficiary designation (IRA, 401(k), 403(b)) Retirement accounts can be an especially effective way to make a charitable legacy gift. By naming LightHawk as a beneficiary of an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other retirement plan, you can direct all or a percentage of the remaining account to LightHawk. Because tax-exempt charities are generally treated differently from individual beneficiaries, retirement assets may offer important tax advantages as part of an estate plan. Contact your plan administrator or account custodian to update your beneficiary designation. ### 4. A beneficiary designation on bank or investment accounts Many bank and investment accounts allow you to name LightHawk as a payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary. These designations can allow assets to pass directly to LightHawk outside of probate, without requiring a change to your will. Contact your bank or financial institution to learn what beneficiary options are available for your account. ## Sample Bequest Language **Planning a gift through your will or trust?** The following language is provided as a starting point for discussion with your attorney, who can tailor it to your individual estate plan. ### General bequest (specific dollar amount) “I give and bequeath to LightHawk Conservation Flying, a Colorado nonprofit corporation (Tax ID 84-0852104), located at PO Box 2755, Grand Junction, CO 81502, the sum of $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for its general conservation purposes.” ### Percentage of estate “I give and bequeath to LightHawk Conservation Flying, a Colorado nonprofit corporation (Tax ID 84-0852104), located at PO Box 2755, Grand Junction, CO 81502, *\_\_*% of my residuary estate for its general conservation purposes.” ### Residuary bequest (remainder of estate after other gifts) “I give, devise, and bequeath all \[or *\_\_*% of\] the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate to LightHawk Conservation Flying, a Colorado nonprofit corporation (Tax ID 84-0852104), located at PO Box 2755, Grand Junction, CO 81502, for its general conservation purposes.” ### Contingent bequest (backup gift if primary beneficiary does not survive you) “If \[primary beneficiary\] does not survive me, I give and bequeath to LightHawk Conservation Flying, a Colorado nonprofit corporation (Tax ID 84-0852104), located at PO Box 2755, Grand Junction, CO 81502, \[the sum of $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ / *\_\_*% of my estate / all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate\] for its general conservation purposes.” ### LightHawk legal information for your attorney | Legal name | **LightHawk** | |---|---| | Address | **PO Box 2755, Grand Junction, CO 81502** | | Federal Tax ID | **84-0852104** | | Type of organization | **501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation** | | State of incorporation | **Colorado** | ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need to tell LightHawk about my gift? You are not required to notify us, but we warmly encourage you to. Letting us know allows us to thank you personally, ensure your wishes can be fulfilled, and welcome you into our community of legacy supporters. Your gift remains completely confidential if you prefer. ### Can I specify how my gift is used? Yes. If you have a specific conservation area or type of work you want to support, we encourage you to speak with our Advancement Team before finalizing your plans so we can confirm LightHawk is able to honor your wishes. For most gifts, directing the gift to “general conservation purposes” gives LightHawk the flexibility to put it to the best use. ### What if I already have a will? Do I need to start over? No. You can add a bequest to an existing will through a simple amendment called a codicil, which your attorney can prepare. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and bank accounts are updated directly with the account custodian and do not require changes to your will. ### Why are retirement accounts and life insurance especially good to leave to charity? Add thWhen heirs inherit a retirement account like an IRA or 401(k), they generally owe income tax on the withdrawals. A charity like LightHawk pays no income tax, so the full value of the account goes to conservation work. Life insurance proceeds are also received tax-free by LightHawk, making both excellent assets to designate for charitable giving.e answer… ### What is LightHawk's legal name and tax ID? LightHawk’s legal name is LightHawk Conservation Flying. Our Federal Tax ID number is 84-0852104. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation incorporated in Colorado. ### I have other questions. Who do I contact? Our Advancement Team is happy to discuss your plans in complete confidence. Email jweitzel@lighthawk.org or call (970) 797-9355 ext. 12. ### Ready to Include LightHawk in Your Plans? Our Advancement Team can provide the information you or your advisor need, confidentially and without obligation. [ Contact Us ](https://www.lighthawk.org/contact/) --- ### [Donor Advised Funds](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/donor-advised-funds/) **Published:** August 14, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Flight-Photos-Western-Resources-1.webp) Ways to give # Donor Advised Funds Keep conservation flying by recommending a grant from ar Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). ## **Support LightHawk Through Your Donor Advised Fund** Keep conservation flying by recommending a grant from your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). You can make your grant directly through your financial institution or use **DAFPay** below, an easy and secure giving option LightHawk makes available through Chariot. - Avoid lost checks and mailing delays - Keep your gift secure with end-to-end encryption - Give in three clicks As a 501(c)(3) organization, LightHawk is eligible to receive distributions from most donor-advised funds. - Our tax identification number (EIN) is **84-0852104**. - Our mailing address is: **LightHawk** PO Box 2751 Grand Junction, CO 81502 ### **Ready to give through a DAF?** Click the DAFpay button to get started. --- ## Learn More About Donor Advised Funds ### What is a donor-advised fund (DAF)? A donor-advised fund is a giving account you open through a sponsoring organization, like a community foundation or financial firm. You contribute cash, stock, or other assets, get a tax deduction right away, and recommend grants to LightHawk and other charities over time. ### How do donor-advised funds work? You open a DAF and contribute assets, qualifying for a tax deduction the year you give. Your sponsoring organization invests the funds, and whenever you’re ready, you recommend a grant to LightHawk. There’s no deadline, so you can support us again and again from the same account. ### What are the benefits of using a donor-advised fund (DAF)? A DAF lets you give now and decide later, keep your giving organized in one place and grow your contribution tax-free while it waits to be granted. Many donors also use a DAF to give anonymously or build a lasting family tradition of giving. ### Want to learn more about DAFs? Discover the ease of opening a donor advised fund—plus the advantages you’ll enjoy—with our guide Streamline Your Giving with a Donor Advised Fund. **Questions about giving?** Contact us at info@lighthawk.org or call **(970) 797-9355, ext. 12**. --- ### [Qualified Charitable Distributions](https://www.lighthawk.org/donate/more-ways-to-give/qualified-charitable-distributions/) **Published:** August 14, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Heilner-GSL-39-4546.jpg) WAYS TO GIVE # Qualified Charitable Distributions If you’re 70½ or older, your IRA can become a meaningful way to support LightHawk while potentially reducing your taxable income. ##### HOW A QCD WORKS ## A Simple Way to Give From Your IRA A **Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)** allows you to make a gift directly from your IRA to LightHawk without first taking the distribution as taxable income. For 2026, eligible individuals may make QCDs of up to $111,000 annually. If you are required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), a qualifying QCD can count toward satisfying it for the year. *We encourage you to consult your financial or tax advisor to determine what’s right for your situation.* ## Make a QCD in Three Simple Steps **1** **Contact your IRA custodian.** Ask your custodian to send your Qualified Charitable Distribution directly to **LightHawk**, **PO Box 2751, Grand Junction, CO 81502. Tax ID 84-0852104**. Please provide this information so the gift reaches us correctly. **2** **Let LightHawk know your gift is coming.** Email **info@lighthawk.org** or call (970) 797-9355 ext. 12 so we can identify your gift, acknowledge it properly, and honor any designation you have requested. **3** **Receive your acknowledgment.** We’ll send you written confirmation for your records. A QCD that is excluded from taxable income cannot also be claimed as a charitable contribution deduction. ****IMPORTANT:**** Ask your IRA custodian to include your name and address with the gift so we can identify and acknowledge it promptly. Please make checks payable to LightHawk. --- ## A QCD may be right for you if: - You are age 70½ or older. - You are required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and do not need the income. - You do not itemize deductions but still want a tax-efficient way to support LightHawk. - You want to make a charitable gift directly from your IRA. You can make a QCD beginning at age 70½, even if you are not yet required to take an RMD. Under current federal rules, RMDs generally begin at age 73. --- ### Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the annual limit for a QCD? For 2026, the annual QCD limit is **$111,000 per eligible individual**. The limit is indexed for inflation and may change in future years. Married couples who each have an eligible IRA may each make QCDs up to the individual annual limit. ### Can a QCD satisfy my Required Minimum Distribution? Yes. A QCD can count toward your RMD for the year, up to the applicable annual QCD limit. This can be especially useful if you are required to take an RMD but do not need all of that income for living expenses. ### Which types of IRAs qualify? QCDs can generally be made from traditional IRAs and from SEP or SIMPLE IRAs that are no longer receiving employer contributions. They cannot be made directly from 401(k), 403(b), or other employer-sponsored retirement plans. Please consult your financial or tax advisor to confirm that your account qualifies. ### What is LightHawk's tax identification number? LightHawk’s Federal Tax ID is **84-0852104**. LightHawk is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization eligible to receive charitable contributions. ### I have other questions. Who do I contact? Our Advancement Team is happy to help with questions about making a QCD. Email **info@lighthawk.org** or call **(970) 797-9355 ext. 12**. **STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?** Our Advancement Team is happy to help with questions about giving from your IRA. **info@lighthawk.org** **(970) 797-9355 ext. 12** --- ### [Accessibility Policy](https://www.lighthawk.org/accessibility-policy/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** Legal # Accessibility Policy LightHawk is committed to a website everyone can use. Last updated: July 2026 ## Our commitment LightHawk wants everyone to experience the aerial perspective — including every visitor to this website. We are committed to conforming to the **Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA**, and to improving accessibility continuously. ## What we do - Semantic structure, landmarks, and skip links on every page - Keyboard-operable navigation, menus, forms, and interactive maps - Text alternatives for meaningful images and icons - Color contrast targets that meet or exceed AA - Reduced-motion support respecting your system preference ## Known limitations Some third-party content — embedded maps, donation forms, and archived PDF reports — may not yet meet the same standard. Where possible we provide accessible alternatives, and we can supply content from archived documents in accessible formats on request. ## Feedback If you encounter a barrier on this site, please tell us. Contact us by phone at [(970) 797-9355](tel:+19707979355) or through the [contact form](/contact/), and we will work with you to provide the information you need and fix the underlying issue. ## Contact Questions about this policy? Write to LightHawk, PO Box 2751, Grand Junction, CO 81502, call [(970) 797-9355](tel:+19707979355), or use the [contact form](/contact/). --- ### [Careers](https://www.lighthawk.org/careers/) **Published:** July 29, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Excerpt:** Explore career opportunities at LightHawk and help accelerate conservation through the power of flight. **Content:** About LightHawk # Careers Help accelerate conservation through the power of flight. Join a small, mission-driven team using aviation to advance conservation across North America. LightHawk works with highly skilled volunteer pilots and conservation partners to tackle challenges affecting wildlife, waters, landscapes, and coastlines. ## Current openings There are no current openings, but we’re always glad you’re interested in LightHawk. Please check back for future opportunities. ## Other ways to work with us If you’re a pilot, consider volunteering your skills and aircraft. If your organization works in conservation, we’d love to partner with you. ## Want to be part of the mission? Volunteer pilots and conservation partners are the heart of LightHawk. [ Become a Volunteer Pilot ](/join-the-community/volunteer-pilots/) [ Contact Us ](/contact/) --- ### [Accountability Archive](https://www.lighthawk.org/accountability-archive/) **Published:** September 2, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Fall-Colors-Photo-scaled.webp) Our Accountability # Learn About Our *History of Success.* Here you will find archive copies of Impact Report (Annual Report) and other Accountability documents. ## Impact Reports/Annual Reports - [ **2020** PDF · 4.2 MB ](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020AR-LightHawk-1Dec20.pdf) - **2019** PDF · 1.1 MB - **2017** ZIP · 18 MB - **2016** PDF · 0 MB - **2015** PDF · 0 MB - **2014** PDF · 0 MB - **2013** PDF · 0 MB - **2012** PDF · 0 MB - **2011** PDF · 0 MB --- ### [About LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/about-lighthawk/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-riverbends.jpg) About LightHawk # Where aviation meets *conservation* Since 1979, LightHawk has defined conservation flying, combining aviation and conservation expertise to reveal change, reach remote places, and improve outcomes nationwide. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/a5l3b000000EQ1oAAG-scaled.webp) Our Mission ## Conservation Flying, Led by Experience **LightHawk advances conservation through the power and perspective of flight.** LightHawk has been putting aviation to work for conservation since 1979. Our experienced conservation team works alongside partners to design each mission around the conservation goal, drawing on decades of expertise to determine how aviation can make the greatest contribution. From there, we bring together highly skilled volunteer pilots and the right aircraft to put that strategy into action. We reveal change across entire landscapes, reach remote places, move wildlife, and bring a broader perspective to conservation decisions. ****This is conservation flying at a scale few others can match.**** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/a5l3b0000003nDpAAI-scaled.webp) WHY LIGHTHAWK ## Aviation Built for Conservation Aviation can dramatically expand the speed, reach, access, and perspective of conservation work. Yet the aircraft, expertise, and mission design needed to use it effectively are often beyond the reach of most conservation organizations. LightHawk was built to change that. Our conservation team determines where aviation can have the greatest impact, designs missions around the conservation need, and brings together highly experienced volunteer pilots and the right aircraft for the job. Our pilots donate their expertise, time, aircraft, and fuel. **That combination of conservation expertise, aviation experience, and mission design is what makes LightHawk different.** Our Vision and values ## What keeps us on course We envision a world where ecosystems are healthy, biodiversity thrives, and communities prosper alongside the natural systems that sustain them. ### Heal & protect our Earth We put aviation to work where it can strengthen the health of wildlife, water, landscapes, and the ecosystems that connect them. ### Soar with intention Every mission begins with a clear conservation goal. We use aviation strategically, with purpose behind every flight. ### Serve with purpose We bring our expertise, time, and resources to the work with focus, care, and a commitment to meaningful outcomes. ### Accelerate impact We look for the places where aviation can move conservation farther, faster, and with greater clarity. ### Embrace collaboration The strongest conservation work happens together. We believe better outcomes come from shared expertise, strong partnerships, and a common goal. ### Do the right thing We lead with integrity, fairness, and respect, making decisions that reflect our responsibility to people, communities, and the natural world. Where We Work ## Conservation across borders. LightHawk works throughout the United States and into parts of Canada and Mexico, bringing conservation expertise and a highly skilled network of volunteer pilots to missions across the continent. 275+ Volunteer pilots 230+ Flights last year 1979 Flying since 5 Conservation priorities [ View the Flight Map ](https://www.lighthawk.org/our-impact/flight-map/) Go Deeper ## Get to know LightHawk Explore the people, history, transparency, and stories behind nearly five decades of conservation flying. [ ![View from the cockpit of a small aircraft in flight](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/people-cockpit.jpg) About### Our People Learn more about our staff, board, and advisory council helping guide LightHawk’s work. Meet the team ](/about-lighthawk/our-people/) [ ![Expansive aerial landscape of valleys and ridgelines](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-scale.jpg) About### Our Transparency Annual reports, financials, and the policies that keep us accountable. View Our Reports ](/about-lighthawk/accountability/) [ ![Aerial view of a conservation landscape](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-legacy.jpg) About### Our Missions Explore stories from across LightHawk’s work and see how aviation is being used to advance conservation on the ground. Explore our work ](/newsroom/) [ ![Sunrise flight over the Front Range, Colorado](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-sunrise.jpg) About### Contact Us Questions, media inquiries, partnerships, and more. We’ll help you reach the right person. Get in touch ](/contact/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/impact-scale.jpg) the next chapter ## 47 years. Still looking ahead. For nearly five decades, LightHawk has taken to the air to change what’s possible for conservation. The challenges ahead are significant. So is the opportunity to meet them with a different perspective. [Support LightHawk](/donate/) [Join the Community](/join-the-community/) --- ### [Our People](https://www.lighthawk.org/about-lighthawk/our-people/) **Published:** July 27, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/people-cockpit.jpg) Our People # A small team with *a big wingspan.* Meet the staff and board of directors who make conservation fly. The Roster ## The people behind the flights Meet the staff and board guiding LightHawk’s work and helping turn aviation into conservation impact. Select a photo to learn more. - Board of Directors - Conservation Team Found 11 team members — displaying results for “Board of Directors” [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Elliott-Wright-CEO-1-e1788395035265.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/jim-becker/) Conservation Team ### [Elliott Wright](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/jim-becker/) Chief Executive Officer [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2-e1786722501962-919x1024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/joanna-weitzel/) Conservation Team ### [Joanna Weitzel](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/joanna-weitzel/) Chief Advancement Officer [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Milne-1024x1024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/jonathan-milne/) Conservation Team ### [Jonathan Milne](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/jonathan-milne/) Program Manager – Eastern Region [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Daub-1024x1024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/betsy-daub/) Conservation Team ### [Betsy Daub](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/betsy-daub/) Program Manager – Western Region [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Boyer2-1024x1024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chris-boyer/) Conservation Team ### [Chris Boyer](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chris-boyer/) Program Manager – Northern Rockies [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Clint-Burson-e1786718616215-848x1024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/clint-burson/) Conservation Team ### [Clint Burson](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/clint-burson/) Strategic Communications Manager [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-1-e1786722135875-908x1024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chelsea-baird/) Conservation Team ### [Chelsea Baird](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chelsea-baird/) Office Manager [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kimberly-Eckert.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/kimberly-eckert/) Board of Directors ### [Kimberly Eckert](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/kimberly-eckert/) Chair, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ben-Cohen-1.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/benjamin-cohen/) Board of Directors ### [Benjamin Cohen](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/benjamin-cohen/) Vice Chair, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Chris-Lee.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chris-lee/) Board of Directors ### [Chris Lee](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chris-lee/) Treasurer, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Josh-Marvil.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/josh-marvil/) Board of Directors ### [Josh Marvil](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/josh-marvil/) Secretary, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Evan-Anderson.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/evan-anderman-2/) Board of Directors ### [Evan Anderman](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/evan-anderman-2/) Member, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Erin-Cooke.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/erin-cooke/) Board of Directors ### [Erin Cooke](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/erin-cooke/) Member, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Kate-Hackett-1-e1787331736383.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/kate-hackett/) Board of Directors ### [Kate Hackett](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/kate-hackett/) Member, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Steve-Kent-1.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/steve-kent/) Board of Directors ### [Steve Kent](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/steve-kent/) Member, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Alex-Polvi-768x1024.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/alex-polvi/) Board of Directors ### [Alex Polvi](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/alex-polvi/) Member, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Erin-Manzietto-Tripp-e1787329616648.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/erin-manzitto-tripp/) Board of Directors ### [Erin Manzitto-Tripp](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/erin-manzitto-tripp/) Member, Board of Directors [ ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Will-Worthington.webp) ](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/will-worthington/) Board of Directors ### [Will Worthington](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/will-worthington/) Member, Board of Directors × ![Elliott Wright](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Elliott-Wright-CEO-1-e1788395035265.webp) Position Chief Executive Officer Location Colorado Contact Information <ewright@lighthawk.org> [(970) 797-9355 ext. 1](tel:97079793551) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrightelliott) Conservation Team ## Elliott Wright Elliott brings more than 20 years of conservation and philanthropic leadership to LightHawk. He served for nearly a decade as Executive Director of Hidden Villa, a California land trust and environmental education nonprofit, before becoming Campaign Director at The Nature Conservancy, where he secured more than $32 million to protect landscapes and seascapes across the United States, Palmyra Atoll, the Solomon Islands, eastern Africa, and southeast Asia, including directing the Northern Sierra Partnership, a collaboration among land trusts, Tribes, and government agencies. Elliott also advises mission-driven organizations including Conservation International and the Honnold Foundation, where he partnered with climber Alex Honnold to help scale solar energy work to 36 countries. A CFRE-certified fundraiser and NOLS faculty member since 2010, he has built his career connecting people to nature through storytelling and experiential learning. He holds a B.S. from Bowdoin College and recently relocated with his family from Palo Alto, California to Boulder, Colorado. ![Joanna Weitzel](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-2-e1786722501962.webp) Position Chief Advancement Officer Location South Carolina Contact Information <jweitzel@lighthawk.org> [(970) 797-9355 Ext.12](tel:970797935512) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannaweitzel/) Conservation Team ## Joanna Weitzel Joanna is a nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in marketing, development, and organizational management, dedicated to expanding the conservation impact of mission-driven organizations. Before joining LightHawk, she served as Director of Philanthropy for Welvista and as Executive Director of two conservation nonprofits, Camp Discovery and Carolina Wildlife Center. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina and a B.S. in Marketing from Clemson University. In her free time, Joanna enjoys birding, hiking, and traveling to new places, and especially treasures time at her family’s cabin in Alaska. She currently resides on Lake Murray in South Carolina with her husband and pets. ![Jonathan Milne](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Milne.webp) Position Program Manager – Eastern Region Location Maine Contact Information <jmilne@lighthawk.org> [(970) 797- 9355 ext.7](tel:97079793557) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-m-731037156/) Conservation Team ## Jonathan Milne Jonathan’s unique blend of conservation expertise and aviation exposure makes him a valuable addition to the LightHawk team. Aviation has been part of his life since childhood, growing up with a father who flew historic aircraft and a brother who served as a USMC helicopter pilot. Before joining LightHawk, Jonathan spent nearly a decade as a park ranger, first with the BLM in Oregon and later at Maine’s Baxter State Park. Throughout his career, he has contributed to ecological and wetland assessments, easement monitoring for multiple land trusts, and forestry surveys across New England. He holds a B.S. in Recreation and Park Management from the University of Maine and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Conservation Biology from Green Mountain College in Vermont. ![Betsy Daub](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Daub.webp) Position Program Manager – Western Region Location New Mexico Contact Information <bdaub@lighthawk.org> [(970) 797-9355 ext.8](tel:97079793558) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-daub-2550ba140/) Conservation Team ## Betsy Daub Betsy has dedicated 35 years to ecological conservation, combining field research with environmental policy and advocacy. Her career spans work with nonprofit conservation organizations and Minnesota’s state natural resource agency, focused on bridging science and policy to protect natural systems across the country. She holds an M.S. in Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan. In her leisure time, Betsy is a writer and an art enthusiast. She resides in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, where she and her wife are restoring a historic house, and they have two adult children. ![Chris Boyer](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Boyer2.webp) Position Program Manager – Northern Rockies Location Montana Contact Information <cboyer@lighthawk.org> Conservation Team ## Chris Boyer Chris is a unique member of the LightHawk team, serving as both a program manager and a volunteer pilot who has been flying LightHawk conservation missions for more than 20 years. Raised a conservationist, he studied fluvial geomorphology in graduate school at Oregon State University, where he also learned to fly. After a first career in landscape restoration, he started Kestrel Aerial Services to provide aerial survey, mapping, and photography throughout the Northern Rockies. Chris flies a modified 1957 Cessna 172 he calls “the Red Plane” and brings his background in natural resources, photography, and aviation to his efforts at LightHawk. Chris’s images have appeared in galleries, museums, and numerous regional and national publications, and he is currently working on a book of his photography. ![Clint Burson](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Clint-Burson-e1786718616215.webp) Position Strategic Communications Manager Location Washington Contact Information <cburson@lighthawk.org> [(970) 797-9355 ext.5](tel:97079793555) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintburson/) Conservation Team ## Clint Burson Clint brings more than 15 years of communications experience to LightHawk. Before joining, he served as Director of Government Relations and Communications for the Missoula, Montana Chamber of Commerce, where his work ranged from overseeing chamber communications to fostering relationships with elected officials, agency leadership, and economic development leaders. He also spent nearly a decade in media at a daily newspaper in Hamilton, Montana. Clint has a lifelong connection to aviation, having grown up in the passenger seat of a Mooney with his father at the controls. He volunteers as a board member for EAA 517 and creates the chapter’s monthly newsletter, and learning to fly himself is on his bucket list. In his spare time, Clint enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, and photography, and spending time with his family. ![Chelsea Baird](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-1-e1786722135875.webp) Position Office Manager Location Colorado Contact Information <cbaird@lighthawk.org> [(970) 797-9355 ext.3](tel:97079793553) Conservation Team ## Chelsea Baird Chelsea brings an extensive background in development, administration, and finance to LightHawk, along with a personal connection to aviation through her husband, Andy, who is a pilot. She is committed to supporting LightHawk’s mission and bringing her organizational expertise to the work of conservation flying. Outside of work, Chelsea loves being outdoors, backpacking, hiking, fishing, and cooking. ![Kimberly Eckert](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Kimberly-Eckert.webp) Position Chair, Board of Directors Location Colorado Board of Directors ## Kimberly Eckert > Kimberly brings nearly two decades of experience in finance, investment management, and natural resources. Originally from rural Montana, she earned her MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and has worked in New York and Denver across investment banking, energy, and entrepreneurial ventures, including serving as CFO of a geothermal energy startup. > > She is passionate about sustainable resource use and community service. In addition to serving on LightHawk’s board, Kimberly volunteers with the International Rescue Committee in Denver, leads the Tuck Alumni Chapter of Colorado, and serves as Treasurer of the Junior League of Denver Foundation. ![Benjamin Cohen](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ben-Cohen-1.webp) Position Vice Chair, Board of Directors Location Massachusetts Board of Directors ## Benjamin Cohen Ben is an attorney based in Atlanta and Boston who brings a lifelong passion for aviation to the LightHawk board — he soloed a glider at 14 and today flies a G36 Bonanza and Citabria, holding tailwheel and seaplane ratings. He joined the board in 2025 after serving as a LightHawk volunteer pilot, bringing a deep commitment to both conservation and aviation safety. ![Chris Lee](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Chris-Lee.webp) Position Treasurer, Board of Directors Location Indiana Board of Directors ## Chris Lee Chris Lee brings over 25 years of aviation industry experience to the LightHawk board. His career began in 1998 at Cessna Finance Corporation, where he held various Regional Sales Manager positions based in Kansas, Washington, Massachusetts, and Texas. In 2017, Chris joined SkyVenture International as their Global Vice President of Sales, and in July 2020, he joined the 1st Source Bank Aviation team as Relationship Sales Officer and Vice President, based in Austin, Texas. He now serves as President of the Aviation Division at 1st Source Bank. An active aircraft owner, Chris is a Commercial Pilot with Instrument, Multi-engine, land, and sea ratings, and holds multiple jet type ratings. ![Josh Marvil](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Josh-Marvil.webp) Position Secretary, Board of Directors Location Maine Board of Directors ## Josh Marvil Josh has worked in environmental consulting and finance across national and international organizations, and currently serves as managing partner of a private investment partnership in Maine. He is a Director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, a former Chairman of LightHawk, and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees at the Chewonki Foundation, a nonprofit environmental education institution. Josh received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, his M.S. from the University of Colorado, and his MBA/MAFM from the University of Chicago. He is an instrument-rated commercial pilot who flies a Cirrus SR22. ![Evan Anderman](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Evan-Anderson.webp) Position Member, Board of Directors Location Colorado Board of Directors ## Evan Anderman Evan is a geological engineer and award-winning conservation photographer whose aerial work explores the environment from above, bringing both a technical and artistic perspective to LightHawk’s mission. A Private Pilot since 1987, he flies a Cessna 206 and is experienced in mountain flying across Colorado and New Mexico, and also serves as a LightHawk volunteer pilot. ![Erin Cooke](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Erin-Cooke.webp) Position Member, Board of Directors Location California Board of Directors ## Erin Cooke > Erin is San Francisco International Airport’s first Sustainability Director, where she creates, implements, and reports on the airport’s Strategic, Sustainability, Zero Waste, Resilience, and Decarbonization Plans. By brokering high-impact emissions reduction investments within SFO’s $7.8 billion capital program, she has helped the airport cut greenhouse gas emissions by 41%, open its first zero net energy building, ban plastic food ware and water bottles, and become a global leader in Sustainable Aviation Fuel deliveries. > > Erin previously served the City of Cupertino as Deputy City Manager, where she helped launch Silicon Valley Clean Energy, a countywide community choice aggregation program. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University, is a LEED AP, and serves on the boards of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and the ACI World Environment Standing Committee. ![Kate Hackett](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Kate-Hackett-1-e1787331736383.webp) Position Member, Board of Directors Location Tennessee Board of Directors ## Kate Hackett Kate brings more than 25 years of conservation and nonprofit leadership to the LightHawk board, currently serving as Managing Director of Lands at Ducks Unlimited, where she leads efforts to protect and restore critical landscapes and water resources. Her career includes leadership roles with Delaware Wild Lands, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, and UNICEF, spanning land acquisition, water resource protection, public policy, and strategic communications. ![Steve Kent](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Steve-Kent-1.webp) Position Member, Board of Directors Location New York Board of Directors ## Steve Kent Steve has been involved with the outdoors and aviation from early childhood. He started with Cessna Aircraft Company as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic with Inspection Authorization, which led to a variety of positions with increasing responsibility, including Propeller, Caravan, and Citation Sales. A highly experienced demonstration pilot, he loves sharing amazing aircraft with prospective owners. Recently retired from his role as Regional Sales Director for Textron Aviation Propeller Products, serving the Northeast U.S. and Eastern Canada, Steve is an avid seaplane owner and pilot. He previously served as LightHawk’s Board Chair and continues to serve as a volunteer pilot and board member, appreciating the chance to leverage the unique airborne perspective to advance conservation across various watersheds. Steve and his wife, Kristine, reside in southern New York. ![Alex Polvi](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Alex-Polvi-e1787329770501.webp) Position Member, Board of Directors Location Oregon Board of Directors ## Alex Polvi Alex Polvi is a technology entrepreneur and pilot based in Bend, Oregon. He co-founded and led two venture-backed infrastructure companies, CoreOS (acquired by Red Hat) and Cloudkick (acquired by Rackspace), and has served on the boards of both nonprofit and private organizations, contributing his flight and technology experience. A certificated flight instructor, Alex flies extensively in the backcountry, mountains, and on the water. He volunteers his flying and mapping skills for conservation, using aircraft and drones to map wild places. ![Erin Manzitto-Tripp](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Board-Erin-Manzietto-Tripp-e1787329616648.webp) Position Member, Board of Directors Location Colorado Board of Directors ## Erin Manzitto-Tripp > Erin is a research scientist and educator whose work has focused on plant and lichen biodiversity and conservation, both across the United States and internationally, particularly in the Neotropics and Africa. She is an Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Curator of Botany at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Museum of Natural History. Her research has produced descriptions of hundreds of species new to science, along with checklists documenting what plants grow where, and why, and popular regional field guides. > > Erin brings ample board and administrative experience, along with a career of community outreach, to LightHawk. She is also a Commercial Pilot and a first officer with SkyWest Airlines, and volunteers as a LightHawk pilot. For fun, she flies her Cessna Cardinal across the country, exploring, camping, scoping out new airstrips, and collecting plants and lichens to document biodiversity and promote conservation of Earth’s most remarkable biota. ![Will Worthington](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Will-Worthington.webp) Position Member, Board of Directors Location Arizona Board of Directors ## Will Worthington Will is the founder and president of Pipetech International, an engineering firm that specializes in testing and failure analysis of water and petroleum pipelines worldwide. He graduated from West Point and was a commissioned officer in the regular Army and Arizona Army National Guard for 30 years. He was an officer with the Army Corps of Engineers with many challenging assignments all over the world, including two years in Vietnam. He supervised the design of a $4.5 billion water project for the Bureau of Reclamation and holds three U.S. patents for pipeline diagnostic test inventions. He has over 4,800 hours as pilot in command and holds commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates. Will is a registered professional engineer in Arizona and California. He is a LightHawk volunteer pilot and received the Spirit of LightHawk award in 2012. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-mountains-scaled.jpg) ## The most important seat is empty. It’s yours — as a volunteer pilot, a partner, or a supporter of the mission. [Join the Cockpit](/join-the-cockpit/) [Contact the Team](/contact/) --- ### [50 in 50 Challenge](https://www.lighthawk.org/50-in-50/) **Published:** July 23, 2026 **Author:** LightHawk Team **Content:** ![Hero Glacier](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-glacier.jpg) The 50 in 50 Challenge # Fifty flights. Fifty days. *Countless impact.* Each summer, LightHawk pilots and partners accept the challenge: flying fifty flights in fifty days, from Alaska’s salmon rivers to Florida’s mangrove coasts. Follow along, get involved, or help fund the next challenge. [ Follow the Challenge ](#map) [ Support a Flight ](/donate/) 53/50 Flights logged Why 50 in 50 Fifty flights in fifty days. One shared mission. A coast-to-coast portrait of the landscapes and species *LightHawk and our partners are working to protect.* 1. 01 ### Conservation nationwide From wolf recovery in the Southwest to sea level rise in the Northeast, each flight tackles a real conservation issue. 2. 02 ### Flown by volunteers Our volunteer pilots donate their time, skill, and aircraft, turning each flight into direct conservation impact on the ground. 3. 03 ### Shared with the world Every mission is documented and shared, building a nationwide case for the power of collaboration and an aerial perspective. ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-canyon.jpg) ## Where we’ve flown so far Every pin tells a story from the recent 50 in 50 Challenge. Explore where 2026 took us. Click a marker to see the mission, the partner and pilot behind it, and what flight made possible. **53** flights flown Wildlife Watersheds Coastlines Climate Landscapes Wildlife Flight 1: Revealing Habitat Fragmentation Along the Southern Border Tucson, AZ ![Flight 1: Documenting Border Wall Impacts on Wildlife Movement in New Mexico](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_1A.jpeg) Along the southern border, sections of wall now cut through habitat once used freely by wildlife moving across the landscape. Working with *Sierra Club*, LightHawk documented how the barrier intersects migration routes and fragments habitat across miles of terrain. The aerial perspective helps show the scale and continuity of these impacts in ways that are difficult to understand from the ground. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Chuck Schroll** provided the aerial access needed to capture the broader landscape and the barriers wildlife must navigate. Wildlife Flight 2: Strengthening Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Through Cross-Fostering St. Louis, MO ![Flight 2: Transporting Mexican Gray Wolf Pups for Cross-Fostering in New Mexico](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_2A.jpeg) ![Flight 2: Transporting Mexican Gray Wolf Pups for Cross-Fostering in New Mexico](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_2B-768x512.jpg) ‹ › Recovering the Mexican gray wolf depends in part on strengthening genetic diversity in the wild population. Working with *federal and state wildlife agencies*, LightHawk transported captive-born pups from Missouri to New Mexico, where they were placed into wild dens to be raised by foster mothers. Because cross-fostering must happen within a narrow developmental window, fast, direct transport is critical to giving the pups the best chance of successful adoption. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Ken Adelman** provided the flight needed to move the pups safely and efficiently between locations. Watersheds Flight 3: Assessing Wetland Health and Connectivity in Illinois Moline, IL ![Flight 3: Assessing Wetlands Integrity with Prairie Rivers Network](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_3A.png) Wetlands across Illinois are part of a larger network of habitats that support wildlife, water quality and landscape connectivity. Working with *Prairie Rivers Network*, LightHawk flew over Nahant Marsh, the Milan Bottoms/RI Wetlands, the Rock River and Green Valley Nature Preserve to assess conditions across the region. The aerial perspective helps connect individual sites into a broader landscape view, informing both current conservation work and future planning. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Robert Thomas** provided the flight and aerial perspective needed to assess these areas efficiently. Coastlines Flights 4 & 27: Tracking Boating Pressure on Seagrass in the San Juan Islands Friday Harbor, WA ![Flight 4 & 27: Monitoring Recreational Boating Impacts on Seagrass in the San Juan Islands](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_4A.jpeg) ![Flight 4 & 27: Monitoring Recreational Boating Impacts on Seagrass in the San Juan Islands](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_4B-768x512.webp) ‹ › Seagrass beds in the San Juan Islands provide important habitat but are increasingly affected by recreational boating. Working with [*Washington Department of Natural Resources*](https://dnr.wa.gov/) and [*Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife*](https://wdfw.wa.gov/), LightHawk conducted two flights to document boat activity across sensitive areas. Cameras mounted to the aircraft captured images every five seconds, creating an aerial dataset that reveals patterns and pressures that are difficult to measure from the water. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Lane Gormley** provided both flights, helping partners monitor impacts across a broad marine landscape. Wildlife Flights 5 & 23: Locating Whooping Crane Nests from Above Baraboo, WI ![Flight 5 & 23: Surveying Whooping Crane Nests for Habitat Monitoring](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_5A-768x576.jpeg) ![Flight 5 & 23: Surveying Whooping Crane Nests for Habitat Monitoring](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_5B-768x576.jpeg) ![Flight 5 & 23: Surveying Whooping Crane Nests for Habitat Monitoring](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_5C-768x1024.jpeg) ‹ › Whooping cranes nest across vast and remote landscapes, making nests difficult to locate and monitor from the ground. Working with [*International Crane Foundation*](https://savingcranes.org/), LightHawk conducted two aerial surveys to identify nest locations. Once nests are found, ground teams can install cameras and monitor activity more closely. Combining aerial and ground-based observations gives researchers valuable information to guide habitat management and strengthen recovery efforts for this endangered species. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Susan Schwaab** provided both flights, helping researchers efficiently search large areas for nesting cranes. Wildlife Flights 6, 7 & 31: Tracking Development Pressure on Florida Panther Habitat Immokalee, Florida ![Flights 6-7 & 31: Protecting Panther Habitat in Southwest Florida](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_6A-768x392.jpeg) ![Flights 6-7 & 31: Protecting Panther Habitat in Southwest Florida](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_6B-768x387.jpeg) ![Flights 6-7 & 31: Protecting Panther Habitat in Southwest Florida](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_6C-768x393.jpeg) ‹ › Southwest Florida’s remaining panther habitat is increasingly fragmented by development and mining. Working with *Conservancy of Southwest Florida*, LightHawk conducts ongoing flights to track changes across key habitat and wildlife corridors. Aerial photos and video help show where development is advancing and how remaining corridors connect to surrounding public lands, giving the public and decision-makers a clearer picture of what is at stake. LightHawk volunteer pilots **Adam Shapiro** and **Alan Kinback** provided the aerial perspective needed to monitor these changes across the landscape over time. Climate Flight 8: Revealing the Scale of Pine Beetle Impacts Across Colorado Forests Englewood, CO ![Flight 8: Documenting Pine Beetle Impacts Across Colorado Forests](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_8A-768x1024.png) ![Flight 8: Documenting Pine Beetle Impacts Across Colorado Forests](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_8B-768x576.png) ‹ › Across Colorado, mountain pine beetle infestations are leaving entire hillsides of dead and dying trees, adding to concerns about drought, climate pressures and wildfire risk. Working with an investigative journalist, LightHawk captured aerial imagery showing the extent and pattern of forest loss across the landscape. The perspective from above helps make the scale of the damage visible and gives readers a clearer understanding of how these pressures are reshaping Colorado’s forests. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Evan Anderman** provided the aerial access needed to capture the broader story. Landscapes Flights 9-15: Seeing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as a Connected System Rio Vista, CA ![Flights 9-15: Revealing Ecosystem Connections in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_9A-768x1024.jpg) ![Flights 9-15: Revealing Ecosystem Connections in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_9B-768x1024.jpg) ‹ › The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a complex estuary where water, agriculture and infrastructure are tightly intertwined. Working with *California Delta Protection Commission*, LightHawk flew participants from the Delta Leadership Program over the region to see how levees, waterways and land use connect across the landscape. The aerial perspective helps participants better understand the tradeoffs and relationships shaping management of this vital system. LightHawk volunteer pilots **Martyn Lewis, Louise Mateos, Michael Venturino and Jane Rosevelt** worked together to provide the series of flights. Climate Flights 16 & 17: Measuring Heat from Data Centers in Texas College Station, TX ![Flights 16-17: Mapping Heat Emissions from Cryptocurrency Facilities in Texas](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_16A-768x570.jpeg) ![Flights 16-17: Mapping Heat Emissions from Cryptocurrency Facilities in Texas](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_16B-768x571.jpeg) ‹ › As cryptocurrency and data centers expand, researchers are working to better understand their environmental impacts, including the heat they release. Working with *Texas A&M University*, LightHawk conducted two flights using aerial infrared imaging to measure heat emissions from facilities that are difficult to assess from the ground because of restricted access. The data will help researchers quantify these impacts at a broader scale and inform future study. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Eric Jakimier** provided both flights, giving researchers the aerial access needed to collect infrared data across multiple sites. Wildlife Flight 18: Preparing Endangered White Abalone for Return to the Wild Davis, CA ![Flight 18: Transporting Juvenile White Abalone for Species Recovery](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_18A-768x576.png) ![Flight 18: Transporting Juvenile White Abalone for Species Recovery](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_18B-768x576.png) ![Flight 18: Transporting Juvenile White Abalone for Species Recovery](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_18C-768x576.png) ‹ › White abalone are among the most endangered marine species, with recovery dependent on carefully coordinated breeding, transport and outplanting. Working with *UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory*, *Cabrillo Marine Aquarium* and *Aquarium of the Pacific*, LightHawk transported 2,000–3,000 juvenile abalone to Southern California facilities, where they will continue growing before eventual release onto rocky Pacific reefs. Reducing transport time and handling helps protect these fragile animals during a critical stage of recovery. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Douglass Sisk** provided the efficient air transport needed to move the juveniles safely between facilities. Landscapes Flight 19: Documenting Sprawl in Big Sky Country Bozeman, MT ![Flight 19: Documenting Sprawl in Big Sky Country](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_19A-768x512.webp) As communities grow, development can fragment wildlife habitat and close off migration corridors. Working with *Montana Historical Society*, LightHawk captured aerial imagery for an upcoming issue of *Montana: The Magazine of Western History* exploring how the state is adapting to rapid growth. The images will help readers see where development, open space and wildlife movement intersect across the landscape. LightHawk volunteer pilot and program manager **Chris Boyer** provided the aerial perspective needed to document these patterns across a broad area. Coastlines Flight 20: Documenting King Tides Along New Hampshire’s Coast Portsmouth, NH ![Flight 20: Surveying King Tide Impacts on New Hampshire's Coast](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_20A-768x512.jpg) ![Flight 20: Surveying King Tide Impacts on New Hampshire's Coast](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_20B-768x576.jpeg) ![Flight 20: Surveying King Tide Impacts on New Hampshire's Coast](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_20C-768x576.jpeg) ‹ › King Tide events along the New Hampshire coast offer a preview of how rising sea levels could affect coastal communities and ecosystems. Working with *Surfrider Foundation* and other conservation partners and local stakeholders, LightHawk continues a series of flights during peak tidal conditions to document vulnerable areas. The imagery makes future impacts visible today, helping inform coastal planning and resilience efforts. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Jim Schmidt** provided the aerial perspective needed to document changing conditions across a broad stretch of coastline. Coastlines Flight 21: Revealing King Tides Along Maine’s Coastline Portland, ME ![Flight 21: Revealing King Tide Impacts on Maine Coastline](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_21A-768x576.jpeg) ![Flight 21: Revealing King Tide Impacts on Maine Coastline](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_21B-768x576.jpeg) ![Flight 21: Revealing King Tide Impacts on Maine Coastline](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_21C-768x576.jpeg) ‹ › King Tides offer a glimpse of how rising seas could affect coastal communities in the future. Working with longtime partner *Surfrider Foundation*, LightHawk flew along the Maine coast to capture imagery of unusually high tides and vulnerable shoreline areas. The photos will help planners and communities better understand where flooding and erosion risks are emerging and inform efforts to prepare for future sea level rise. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Jim Schmidt** provided the aerial perspective needed to document coastal conditions across a broad stretch of shoreline. Landscapes Flight 22 – Documenting Lands Threatened by a Proposed Pipeline East Meredith, NY ![Flight 22 – Viewing Lands Impacted by Proposed Pipeline](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_22A-768x471.png) ![Flight 22 – Viewing Lands Impacted by Proposed Pipeline](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_22B-768x513.png) ![Flight 22 – Viewing Lands Impacted by Proposed Pipeline](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_22C-768x495.png) ‹ › A proposed oil pipeline through New York and Pennsylvania could affect forests, waterways and wildlife habitat along its route. Working with *Property Rights and Pipeline Center*, LightHawk documented lands and waters that could be impacted by construction. The aerial imagery will help illustrate what is at stake along the corridor and strengthen efforts to protect sensitive landscapes and other important places. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Kent Wien** provided the aerial perspective needed to document the proposed route across a broad and varied landscape. Landscapes Flight 24: Examining a Proposed Timber Harvest in Montana Livingston, MT ![Flight 24: Capturing Imagery of Proposed Emergency Timber Harvest Site](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_24A-768x512.jpeg) A proposed emergency timber harvest in Park County could move forward with fewer environmental reviews, raising concerns about potential impacts to the surrounding forest. Working with *Park County Environmental Council*, LightHawk captured aerial imagery of the proposed harvest area to help conservation advocates assess conditions and make the case for appropriate environmental review before any sale proceeds. LightHawk volunteer pilot and program manager **Chris Boyer** provided the aerial perspective needed to document the landscape and give advocates a broader view of the area under consideration. Wildlife Flight 25: Surveying Swans and Wildlife Crossings in Montana Bozeman, MT ![Flight 25: Surveying Swans and Photographic Wildlife Crossings](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_25A-768x512.jpeg) ![Flight 25: Surveying Swans and Photographic Wildlife Crossings](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_25B-768x512.jpeg) ‹ › Working with *Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks*, LightHawk surveyed nesting trumpeter swans in Paradise and Shields valleys, where wetlands and marshes can make ground-based monitoring difficult. The flight then shifted to Interstate 90 near Livingston and Bozeman, capturing imagery of common wildlife crossings for an *NPR* story about how highways affect animal movement and migration. Together, the missions provided information and imagery to strengthen wildlife monitoring and public understanding. LightHawk volunteer pilot and program manager **Chris Boyer** combined both objectives into a single 3.5-hour flight, efficiently covering two very different conservation needs. Watersheds Flight 26: Protecting Water Quality Along the Missouri River Jackson, MT ![Ranching Impact Along Missouri River](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_26A-768x576.jpeg) Activities along rivers can affect water quality, wildlife habitat and the health of the broader watershed. Working with *Save Wild Trout*, LightHawk flew sections of Montana’s Missouri River to document cattle operations overlapping with sensitive riparian areas. The imagery will help guide ground-based work to reduce nutrient pollution and protect water quality in the watershed. LightHawk volunteer pilot and program manager **Chris Boyer** provided the aerial perspective needed to identify where land use and sensitive river habitat intersect. Landscapes Flight 28: Surveying Wildfire Impacts in the Everglades Miami, FL ![Flight 28: Surveying Fire Impacts in Broward County, Florida](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_28A.webp) ![Flight 28: Surveying Fire Impacts in Broward County, Florida](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_28B.webp) ![Flight 28: Surveying Fire Impacts in Broward County, Florida](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_28C-768x576.webp) ‹ › Drought has left parts of South Florida increasingly vulnerable to wildfire, with thousands of acres recently blackened in and around the Everglades. Working with *Everglades Foundation*, LightHawk flew over Broward County to document the scale and impacts of a large wildfire. Photos and video collected during the flight will help the foundation assess conditions and give the *Miami Herald* imagery to illustrate the broader effects of drought and fire across the landscape. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Adam Shapiro** provided the aerial perspective needed to capture the extent of the burned area. Watersheds Flight 29: Monitoring Maine’s Protected Marsh Habitats Portland, ME ![Flight 29: Monitoring Marshes in Protected Maine Landscapes](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_29A-768x575.png) ![Flight 29: Monitoring Marshes in Protected Maine Landscapes](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_29B-768x575.png) ![Flight 29: Monitoring Marshes in Protected Maine Landscapes](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_29C-768x493.png) ‹ › Marsh habitats can be difficult to access and monitor from the ground. Working with *Scarborough Land Trust*, LightHawk flew over protected landscapes in Maine to update aerial imagery of marsh habitats across the region. The photos will give the land trust a current view of conditions and help inform its ongoing stewardship and protection of these sensitive areas. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Jim Schmidt** provided the aerial perspective needed to efficiently document marsh habitats across a broad landscape. Watersheds Flight 30: Documenting Maine’s Landscapes and Waterways Augusta, ME ![Flight 30: Connecting Land and Water Conservation Across Maine](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_30A-768x576.webp) ![Flight 30: Connecting Land and Water Conservation Across Maine](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_30B-768x576.webp) ‹ › Monitoring thousands of acres and documenting projects along rivers and waterways can require significant time and resources. Working with *High Peaks Alliance*, *Pierce Pond Watershed Trust*, and *Georges River Land Trust*, LightHawk combined three photography missions into a single flight. The imagery collected will help each organization document conditions, communicate the value of these places, and advance conservation work across Maine. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Jim Schmidt** provided the aerial access needed to efficiently cover multiple landscapes and waterways in one mission. Landscapes Flights 32-34: Seeing Wildlife Connectivity Across Greater Yellowstone Gardiner, MT ![Partners in Greater Yellowstone Project](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_32A-768x512.jpg) ![Flights 32-34: Highlighting Wildlife Corridors in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_32B-768x512.jpg) ‹ › From the ground, it can be difficult to see how roads, development and other barriers fragment wildlife habitat. Working with [*Center for Large Landscape Conservation*](https://largelandscapes.org/), LightHawk flew board members over northern Greater Yellowstone to see these challenges firsthand and better understand how landscape connectivity affects wildlife movement across the region. LightHawk volunteer pilots **Mike Vivion, Ray Lee and Chris Boyer** provided the aerial perspective needed to see the broader landscape and the connections, and barriers, that are difficult to grasp from the ground. Coastlines Flights 35 & 47: Monitoring Water Conditions Near Port Everglades Port Everglades, FL ![Flight 35 & 47: Monitoring Water Quality in the Port Everglades Expansion Area](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_35A-768x429.png) ![Flight 35 & 47: Monitoring Water Quality in the Port Everglades Expansion Area](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_35B-768x429.png) ‹ › Water quality is central to South Florida’s communities, economy and wildlife. Working with [*Miami Waterkeeper*](https://www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/), LightHawk conducts monthly aerial monitoring near the Port Everglades expansion area to document changing conditions over time. Mounted cameras capture imagery of ongoing activity, including areas where sediment plumes have been reported. The footage gives Miami Waterkeeper a consistent record to review for potential impacts and changes in water conditions. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Alan Kinback** provided the aerial access needed to continue this ongoing monitoring effort. Wildlife Flight 36: Monitoring Channel Island Fox Recovery Santa Rosa Island, CA ![Flight 36: Surveying Population of Channel Island Foxes](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_36A-768x512.jpg) ![Flight 36: Surveying Population of Channel Island Foxes](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_36B-768x480.jpg) ‹ › Channel Island foxes once came dangerously close to extinction. Although their populations have recovered, continued monitoring is critical to protecting that progress. Each month, LightHawk works with conservation partners to conduct aerial telemetry surveys over California’s Channel Islands, checking for fox mortalities and signs of emerging threats. When a mortality is detected, partners can recover the animal for further study and determine whether action may be needed to protect the population. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Barbara Filkins** continued her commitment to this long-term effort by providing another monthly monitoring flight. Landscapes Flight 37: Documenting the Delaware River’s Historic Islands Stroudsburg, PA ![Flight 37: Sharing Delaware River Islands’ Cultural and Ecological Importance](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_37A-768x479.png) The islands of the Delaware River hold both cultural and ecological significance, but their story can be difficult to understand from the shoreline alone. Working with [*The Philadelphia Inquirer*](https://www.inquirer.com/), LightHawk flew journalist Gabe Coffey over the river to capture photos and video for a story exploring the islands’ history and importance. The aerial imagery will help readers better understand the islands in relation to the river and surrounding landscape. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Gilberto Velez-Domenech** provided the aerial perspective needed to document the islands from above. Landscapes Flight 38: Documenting the Landscape Behind 100 Years of Silence Blanding, UT ![Flight 38: Capturing Imagery of Bears Ears Landscapes with Indigenous Storyteller](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_38A-768x512.png) ![Flight 38: Capturing Imagery of Bears Ears Landscapes with Indigenous Storyteller](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_38B-768x512.png) ‹ › The landscapes around Bears Ears hold the history of the Posie War, an event that brought profound loss of land and freedom to a Native community. Working with photographer [*Dave Showalter*](https://www.daveshowalter.com/) and Indigenous storyteller, educator and leader [*Angelo Baca*](https://www.angelobaca.com/), LightHawk provided an aerial perspective for Baca’s *100 Years of Silence* project. Showalter’s photographs will help connect the story to the places where it unfolded and bring that history to broader audiences. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Chuck Schroll** provided the flight and expertise needed to document this expansive landscape from above. Flight 39: Assessing Conditions Along the Allagash River Millinocket, ME ![Flight 39: Assessing Current Conditions of Allagash Wilderness Waterway](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_39A-768x576.jpg) ![Flight 39: Assessing Current Conditions of Allagash Wilderness Waterway](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_39B-768x576.jpg) ![Flight 39: Assessing Current Conditions of Allagash Wilderness Waterway](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_39C-768x1024.jpg) ‹ › Protecting a vast waterway requires understanding what is happening across the landscape. Working with [*Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation*](https://www.awwf.org/), LightHawk flew over the Allagash River to assess current conditions and inform future conservation planning. As passenger Jerry Bley noted, “While maps and GoogleEarth are invaluable tools, they don’t take the place of seeing a landscape in person.” LightHawk volunteer pilot **Archer Olmer** provided the aerial perspective needed to see the protected waterway as a connected landscape and identify areas that may warrant closer attention. Watersheds Flight 40: Showing the Impact of a Record-Low Snowpack Salt Lake City, UT ![Flight 40: Sharing the State of the Colorado River Crisis](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_40A-768x432.png) After a record-low snowpack, concern is growing over Colorado River water supplies that communities and agriculture across the Southwest depend on. Working with [*KTVX*](https://www.abc4.com/), LightHawk brought journalists over the basin to capture imagery showing the scale of the problem as Lake Powell approached minimum power pool. The resulting coverage helped audiences better understand how weak snowpack translates into shrinking water supplies and broader consequences across the region. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Chuck Schroll** provided the aerial perspective needed to document those changes across the basin. Watersheds Flight 41: Highlighting Drought Impacts on the Central Arizona Project Phoenix, AZ ![Flight 41: Highlighting Drought’s Impact on Central Arizona Project Water](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_41A.jpeg) ![Flight 41: Highlighting Drought’s Impact on Central Arizona Project Water](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_41B-768x512.jpg) ‹ › The 336-mile Central Arizona Project delivers Colorado River water to communities serving more than 80% of Arizona’s population. Working with [*The Arizona Republic*](https://www.azcentral.com/), LightHawk flew a reporter along the canal from Lake Pleasant to Lake Havasu to capture imagery for coverage examining the CAP’s history and the water challenges it faces today. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Will Worthington**, who served as the project’s chief engineer in the 1970s, brought a unique perspective to the flight while providing the aerial access needed to document this critical water system. Wildlife Flight 42: Tracking Trumpeter Swan Recovery in Greater Yellowstone Jackson, MT ![Flight 42: Surveying Trumpeter Swan Nests](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_42A-768x512.webp) ![Flight 42: Surveying Trumpeter Swan Nests](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_42B-768x512.webp) ‹ › A century ago, trumpeter swans were nearly extinct, with only about 100 birds remaining, largely around Yellowstone and Montana’s Red Rock Lakes. Decades of recovery work have helped rebuild the population, but continued monitoring remains essential. Working with [*Centennial-Jackson Valleys National Wildlife Refuge Complex*](https://www.fws.gov/refuge/red-rock-lakes) and [*Wyoming Wetlands Society*](https://wyomingwetlandssociety.org/), LightHawk conducted aerial surveys to track swan populations and reproductive success. The data will help guide ongoing management and recovery efforts. LightHawk volunteer pilot and staff member **Chris Boyer** provided the aerial perspective needed to survey these remote wetland landscapes efficiently. Watersheds Flights 43, 44 & 48: Surveying Angler Activity on Oneida Lake Lake Oneida, NY ![Flights 43-44 & 48: Surveying Angler Activity on Lake Oneida](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_43A-768x406.jpeg) Monitoring boat use on Oneida Lake has traditionally required days of travel by boat, making surveys costly and infrequent. Working with [*Cornell University Biological Field Station*](https://cals.cornell.edu/biological-field-station), LightHawk conducted a series of aerial surveys to count anglers across the 20-mile-long lake. Covering the lake from the air allows researchers to gather the same type of information more efficiently and more often, helping them better understand angler use and its relationship to the lake’s ecosystem. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Robert Keller** provided the flights for this survey series. Coastlines Flight 45: Visualizing Sea Level Rise Along Washington’s Coast Grays Harbor, WA ![Flight 45: Capturing Imagery to Improve Climate Resilience in Coastal Planning](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_45A-768x576.webp) ![Flight 45: Capturing Imagery to Improve Climate Resilience in Coastal Planning](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_45B-768x576.webp) ![Flight 45: Capturing Imagery to Improve Climate Resilience in Coastal Planning](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_45C-768x576.webp) ‹ › Coastal communities need to understand how sea level rise and erosion could affect infrastructure, public lands, and future development. Working with [*Surfrider Foundation*](https://www.surfrider.org/), LightHawk flew over the mouth of Grays Harbor and Damon Point to capture imagery showing these changing coastal conditions. The images will help the public and local planners better visualize potential impacts on Westport Light State Park and surrounding areas. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Lane Gormley** provided the aerial perspective needed to see shoreline change and development pressures across the broader coastal landscape. Coastlines Flight 46: Tracking Boating Impacts on San Juan Eelgrass Roche Harbor, WA ![Flight 46: Documenting Boating Impacts on Sea Grass Beds](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_46A.jpg) ![Flight 46: Documenting Boating Impacts on Sea Grass Beds](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_46B.jpg) ![Flight 46: Documenting Boating Impacts on Sea Grass Beds](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_46C-768x1024.png) ‹ › Eelgrass beds around Washington’s San Juan Islands provide important habitat for marine life, but boat anchoring can damage these sensitive areas. Working with [*Washington State Department of Natural Resources*](https://dnr.wa.gov/) and [*Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife*](https://wdfw.wa.gov/), LightHawk continued a multi-year effort to document boating activity over eelgrass habitat. Time-lapse cameras and onboard observations record where boats are anchoring, giving agencies information they can use to better understand impacts and protect these important marine ecosystems. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Roy Lewallen** provided the aerial perspective needed to survey broad areas efficiently and consistently. Wildlife Flight 49: Tracking California Condors Across a Vast Range Santa Paula, CA ![Flight 49: Searching for Missing California Condors](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_49A-768x576.jpg) ![Flight 49: Searching for Missing California Condors](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_49B-768x576.jpg) ‹ › With more than 400 California condors now in the wild, the species has made significant progress but remains at risk. Because condors range across hundreds of square miles, locating missing birds can be difficult. Working with [*Santa Barbara Zoo*](https://www.sbzoo.org/), LightHawk used aerial telemetry to search for missing condors and strengthen ongoing population monitoring. The flight located the targeted birds and detected an additional 19. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Will Worthington** provided the aerial access needed to cover a broad search area efficiently and detect telemetry signals difficult to reach from the ground. Watersheds Flight 50: Monitoring Protected Lands from Above Waterville, ME ![Flight 50: Monitoring Protected Lands from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_50A-768x576.jpg) ![Flight 50: Monitoring Protected Lands from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_50B-768x858.jpg) ‹ › Across Central Maine, conservation organizations are responsible for monitoring large areas of working forests, wild lands, watersheds, and conserved properties. Working with [*Sebasticook Regional Land Trust*](https://www.sebasticookrlt.org/) and [*7 Lakes Alliance*](https://7lakesalliance.org/), LightHawk conducted aerial monitoring of lands in their care. Photos and video collected during the flight will help both organizations document these landscapes and create educational materials that strengthen their work to conserve lands and waters across the region. LightHawk volunteer pilot **Scott Cianchette** provided the aerial perspective needed to efficiently view and document large areas that would be difficult to assess as a whole from the ground. Coastlines Flight 51: Documenting King Tide Impacts in Maryland Tangier Island, MD ![Flight 51: Documenting King Tide Impacts in Maryland](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_51A-768x576.webp) ![Flight 51: Documenting King Tide Impacts in Maryland](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_51B-768x576.webp) ‹ › As the climate warms and sea levels rise, communities along the coasts need better data to plan for a future where high tides threaten existing infrastructure. To give planners a sense of what is to come, the flight took off to document King Tide events along the Maryland coastline. King Tide events are unusually high tides that illustrate what a normal high tide will look like as sea levels rise. Imagery collected during these flights can help municipalities better plan infrastructure and take action to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels on their communities. Volunteer pilot Robert Panebianco provided this flight. Wildlife Flight 52: Locating Missing California Condors Salinas, CA ![Flight 52: Locating Missing California Condors](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_52A-768x576.webp) ![Flight 52: Locating Missing California Condors](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_52B-768x576.webp) ‹ › Conservation partner Ventana Wildlife Society reached out to us for assistance in locating California condor 1031. Her last GPS transmission was at the beginning of June and it hasn’t been detected since. As a nesting female, it is highly unusual for her to be undetected for such a long period. LightHawk volunteer pilot Mark Dedon took to the sky with VWS staff and a radio telemetry antenna in an attempt to locate the condor from the air. Starting near her nesting site, the flight expanded the search area, covering more area than is possible from the ground. A secondary goal was to locate condor 566, a male who usually spends time in the same area that is inaccessible to to tracking attempts from the ground. Wildlife Flight 53: Tracking Montana’s Recovering Trumpeter Swans Lincoln, MT ![Flight 53: Counting trumpeter swan nests and cygnets from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_53A-768x512.jpeg) ![Flight 53: Counting trumpeter swan nests and cygnets from above](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Flight_53B-768x512.jpg) ‹ › Trumpeter swans have made a remarkable comeback, but continued monitoring is critical to understanding how the population is doing. Working with the [*Blackfoot Challenge*](https://www.blackfootchallenge.org/), LightHawk returned to Montana’s Blackfoot and Clearwater river systems to survey nesting swans and their cygnets. The findings help wildlife managers track reproductive success and adapt conservation strategies as this once nearly extinct species rebuilds its population. LightHawk volunteer pilot and staff member **Chris Boyer** provided the aerial perspective needed to cover the river systems efficiently and document the birds from above. 53/50 flights logged Follow along each summer as new missions land on the map. Get Involved ## Be Part of the Challenge The 50 in 50 Challenge runs on collaboration. Here’s how you can help power it. [ ### Become a Partner Bring a conservation mission to the Challenge and put the aerial perspective to work for the places we need to protect. Partner with us ](/our-impact/) [ ### Become a Sponsor Power the Challenge as a Wings Conservation Partner, and give conservation the spotlight and lift it deserves. Explore sponsorship ](https://www.lighthawk.org/join-the-community/corporate-partners/) [ ### Become a Donor From coast to coast, every gift helps power the next mission for wild places and wildlife that need it most. Support the work ](/donate/) ## More from the LightHawk Newsroom [ See all missions ](/newsroom/) ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Otter-Creek.-Photo-by-J.Milne-LightHawk-scaled.webp) Media October 24, 2026 ### [LightHawk Announces 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award Honorees](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/lighthawk-announces-2026-volunteer-pilot-award-honorees/) LightHawk has announced its 2026 Volunteer Pilot Award honorees, recognizing five volunteers whose dedication and generosity help put conservation missions… ![The plane flies above glaciers along Colorado's Continental Divide.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Wing_L_4_GX040033.MP4.10_14_56_09.Still005.webp) Focus: Climate October 1, 2026 ### [Pilot’s View: Above Colorado’s Changing Glaciers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/pilots-view-above-colorados-changing-glaciers/) Following a year of record-low snowfall, Colorado State University researchers are documenting how the state’s glaciers are changing. To capture… Flown with Colorado State University ![Ice from a glacier is barely visible thanks to dirt and rocks covering the ice, blending it into the rock face.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DSC03729.webp) Featured Mission October 1, 2026 ### [Twelve Glaciers. Two and a Half Hours.](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/twelve-glaciers-two-and-a-half-hours/) Colorado’s glaciers and perennial snowfields are shrinking. Documenting those changes means reaching remote mountain sites and gathering photographs from many… Flown with Colorado State University ![A Lake Powell marina sits next to a boat ram that no longer reaches the water.](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARMedia-6.webp) Featured Mission September 4, 2026 ### [From 1,300 Miles on Foot to One Powerful View from Above](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/from-1300-miles-on-foot-to-one-powerful-view-from-above/) Starting high in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River winds south through some of the most dramatic and heavily used… Flown with Keep the River Running ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pilot-and-passenger-by-plane.webp) Pilot View August 18, 2026 ### [Pilot View: Flying Montana’s Bitterroot Valley](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/flying-montanas-bitterroot-valley/) “Ray Lee is a true professional.”  That’s how Northern Rockies Program Manager Chris Boyer described Lee after a recent LightHawk… ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/aerial-baylands.jpg) Voices from the challenge > This flight with Chuck and LightHawk incredibly valuable. We could not have accomplished out goals without LightHawk. We knew we needed aerial videos and photo to properly tell the Colorado River/Lake Powell Story. We were able to photograph areas of the lake we weren’t able to reach by boat. But the flight was much more than a way to take our cameras into the air. Chuck’s experience, perspective and insight lent another dimension to the mission. **Brien McElhatten**ABC4 News > The flight was a success. While this survey could have been undertaken with a commercial airline, the cost would have been prohibitive and would have greatly reduced the total number of surveys that we have planned to undertake this season. **Frances Robertson**San Juan County, Washington > I have never been in a small plane before so that was such an amazing experience. I collected some amazing photos of the Delta region where I work as a civil engineer and plan to share the photos with my collegues. **Alli Hauger**MBK Engineers > We got some really great sunny-day images of the coast just in time for priority campaign work happening. Lighthawk provides a really unique and important service, and we’re stoked to continue working with them! **Liz Schotman**Surfrider Foundation > I don’t think we could accomplish this conservation mission without the aid of the LightHawk flight. Mr. Adelman is like a part of our team now and one of the most important parts at that. Getting the pups safely from so far away is absolutely a key to this operation and we are so grateful. **Susan Dicks**US Fish & Wildlife Service > We want to increase our understanding of human and animal migration patterns in the area, and their relationship to the built and natural environment. Viewing the environment from a birds-eye view confirmed our assessment that animals and humans will benefit from placement of wildlife crossings. Being able to view the mountains, passes, rivers and roads from above provided perspective we would not have gained on site or from maps. **Jason Hoff**Center for Large Landscape Conservation > The flight will help inform future discussions between AWWF and key stakeholders in the watershed, with a focus on riparian corridors, older forests, and wetland complexes. Thank you so much! **Janet McMahon**Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation > (The flight was) Absolutely essential. As AWWF ponders future conservation strategies for the watershed, having a first-hand view is essential. While maps and GoogleEarth are invaluable tools, they don’t take the place of seeing a landscape in person. **Jerry Bley**Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation > Any time we are searching for a missing condor, there is only so much on the ground work we can do before needing to try something else. There are a lot of super remote areas that the condors go that would take us a week or longer to try to get to, so when time is of the essence LightHawk is imperative for finding missing birds. **Kara Fadden**Ventana Wildlife Society > This was my first time flying in a small aircraft and the first time flying over my Reservation. So having this opportunity was awesome! As well as being able to see the difference in Infrastructure between all locations. **Steven Escobar**Chemehuevi Tribal Administrator ![](https://www.lighthawk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hero-sunrise.jpg) ## The Challenge continues. *Help us finish strong.* Follow every flight, and help us put the power of aviation to work for conservation. [Support a Flight](/donate/) --- ## Team Members ### [Chris Boyer](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chris-boyer/) **Published:** August 4, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Chris is a unique member of the LightHawk team, serving as both a program manager and a volunteer pilot who has been flying LightHawk conservation missions for more than 20 years. Raised a conservationist, he studied fluvial geomorphology in graduate school at Oregon State University, where he also learned to fly. After a first career in landscape restoration, he started Kestrel Aerial Services to provide aerial survey, mapping, and photography throughout the Northern Rockies. Chris flies a modified 1957 Cessna 172 he calls “the Red Plane” and brings his background in natural resources, photography, and aviation to his efforts at LightHawk. Chris’s images have appeared in galleries, museums, and numerous regional and national publications, and he is currently working on a book of his photography. --- ### [Betsy Daub](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/betsy-daub/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Clint Burson **Content:** Betsy has dedicated 35 years to ecological conservation, combining field research with environmental policy and advocacy. Her career spans work with nonprofit conservation organizations and Minnesota’s state natural resource agency, focused on bridging science and policy to protect natural systems across the country. She holds an M.S. in Resource Ecology and Management from the University of Michigan. In her leisure time, Betsy is a writer and an art enthusiast. She resides in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, where she and her wife are restoring a historic house, and they have two adult children. --- ### [Jonathan Milne](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/jonathan-milne/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Clint Burson **Content:** Jonathan’s unique blend of conservation expertise and aviation exposure makes him a valuable addition to the LightHawk team. Aviation has been part of his life since childhood, growing up with a father who flew historic aircraft and a brother who served as a USMC helicopter pilot. Before joining LightHawk, Jonathan spent nearly a decade as a park ranger, first with the BLM in Oregon and later at Maine’s Baxter State Park. Throughout his career, he has contributed to ecological and wetland assessments, easement monitoring for multiple land trusts, and forestry surveys across New England. He holds a B.S. in Recreation and Park Management from the University of Maine and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Conservation Biology from Green Mountain College in Vermont. --- ### [Elliott Wright](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/jim-becker/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Elliott brings more than 20 years of conservation and philanthropic leadership to LightHawk. He served for nearly a decade as Executive Director of Hidden Villa, a California land trust and environmental education nonprofit, before becoming Campaign Director at The Nature Conservancy, where he secured more than $32 million to protect landscapes and seascapes across the United States, Palmyra Atoll, the Solomon Islands, eastern Africa, and southeast Asia, including directing the Northern Sierra Partnership, a collaboration among land trusts, Tribes, and government agencies. Elliott also advises mission-driven organizations including Conservation International and the Honnold Foundation, where he partnered with climber Alex Honnold to help scale solar energy work to 36 countries. A CFRE-certified fundraiser and NOLS faculty member since 2010, he has built his career connecting people to nature through storytelling and experiential learning. He holds a B.S. from Bowdoin College and recently relocated with his family from Palo Alto, California to Boulder, Colorado. --- ### [Kimberly Eckert](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/kimberly-eckert/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** > Kimberly brings nearly two decades of experience in finance, investment management, and natural resources. Originally from rural Montana, she earned her MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and has worked in New York and Denver across investment banking, energy, and entrepreneurial ventures, including serving as CFO of a geothermal energy startup. > > She is passionate about sustainable resource use and community service. In addition to serving on LightHawk’s board, Kimberly volunteers with the International Rescue Committee in Denver, leads the Tuck Alumni Chapter of Colorado, and serves as Treasurer of the Junior League of Denver Foundation. --- ### [Kate Hackett](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/kate-hackett/) **Published:** August 13, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Kate brings more than 25 years of conservation and nonprofit leadership to the LightHawk board, currently serving as Managing Director of Lands at Ducks Unlimited, where she leads efforts to protect and restore critical landscapes and water resources. Her career includes leadership roles with Delaware Wild Lands, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, and UNICEF, spanning land acquisition, water resource protection, public policy, and strategic communications. --- ### [Steve Kent](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/steve-kent/) **Published:** August 4, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Steve has been involved with the outdoors and aviation from early childhood. He started with Cessna Aircraft Company as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic with Inspection Authorization, which led to a variety of positions with increasing responsibility, including Propeller, Caravan, and Citation Sales. A highly experienced demonstration pilot, he loves sharing amazing aircraft with prospective owners. Recently retired from his role as Regional Sales Director for Textron Aviation Propeller Products, serving the Northeast U.S. and Eastern Canada, Steve is an avid seaplane owner and pilot. He previously served as LightHawk’s Board Chair and continues to serve as a volunteer pilot and board member, appreciating the chance to leverage the unique airborne perspective to advance conservation across various watersheds. Steve and his wife, Kristine, reside in southern New York. --- ### [Alex Polvi](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/alex-polvi/) **Published:** August 13, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Alex Polvi is a technology entrepreneur and pilot based in Bend, Oregon. He co-founded and led two venture-backed infrastructure companies, CoreOS (acquired by Red Hat) and Cloudkick (acquired by Rackspace), and has served on the boards of both nonprofit and private organizations, contributing his flight and technology experience. A certificated flight instructor, Alex flies extensively in the backcountry, mountains, and on the water. He volunteers his flying and mapping skills for conservation, using aircraft and drones to map wild places. --- ### [Erin Manzitto-Tripp](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/erin-manzitto-tripp/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** > Erin is a research scientist and educator whose work has focused on plant and lichen biodiversity and conservation, both across the United States and internationally, particularly in the Neotropics and Africa. She is an Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Curator of Botany at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Museum of Natural History. Her research has produced descriptions of hundreds of species new to science, along with checklists documenting what plants grow where, and why, and popular regional field guides. > > Erin brings ample board and administrative experience, along with a career of community outreach, to LightHawk. She is also a Commercial Pilot and a first officer with SkyWest Airlines, and volunteers as a LightHawk pilot. For fun, she flies her Cessna Cardinal across the country, exploring, camping, scoping out new airstrips, and collecting plants and lichens to document biodiversity and promote conservation of Earth’s most remarkable biota. --- ### [Barry Baker, Ph.D.](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/barry-baker-ph-d/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Barry is senior research scientist at the Conservation Biology Institute, we previously served as director of The Nature Conservancy’s Canyonlands Research Center in Moab, Utah. He also serves as adjunct assistant professor, Department of Environment and Society, College of Natural Resources, Utah State University. His research interests include bioclimatology, response of terrestrial ecosystems (grassland and alpine) to climate change, and ecosystem modeling of grassland ecosystems. Barry has previously collaborated with LightHawk as a conservation partner. --- ### [Brent Blue](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/brent-blue/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** *Location Jackson, WY* Brent attended Vanderbilt University and the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He received his post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Blue practices medicine in Jackson Hole and is a recognized expert in aviation medicine. He also has been on several nonprofit boards, including the Teton Science School, Dancer’s Workshop of Jackson, and the Board of Health of Teton County. Dr. Blue made multiple environmental flight missions for the Vanderbilt Student Health Coalition/Save Our Cumberland Mountains in the early 1970s to document the environmental destruction, cultural devastation, and health impacts caused by open pit strip mining in Appalachia. Those flights made lasting impressions and fostered his commitment to environmental protection. --- ### [Brian Williams](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/brian-williams/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Brian is a director at a global consulting firm specializing in the application of information technology. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Northwest University in South Africa and an MBA from Pace University in New York. Brian earned his pilot’s license in South Africa in 1989 and has flown throughout the region for recreation and business. Early in his flying career, Brian flew to locate a fugitive and endangered black rhinoceros before it crossed the border from South Africa into neighboring Botswana where it was in danger from poachers. The rhino was captured and returned, saving its life. Ever since that experience, Brian has had a keen interest in habitat conservation and environmental policy. In 1998, he emigrated to the USA and in 2007 started volunteering for LightHawk’s Mesoamerica and Eastern region programs. He was Lighthawk’s 2007 “Rookie of the Year” and in 2008 was the “Rockwell Award” recipient. He also volunteers for Southwings concentrating on Appalachian mountain top removal mining. Brian owns a Cessna Cardinal Turbo RG and is a 2800hr commercial pilot with instrument- and multi-engine ratings. --- ### [Greg Bedinger](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/greg-bedinger/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Greg has been involved with LightHawk since first volunteering as a pilot in 2002, then as the staff Pilot Outreach Manager, from 2010-2016. Many of his Pacific Northwest LightHawk flights were in support of maintaining and restoring important coastal salmon habitat. Greg learned to fly in Alaska, where he lived prior to moving to Seattle in 1988, and holds ATP and instructor ratings. He first heard about “flying for the environment” while flying Beaver and Twin Otter floatplanes in coastal British Columbia as an air taxi pilot, an area where LightHawk was actively supporting efforts to highlight excessive and damaging logging practices. Greg moved to Tucson in late 2016 and since that time, the desert Southwest has provided numerous LightHawk flight opportunities in support of watersheds and wildlife, especially as it relates to international border impediments, both political and physical. Though his favorite airplane remains the de Havilland Beaver floatplane, he currently flies his wheel equipped Cessna 172, “Georgia,” an excellent platform for aerial based imagery. --- ### [John and Martha King](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/john-and-martha-king/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Pilots throughout the world know John and Martha King from their fun video presentations in their courses, and regard them as their personal aviation mentors. The Kings’ use of technology and clear, simple and fun teaching have made aviation knowledge more accessible to hundreds of thousands of pilots and maintenance technicians. The Kings’ ongoing love of flying and learning has resulted in their being the first couple to both hold every category and class of FAA rating on their pilot and instructor certificates. Martha is the first and only woman to achieve this complete ratings sweep. Through the years, the Kings have retained their enthusiasm for flying. They fly their own Dassault Falcon 10 jet wherever they go, swapping captain and copilot duties on each leg. They have flown as pilots in every continent of the world except Antarctica, including a trip completely around the world via the length of Russia. John and Martha have had many awards and honors, including enshrinement into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, but they say their greatest honor has been the privilege to play an important role in the lives of so many pilots. --- ### [Michael Sutton](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/michael-sutton/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Mike currently serves as Executive Director of Audubon California and Vice President of the Pacific Flyway for the National Audubon Society. He served as Vice President and Director of the Center for the Future of the Oceans for the Monterey Bay Aquarium for eight years, and prior to that he headed the Ocean Conservation Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in northern California. Mike founded and directed World Wildlife Fund’s Endangered Seas Campaign and before joining the WWF staff, he served as a park ranger with the National Park Service and as a special agent with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Mike has served as a senior advisor on ocean issues to the Departments of Commerce and State and has lectured at graduate seminars nationally. He pursued graduate studies in marine biology at the University of Sydney, Australia, and received a natural resources law degree from George Washington University. Mike is an instrument-rated private pilot and Cessna T210 owner, and enjoys scuba diving, wildlife and underwater photography, and skiing. --- ### [Rick Durden](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/rick-durden/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Rick Durden has been a volunteer pilot for LightHawk since 1990 and has served on its Board of Directors and as executive director. He holds CFII and ATP ratings, is type-rated in the Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation. He has written extensively on public benefit flying safety. He currently splits his time between practicing aviation law and editing two aviation magazines. In 2015 he was one of three volunteer pilots who received the Endeavor Award a prestigious honor recognizing service to public benefit flying. --- ### [Rudy Engholm](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/rudy-engholm/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Rudy Engholm served as LightHawk’s executive director from 2007-2014. He founded Northern Wings, an environmental flying organization that merged into LightHawk in 2003. He joined LightHawk’s board at that time and served as board president from 2005-2007. Rudy holds a commercial pilot certificate and has also been active in a number of environmental issues, including the campaign to create a new Maine Woods National Park. He has a B.S. in computer engineering and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He practiced law in the late 1970s with a Connecticut law firm, then served for ten years as vice president and general counsel of Creative Solutions, Inc., a Michigan-based tax and accounting software company. Rudy spent his childhood in Japan and speaks a modest amount of Japanese. --- ### [Russ Cowart](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/russ-cowart/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Russ Cowart is the founder of i-cubed, a remote sensing and GIS solutions company recognized as one of the world’s most respected geospatial technology firms. He has also worked as a field geologist. He completed a BS in Geology from Colorado College, graduate studies in Natural Resource Economics with CU Boulder, and Management of Technology with MIT. --- ### [Sally Ranney](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/sally-ranney/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Sally has a thirty-year career in the public and private sectors dedicated to environmental, public land and water policy. She is an internationally recognized wildland conservation specialist and activist. Ms. Ranney was a founding LightHawk Board member and has been a long-time advocate of LightHawk. Ms. Ranney is CEO of Stillwater Preservation, LLC, a wetlands mitigation banking company and President of Rising Wolf International, Inc., a natural resource consulting group. She founded and served as President of American Wildlands, an NGO dedicated to protecting wildlands and wildlife through legislative and legal strategies. --- ### [Stephanie Wells](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/stephanie-wells/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Stephanie Wells is a retired professional pilot now living in Arvada, Colorado. During her 10 years in the active Air Force, she began as a weather forecaster, and after pilot training, instructed in the T-37, T-38 and C-130. This was followed by 10 more years in the Reserves flying C-5s. Stephanie worked for NASA at the Johnson Space Center for 17 years as a staff pilot supporting the manned space program. She finished her government career with the FAA in the Denver FSDO as an operations inspector. She has always been active in general aviation, and now owns an RV-7 and a 1/4 share in a Cessna 182 which she flies donated missions for LightHawk. She has a strong training and safety background, as well as education in meteorology and climatology. Combining flying and her passion for the environment brought her to LightHawk. --- ### [Terri Watson](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/terri-watson/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Terri Watson has a long history with LightHawk beginning as a volunteer pilot in 1997. Terri served as LightHawk’s executive director twice (2014-2020 and 2001-2003) and flight services director (2000-2001). Terri is a former EMS pilot and U.S. Army aviator in fixed and rotary wing service. Terri is a 7000+ hour commercial pilot with airplane single / multi-engine land and sea, helicopter, instrument-airplane and helicopter ratings, and flight instructor ratings for each of these. She has flown throughout the world in military and civilian applications, many of them remote area operations. She is currently the Executive Director of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) based in Lander, Wyoming. --- ### [Tom McMurray](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/tom-mcmurray/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** support@elevationweb.org **Content:** Tom is currently the Chairman and President of Marine Ventures Foundation which he created a decade ago with the mission to improve and protect critical marine, coastal and river habitats in North America, South America and the Caribbean. He first flew a Lighthawk mission in 2009 to photo baseline the Henrys Fork of the Snake River and has since flown several other Lighthawk missions. In addition, Tom is the Chairman of the Ocean Foundation, a global community foundation for ocean preservation, board member of the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Tag a Giant Fund and Lateral Line Fund and also an active investor on conservation causes. Previously Tom was a partner at Sequoia Capital, a venture capital company that invested in Apple, Oracle, Cisco Systems, Yahoo and Google. Tom holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science from Duke in 1980. --- ### [Erin Cooke](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/erin-cooke/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** > Erin is San Francisco International Airport’s first Sustainability Director, where she creates, implements, and reports on the airport’s Strategic, Sustainability, Zero Waste, Resilience, and Decarbonization Plans. By brokering high-impact emissions reduction investments within SFO’s $7.8 billion capital program, she has helped the airport cut greenhouse gas emissions by 41%, open its first zero net energy building, ban plastic food ware and water bottles, and become a global leader in Sustainable Aviation Fuel deliveries. > > Erin previously served the City of Cupertino as Deputy City Manager, where she helped launch Silicon Valley Clean Energy, a countywide community choice aggregation program. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University, is a LEED AP, and serves on the boards of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and the ACI World Environment Standing Committee. --- ### [Josh Marvil](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/josh-marvil/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Josh has worked in environmental consulting and finance across national and international organizations, and currently serves as managing partner of a private investment partnership in Maine. He is a Director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, a former Chairman of LightHawk, and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees at the Chewonki Foundation, a nonprofit environmental education institution. Josh received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, his M.S. from the University of Colorado, and his MBA/MAFM from the University of Chicago. He is an instrument-rated commercial pilot who flies a Cirrus SR22. --- ### [Will Worthington](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/will-worthington/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Will is the founder and president of Pipetech International, an engineering firm that specializes in testing and failure analysis of water and petroleum pipelines worldwide. He graduated from West Point and was a commissioned officer in the regular Army and Arizona Army National Guard for 30 years. He was an officer with the Army Corps of Engineers with many challenging assignments all over the world, including two years in Vietnam. He supervised the design of a $4.5 billion water project for the Bureau of Reclamation and holds three U.S. patents for pipeline diagnostic test inventions. He has over 4,800 hours as pilot in command and holds commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates. Will is a registered professional engineer in Arizona and California. He is a LightHawk volunteer pilot and received the Spirit of LightHawk award in 2012. --- ### [Evan Anderman](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/evan-anderman-2/) **Published:** August 13, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Evan is a geological engineer and award-winning conservation photographer whose aerial work explores the environment from above, bringing both a technical and artistic perspective to LightHawk’s mission. A Private Pilot since 1987, he flies a Cessna 206 and is experienced in mountain flying across Colorado and New Mexico, and also serves as a LightHawk volunteer pilot. --- ### [Chelsea Baird](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chelsea-baird/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Chelsea brings an extensive background in development, administration, and finance to LightHawk, along with a personal connection to aviation through her husband, Andy, who is a pilot. She is committed to supporting LightHawk’s mission and bringing her organizational expertise to the work of conservation flying. Outside of work, Chelsea loves being outdoors, backpacking, hiking, fishing, and cooking. --- ### [Chris Lee](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/chris-lee/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Chris Lee brings over 25 years of aviation industry experience to the LightHawk board. His career began in 1998 at Cessna Finance Corporation, where he held various Regional Sales Manager positions based in Kansas, Washington, Massachusetts, and Texas. In 2017, Chris joined SkyVenture International as their Global Vice President of Sales, and in July 2020, he joined the 1st Source Bank Aviation team as Relationship Sales Officer and Vice President, based in Austin, Texas. He now serves as President of the Aviation Division at 1st Source Bank. An active aircraft owner, Chris is a Commercial Pilot with Instrument, Multi-engine, land, and sea ratings, and holds multiple jet type ratings. --- ### [Clint Burson](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/clint-burson/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Clint brings more than 15 years of communications experience to LightHawk. Before joining, he served as Director of Government Relations and Communications for the Missoula, Montana Chamber of Commerce, where his work ranged from overseeing chamber communications to fostering relationships with elected officials, agency leadership, and economic development leaders. He also spent nearly a decade in media at a daily newspaper in Hamilton, Montana. Clint has a lifelong connection to aviation, having grown up in the passenger seat of a Mooney with his father at the controls. He volunteers as a board member for EAA 517 and creates the chapter’s monthly newsletter, and learning to fly himself is on his bucket list. In his spare time, Clint enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, and photography, and spending time with his family. --- ### [Joanna Weitzel](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/joanna-weitzel/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Joanna is a nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in marketing, development, and organizational management, dedicated to expanding the conservation impact of mission-driven organizations. Before joining LightHawk, she served as Director of Philanthropy for Welvista and as Executive Director of two conservation nonprofits, Camp Discovery and Carolina Wildlife Center. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina and a B.S. in Marketing from Clemson University. In her free time, Joanna enjoys birding, hiking, and traveling to new places, and especially treasures time at her family’s cabin in Alaska. She currently resides on Lake Murray in South Carolina with her husband and pets. --- ### [Benjamin Cohen](https://www.lighthawk.org/team/benjamin-cohen/) **Published:** August 13, 2026 **Author:** Joanna Weitzel **Content:** Ben is an attorney based in Atlanta and Boston who brings a lifelong passion for aviation to the LightHawk board — he soloed a glider at 14 and today flies a G36 Bonanza and Citabria, holding tailwheel and seaplane ratings. He joined the board in 2025 after serving as a LightHawk volunteer pilot, bringing a deep commitment to both conservation and aviation safety. --- ## Categories ### [Blog](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/blog/) **Description:** A closer look at the people, places and partnerships behind LightHawk’s conservation work. --- ### [Focus: Wildlife](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/focus-areas/wildlife/) --- ### [Focus: Waterways](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/focus-areas/rivers-estuaries/) --- ### [Focus: Wild Places](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/focus-areas/landscapes/) --- ### [Focus: Oceans](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/focus-areas/oceans/) --- ### [Pilot View](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/pilotview/) **Description:** Stories of conservation flights told by the pilots who fly them --- ### [Newsletters](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/newsletters/) **Description:** Quarterly newsletter sharing conservation stories and LightHawk updates --- ### [Media](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/media/) **Description:** Press releases and announcements from LightHawk --- ### [Webinars](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/webinar/) **Description:** Webinars led by the LightHawk team and partners --- ### [Featured Mission](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/missions/) **Description:** Monthly stories highlighting recent conservation missions --- ### [The Archives](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/archives/) **Description:** Past LightHawk newsletters and publications --- ### [NOTAM](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/notam/) **Description:** News, updates and stories for LightHawk’s volunteer pilots --- ### [Focus Areas](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/focus-areas/) **Description:** Program areas where work is focused --- ### [Content](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/content/) **Description:** Updates, conservation stories and perspectives from the LightHawk community. --- ### [Focus: Climate](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/category/focus-areas/climate/) --- ## Tags ### [land trust](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/land-trust/) --- ### [webinar](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/webinar/) --- ### [conservation easement](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/conservation-easement/) --- ### [aerial monitoring](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/aerial-monitoring/) --- ### [salmon](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/salmon/) --- ### [fish](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/fish/) --- ### [king tide](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/king-tide/) --- ### [surfrider](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/surfrider/) --- ### [birds](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/birds/) --- ### [Puget Sound](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/puget-sound/) --- ### [students](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/students/) --- ### [Puget Soundkeeper](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/puget-soundkeeper/) --- ### [Unleash the Brilliance](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/unleash-the-brilliance/) --- ### [bobwhite quail](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/bobwhite-quail/) --- ### [endangered species](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/endangered-species/) --- ### [Pennsylvania](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/pennsylvania/) --- ### [Colorado River](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/colorado-river/) --- ### [Climate](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/climate/) --- ### [climate change](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/climate-change/) --- ### [glacier](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/glacier/) --- ### [glaciers](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/glaciers/) --- ### [Colorado](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/colorado/) --- ### [LightHawk](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/lighthawk/) --- ### [Volunteer Pilot](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/volunteer-pilot/) --- ### [Awards](https://www.lighthawk.org/what-we-do/tag/awards/) ---