LightHawk's inaugural 50 in 50 Challenge will be taking place from June 15 to August 3, 2024.

This groundbreaking initiative will see us conduct 50 conservation flights in 50 days, covering diverse ecosystems and addressing urgent conservation issues across the country. Learn more about the 50-in-50 Challenge at the link below.

Photo by Julius Schlosburg.

LightHawk conservation partner American Rivers 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!”

Exciting news! Get ready to mark your calendars because LightHawk is kicking off a new series of regional fly-ins, and guess what? The very first one is happening in the northeast. Clear your schedule for Saturday, June 22, 2024, and head over to Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport. 

We'll kick things off at 10 a.m. sharp and wrap up by 3 p.m., ensuring you've got time to fly home the same day.

When you attend, you'll be treated to two guest speakers, covering both aviation and conservation topics. You'll also have the opportunity to speak with the dedicated LightHawk staff who oversee your region. And let's not forget about the ultimate pilot pastime – hangar flying with your fellow volunteer pilots! Oh, and did someone say lunch? VP’s, we've got you covered. 

Here's the kicker – it's all on the house for volunteer pilots! That's right, a day filled with aviation, conservation, and camaraderie, as our thanks to you for giving back through LightHawk. We don't think you'll find a better deal anywhere!

If you would like to attend LightHawk's first regional fly-in, simply hit that link below, fill out the registration form, gas up your plane, and soar with us for an amazing day!

To learn more about this and other upcoming regional fly-ins, visit our Events page on the LightHawk website!

Photo by Kent Wien

This month’s Photo of the Month comes from a Lighthawk flight, provided by volunteer pilot Kent Wien, that documented the baseline conditions during a normal high tide along the New Hampshire/ Massachusetts coastline. This baseline documentation will then be compared to video captured during the April 2024 king tides in the same location. These images will be used by partners to highlight the impacts of sea-level rise in low lying areas of the coast. King tides bring unusually high water levels, and they can cause local flooding. Over time, sea level rise is raising the height of tidal systems. Average daily water levels are rising along with the oceans. As a result, high tides are reaching higher and extending farther inland than in the past, creating challenges for communities and their infrastructure. King tides preview how sea level rise will affect coastal places. As time goes by, the water level reached now during a king tide will be the water level reached at high tide on an average day.

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