A look back at the inspiring life and lasting legacy of our friend and colleague, Shiloh Schulte. | Photo: Manomet | | |
Remembering Shiloh Schulte: A Life in Service to Shorebirds, Science, and Community
Shiloh Schulte, PhD, a devoted conservation biologist, exceptional field scientist, and cherished colleague, died tragically in a helicopter accident in Alaska this past June while doing the work he loved most—protecting shorebirds. His passing is a tremendous loss for Manomet, for the shorebird conservation community, and for all those whose lives and careers he touched.
From the icy tundra in the Arctic to the windswept coastlines of Tierra del Fuego, Shiloh’s work spanned continents and bridged communities - shaping pioneering research across the Western Hemisphere and advancing science to understand and protect some of the planet’s most vulnerable migratory birds. Shiloh’s leadership extended far beyond data points and migration maps, he brought global attention to the complex threats facing shorebirds today.
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| | Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet Conservation Sciences went wild at the Franklin Park Zoo, with a focused workshop targeting Animal Adaptations and Bioengineering. | Photo: Manomet / Alex Amsden | | |
How can science educators bring real-world relevance and deeper engagement into their classrooms? For a group of K–12 educators who participated in the Animal Adaptations and Bioengineering professional development workshop this June, the answer was clear: hands-on, inquiry-based experiences that blend science content with immersive learning.
Held at Franklin Park Zoo and presented by the Wade Institute for Science Education in partnership with the Lloyd Center for the Environment and Zoo New England, this two-day workshop invited teachers to explore the intersection of animal biology and engineering through an engaging design challenge: creating a model prosthetic for an injured animal.
EDUCATORS GET WILD >>
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From Maine, With Love: An Audio Postcard
Step into the vibrant sounds of the Alewives Festival in Pembroke, Maine, captured in this audio postcard from May, 2025, brought to life by homeschool student Beatrice Alsop-Cheeney. In a lively Q&A, Beatrice asks our own Sea Run Fisheries Monitoring Coordinator, Anne Zegers, just what is so special about alewives. Take a listen to hear Anne's answer, along with other lively voices offering some fun facts about this keystone species.
LISTEN NOW >>
| | Manomet scientists visited the dynamic and wildlife-rich outer beaches of Cape Cod - Monomoy Island - as they conducted fieldwork, searching for southbound migratory shorebirds and those that nested locally this season. | Photos: Manomet / Andrea Ferreira | | |
Manomet scientists Alan Kneidel and Liana DiNunzio, along with a field team, recently ventured out to the ever-shifting shores of Monomoy Island, that sandy gem off Cape Cod where the birds outnumber the people. Armed with binoculars, notebooks, and an unreasonable number of snacks (for the humans, not the birds), the team combed the beaches, salt marshes, and ponds in search of southbound shorebirds - like Sandpipers, Whimbrels, and Plovers - gearing up for migration and locals who had nested for the summer.
Over 11,000 pairs of common and roseate terns crowd its dunes each summer, while Piping Plovers work hard to raise their chicks along the fragile shoreline. Countless sandpipers stop to refuel for their long journeys ahead. Every counted bird was a reminder of the vital role habitats like Monomoy play in the survival of many species.
| | Pictured: Stilt eggs and a newly hatched chick; stilt fledglings exploring the world | Photos: Manomet / Salvadora Morales | | |
Fresh out of the egg… and already putting on a show!
Meet two Black-necked Stilt chicks at different stages: one just hatched, still perfectly camouflaged with the speckled nest and surroundings, and another already a few days old and exploring the world.
Meanwhile, the parents weren’t having it—flapping, calling, and giving us the full “broken wing” performance to protect their little ones. Nature’s drama, live and unfiltered, captured by Shrimp and Shorebird Specialist Salvadora Morales while doing fieldwork in Honduras this week.
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Global Staff Meet at Manomet HQ
This past June, staff and partners from across the western hemisphere - including Louisiana, Texas, Paraguay, and Uruguay, gathered at Manomet HQ in Plymouth, MA for a rare chance to connect in person. During their time on campus, they caught up face-to-face with colleagues they usually only see over Zoom, shared stories and insights from their work in the field, and explored the local landscape together on birding expeditions.
| | Pictured from L to R: North American Coordinator for the International Shorebird Survey Lisa Schibley, Senior Shorebird Conservation Specialist Arne Lesterhuis, partner Mauro Ricci from Ambiente Sur, Shorebird Conservation Biologist Elijah Wojohn, Shorebird Biologist Liana DiNunzio, and Digital Communications and Outreach Specialist Andrea Ferreira. | | Our Summer of Shorebirds has Arrived! | | |
We’re excited to share all kinds of new content as part of our No Boundaries campaign—explore educational species pages, fun quizzes, downloadable fact sheets, mobile and desktop backgrounds, and more! Be sure to check back weekly for the latest updates, stories, and resources - and new ways to get involved!
Through No Boundaries, we’re aiming to raise $60,000 from 600 new donors by September 2025 to help protect our 9 Flagship Shorebirds. Together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve for these incredible birds. When we protect shorebirds, we’re also protecting the health of the ecosystems we all depend on—and ensuring these remarkable species continue to inspire wonder for generations to come.
Join us in making a difference—because healthy shorebirds mean a healthy planet.
Did you know shorebird populations have declined sharply over the past 20 years? With your help, our scientists and global partners are working to turn that around. Every gift—big or small—moves us closer to recovery. We’re counting on your generosity to help these vital birds thrive.
READ MORE ABOUT NO BOUNDARIES >>
DONATE TO SAVE OUR SHOREBIRDS TODAY!
| | Thank you to our recent corporate partners for helping Manomet deliver its mission of improving the health of flyways, coastal ecosystems, and working lands and seas. | | | | |
