ON THE WING
Winter 2025
Conservation Is About Connection
Dear Friends,
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
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
LightHawk Flies Wolves to Colorado for Reintroduction
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.”
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.
Partner Spotlight
Mono Lake Committee takes flight for Eared Grebes
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.
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.
A videographer records imagery of an expansive red tide along the Florida coast off Sanibel Island. Photo by Jay Apt.
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.
