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LightHawk has partnered with Surfrider Foundation for many years to look at coastal impacts of King Tides. These high tide events provide a preview for how communities will be impacted by rising sea levels due to climate change.

Flights 20 and 21 of this year’s 50 in 50 Challenge took to the skies over both Maine and New Hampshire’s coasts to capture imagery that will help planners prepare for the future and build climate resilience.

We're grateful to volunteer pilot Jim Schmidt for providing both flights.

LightHawk has partnered with Surfrider Foundation for many years to look at coastal impacts of King Tides. These high tide events provide a preview for how communities will be impacted by rising sea levels due to climate change.

Flights 20 and 21 of this year’s 50 in 50 Challenge took to the skies over both Maine and New Hampshire’s coasts to capture imagery that will help planners prepare for the future and build climate resilience.

We're grateful to volunteer pilot Jim Schmidt for providing both flights.

LightHawk has partnered with Surfrider Foundation for many years to look at coastal impacts of King Tides. These high tide events provide a preview for how communities will be impacted by rising sea levels due to climate change.

Flights 20 and 21 of this year’s 50 in 50 Challenge took to the skies over both Maine and New Hampshire’s coasts to capture imagery that will help planners prepare for the future and build climate resilience.

We're grateful to volunteer pilot Jim Schmidt for providing both flights.

LightHawk has partnered with Surfrider Foundation for many years to look at coastal impacts of King Tides. These high tide events provide a preview for how communities will be impacted by rising sea levels due to climate change.

Flights 20 and 21 of this year’s 50 in 50 Challenge took to the skies over both Maine and New Hampshire’s coasts to capture imagery that will help planners prepare for the future and build climate resilience.

We're grateful to volunteer pilot Jim Schmidt for providing both flights.

There aren't many opportunities for pilots to fly thousands (and sometimes millions) of passengers in a single flight. For Team White Abalone pilots though, it happens pretty regularly.

Flight 18 of the 50 in 50 Challenge continued our work with The UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab in restoring the wild population of white abalone. Thanks to successful breeding efforts, we were able to transport thousands of juvenile mullosks to Southern California facilities where they will be raised until they are ready for outplanting to the wild. Efficient air transport reduces handling time and supports the success of this long-term recovery work.

Thank you to volunteer pilot Rhon Williams for donating this Challenge flight to support white abalone recovery.

#LightHawk #TeamWhiteAbalone #WhiteAbalone #Conservation #Flying #Aviation #EndangeredSpecies

There aren't many opportunities for pilots to fly thousands (and sometimes millions) of passengers in a single flight. For Team White Abalone pilots though, it happens pretty regularly.

Flight 18 of the 50 in 50 Challenge continued our work with The UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab in restoring the wild population of white abalone. Thanks to successful breeding efforts, we were able to transport thousands of juvenile mullosks to Southern California facilities where they will be raised until they are ready for outplanting to the wild. Efficient air transport reduces handling time and supports the success of this long-term recovery work.

Thank you to volunteer pilot Rhon Williams for donating this Challenge flight to support white abalone recovery.

#LightHawk #TeamWhiteAbalone #WhiteAbalone #Conservation #Flying #Aviation #EndangeredSpecies

There aren't many opportunities for pilots to fly thousands (and sometimes millions) of passengers in a single flight. For Team White Abalone pilots though, it happens pretty regularly.

Flight 18 of the 50 in 50 Challenge continued our work with The UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab in restoring the wild population of white abalone. Thanks to successful breeding efforts, we were able to transport thousands of juvenile mullosks to Southern California facilities where they will be raised until they are ready for outplanting to the wild. Efficient air transport reduces handling time and supports the success of this long-term recovery work.

Thank you to volunteer pilot Rhon Williams for donating this Challenge flight to support white abalone recovery.

#LightHawk #TeamWhiteAbalone #WhiteAbalone #Conservation #Flying #Aviation #EndangeredSpecies

What do you do when the thing you want to research has restricted access from the ground? Fly over it! Flights 16 and 17 of LightHawk's 50 in 50 Challenge supported researchers from Texas A&M University as they measured heat emissions from cryptocurrency and data center operations.

These facilities release significant heat, but their impact is difficult to quantify from the ground due to restricted access. Aerial infrared imaging allowed researchers to capture data at scale and better understand the environmental impacts.

Thank you to volunteer pilot Eric Jakimier for providing both flights in support of this groundbreaking research.

What do you do when the thing you want to research has restricted access from the ground? Fly over it! Flights 16 and 17 of LightHawk's 50 in 50 Challenge supported researchers from Texas A&M University as they measured heat emissions from cryptocurrency and data center operations.

These facilities release significant heat, but their impact is difficult to quantify from the ground due to restricted access. Aerial infrared imaging allowed researchers to capture data at scale and better understand the environmental impacts.

Thank you to volunteer pilot Eric Jakimier for providing both flights in support of this groundbreaking research.

What do you do when the thing you want to research has restricted access from the ground? Fly over it! Flights 16 and 17 of LightHawk's 50 in 50 Challenge supported researchers from Texas A&M University as they measured heat emissions from cryptocurrency and data center operations.

These facilities release significant heat, but their impact is difficult to quantify from the ground due to restricted access. Aerial infrared imaging allowed researchers to capture data at scale and better understand the environmental impacts.

Thank you to volunteer pilot Eric Jakimier for providing both flights in support of this groundbreaking research.

What's it like to fly on a LightHawk flight? Check out The Nature Conservancy - New Jersey's Johnny Quispe's account of a recent LightHawk flight!

Link to story in our bio!

#PilotViewFriday ✈️

This week, we’re giving a huge LightHawk thank you to volunteer pilot Susan Schwaab!

Based in Wisconsin, Susan has been flying conservation missions with LightHawk since 2020, including multiple flights supporting our longtime partner, International Crane Foundation.

From helping locate whooping crane nests hidden deep within wetlands to supporting wildlife conservation efforts across the region, Susan’s flights are helping partners gather critical information from above.

Volunteer pilots like Susan donate not only their aircraft and fuel, but also their time, skill, and passion for conservation.

Thank you, Susan, for helping give flight to this work.

#ConservationFromAbove #WhoopingCranes #LightHawk

A past LightHawk flight with @grandcanyontrust captured aerial imagery over the greater Canyonlands region to help support a film project and campaign advocating for stronger public lands protections.

From the air, the vastness of Canyonlands takes on an entirely different scale. The aerial perspective reveals not only the beauty of the region, but also the deep connectivity of the landscapes surrounding the park.

These images helped tell a story that continues today: some places are simply too important not to protect.
📸 by Tom Till

#ThrowbackThursday #PublicLands #Canyonlands #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

A past LightHawk flight with @grandcanyontrust captured aerial imagery over the greater Canyonlands region to help support a film project and campaign advocating for stronger public lands protections.

From the air, the vastness of Canyonlands takes on an entirely different scale. The aerial perspective reveals not only the beauty of the region, but also the deep connectivity of the landscapes surrounding the park.

These images helped tell a story that continues today: some places are simply too important not to protect.
📸 by Tom Till

#ThrowbackThursday #PublicLands #Canyonlands #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

A past LightHawk flight with @grandcanyontrust captured aerial imagery over the greater Canyonlands region to help support a film project and campaign advocating for stronger public lands protections.

From the air, the vastness of Canyonlands takes on an entirely different scale. The aerial perspective reveals not only the beauty of the region, but also the deep connectivity of the landscapes surrounding the park.

These images helped tell a story that continues today: some places are simply too important not to protect.
📸 by Tom Till

#ThrowbackThursday #PublicLands #Canyonlands #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

A past LightHawk flight with @grandcanyontrust captured aerial imagery over the greater Canyonlands region to help support a film project and campaign advocating for stronger public lands protections.

From the air, the vastness of Canyonlands takes on an entirely different scale. The aerial perspective reveals not only the beauty of the region, but also the deep connectivity of the landscapes surrounding the park.

These images helped tell a story that continues today: some places are simply too important not to protect.
📸 by Tom Till

#ThrowbackThursday #PublicLands #Canyonlands #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

Wildlife can cover a lot of ground.

LightHawk’s aerial telemetry flights help researchers locate and track animals across vast landscapes, gathering valuable data that can be difficult to collect from the ground alone.

From migration routes to habitat use and population monitoring, these flights help scientists better understand how wildlife move through connected ecosystems.

📸: Andrew Stillman, Dan Silvers, and Emily Filiberti

#ConservationFromAbove #WildlifeConservation #AerialTelemetry #LightHawk

Wildlife can cover a lot of ground.

LightHawk’s aerial telemetry flights help researchers locate and track animals across vast landscapes, gathering valuable data that can be difficult to collect from the ground alone.

From migration routes to habitat use and population monitoring, these flights help scientists better understand how wildlife move through connected ecosystems.

📸: Andrew Stillman, Dan Silvers, and Emily Filiberti

#ConservationFromAbove #WildlifeConservation #AerialTelemetry #LightHawk

Wildlife can cover a lot of ground.

LightHawk’s aerial telemetry flights help researchers locate and track animals across vast landscapes, gathering valuable data that can be difficult to collect from the ground alone.

From migration routes to habitat use and population monitoring, these flights help scientists better understand how wildlife move through connected ecosystems.

📸: Andrew Stillman, Dan Silvers, and Emily Filiberti

#ConservationFromAbove #WildlifeConservation #AerialTelemetry #LightHawk

Wildlife can cover a lot of ground.

LightHawk’s aerial telemetry flights help researchers locate and track animals across vast landscapes, gathering valuable data that can be difficult to collect from the ground alone.

From migration routes to habitat use and population monitoring, these flights help scientists better understand how wildlife move through connected ecosystems.

📸: Andrew Stillman, Dan Silvers, and Emily Filiberti

#ConservationFromAbove #WildlifeConservation #AerialTelemetry #LightHawk

What does one of the most complex water systems in America look like from above?

Flights 9–15 of the 50 in 50 Challenge took participants from the California Delta Protection Commission’s Delta Leadership Program into the skies over the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

From the air, the scale and interconnectedness of the Delta becomes clear, offering a rare perspective on how waterways, levees, agriculture, and infrastructure shape the region and influence decisions across California.

Huge thanks to volunteer pilots Martyn Lewis, Louise Mateos, Michael Venturino, and Jane Rosevelt for making these flights possible.

#50in50Challenge #ConservationFromAbove #CaliforniaDelta #LightHawk

What does one of the most complex water systems in America look like from above?

Flights 9–15 of the 50 in 50 Challenge took participants from the California Delta Protection Commission’s Delta Leadership Program into the skies over the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

From the air, the scale and interconnectedness of the Delta becomes clear, offering a rare perspective on how waterways, levees, agriculture, and infrastructure shape the region and influence decisions across California.

Huge thanks to volunteer pilots Martyn Lewis, Louise Mateos, Michael Venturino, and Jane Rosevelt for making these flights possible.

#50in50Challenge #ConservationFromAbove #CaliforniaDelta #LightHawk

PRN’s Nina Struss and Robert Hirschfeld got the chance to see the Quad Cities from a completely different viewpoint—up in the air! Huge thank you to LightHawk for taking our team over Nahant Marsh, the Southwest Rock Island Wetlands, and along the Rock Island River to Green Valley Nature Preserve.

By seeing these landscapes from above, we can get a birds-eye view of these valuable ecosystems. Prairie Rivers Network is working to strengthen efforts to protect the natural infrastructure in our state, like these wetlands and set-asides that help reduce flooding, protect drinking water, and keep communities resilient and safe.

#wetlands #wetlandsprotections #quadcities

Mountain pine beetle infestations are leaving entire Colorado hillsides covered with dead and dying trees.

Flight 8 of the 50 in 50 Challenge flew with investigative journalists to document the growing scale of forest loss and its connection to drought, climate pressures, and increasing wildfire risk.

From above, the flight helped reveal how these impacts spread across entire landscapes.

Thank you to LightHawk volunteer pilot and board member Evan Anderman for donating the flight.

#50in50Challenge #ConservationFromAbove #Colorado #LightHawk

Mountain pine beetle infestations are leaving entire Colorado hillsides covered with dead and dying trees.

Flight 8 of the 50 in 50 Challenge flew with investigative journalists to document the growing scale of forest loss and its connection to drought, climate pressures, and increasing wildfire risk.

From above, the flight helped reveal how these impacts spread across entire landscapes.

Thank you to LightHawk volunteer pilot and board member Evan Anderman for donating the flight.

#50in50Challenge #ConservationFromAbove #Colorado #LightHawk

Florida panthers can roam across hundreds of square miles — but every year, more of that habitat disappears.

Flights 6 and 7 of the 50 in 50 Challenge took LightHawk over southwest Florida, where we partnered with Conservancy of Southwest Florida to document panther habitat increasingly threatened by expanding development and mining operations.

From above, the pressure on these landscapes becomes impossible to ignore.

The aerial imagery and video captured during the flights will help educate the public about the importance of protecting existing panther corridors and maintaining connections to surrounding public lands.

Thank you to volunteer pilots Adam Shapiro and Alan Kinback for providing the flights.

#50in50Challenge #FloridaPanther #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

Florida panthers can roam across hundreds of square miles — but every year, more of that habitat disappears.

Flights 6 and 7 of the 50 in 50 Challenge took LightHawk over southwest Florida, where we partnered with Conservancy of Southwest Florida to document panther habitat increasingly threatened by expanding development and mining operations.

From above, the pressure on these landscapes becomes impossible to ignore.

The aerial imagery and video captured during the flights will help educate the public about the importance of protecting existing panther corridors and maintaining connections to surrounding public lands.

Thank you to volunteer pilots Adam Shapiro and Alan Kinback for providing the flights.

#50in50Challenge #FloridaPanther #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

Florida panthers can roam across hundreds of square miles — but every year, more of that habitat disappears.

Flights 6 and 7 of the 50 in 50 Challenge took LightHawk over southwest Florida, where we partnered with Conservancy of Southwest Florida to document panther habitat increasingly threatened by expanding development and mining operations.

From above, the pressure on these landscapes becomes impossible to ignore.

The aerial imagery and video captured during the flights will help educate the public about the importance of protecting existing panther corridors and maintaining connections to surrounding public lands.

Thank you to volunteer pilots Adam Shapiro and Alan Kinback for providing the flights.

#50in50Challenge #FloridaPanther #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

After a recent LightHawk flight supporting eagle monitoring efforts, Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife partner James Erdmann shared:

“This was a fantastic flight. Not only did we see over a dozen eagle nests, but we also saw multiple eagles as well as 1 or 2 previously undocumented nests. This information will be critical for monitoring eagle populations on the reservation.”

From above, the team was able to identify nests and better understand eagle activity across the landscape.

#PartnersAreSaying #GoldenEagles #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

After a recent LightHawk flight supporting eagle monitoring efforts, Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife partner James Erdmann shared:

“This was a fantastic flight. Not only did we see over a dozen eagle nests, but we also saw multiple eagles as well as 1 or 2 previously undocumented nests. This information will be critical for monitoring eagle populations on the reservation.”

From above, the team was able to identify nests and better understand eagle activity across the landscape.

#PartnersAreSaying #GoldenEagles #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

After a recent LightHawk flight supporting eagle monitoring efforts, Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife partner James Erdmann shared:

“This was a fantastic flight. Not only did we see over a dozen eagle nests, but we also saw multiple eagles as well as 1 or 2 previously undocumented nests. This information will be critical for monitoring eagle populations on the reservation.”

From above, the team was able to identify nests and better understand eagle activity across the landscape.

#PartnersAreSaying #GoldenEagles #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk

After a recent LightHawk flight supporting eagle monitoring efforts, Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife partner James Erdmann shared:

“This was a fantastic flight. Not only did we see over a dozen eagle nests, but we also saw multiple eagles as well as 1 or 2 previously undocumented nests. This information will be critical for monitoring eagle populations on the reservation.”

From above, the team was able to identify nests and better understand eagle activity across the landscape.

#PartnersAreSaying #GoldenEagles #ConservationFromAbove #LightHawk