News

Research updates, media coverage, and articles about Shiloh's conservation work

Honors & Remembrances

In the year since Shiloh's passing, his colleagues and communities have honored him in many ways.

A runner along the water during a road race
Summer 2025

Seacoast Track Club dedicates a race

The Seacoast Track Club, of which Shiloh was a member, dedicated their Kennebunk Library 5K to his memory.

Friends and family gathered at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust

A celebration of life

Close to 250 people gathered at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust to celebrate Shiloh's life.

Framed shorebird photographs on display at the Plymouth Public Library exhibit
August–September 2025

Photography exhibit in Plymouth

Manomet exhibited “The Art & Science of Recovering Shorebird Populations” at the Plymouth Public Library, featuring photographs by four Manomet scientists — including Shiloh. A reception for the photographers was held September 25.

The Shiloh Schulte American Oystercatcher Award, a carved oystercatcher plaque

An award renamed in his honor

Shiloh posthumously received the American Oystercatcher Award. In his honor it was renamed The Shiloh Schulte American Oystercatcher Award — fitting, as he had long been among those who chose each year’s recipient.

The Seacoast Track Club “STC” logo featuring a whimbrel silhouette

“Fly With Shiloh”

The Seacoast Track Club’s 2026 calendar carried a “Fly With Shiloh” theme. The club adopted the Whimbrel as its symbol — inspired by Shiloh’s photo of one that flew non-stop from Newfoundland to Brazil in just four days — as an emblem of stamina and endurance.

Researchers attaching a GPS tracker to a banded Magellanic PloverPhoto: Arne Lesterhuis

A plover named “Shiloh”

Conservation partners in South America named a satellite-tracked Magellanic Plover “Shiloh” — a bird Shiloh himself had tagged in Patagonia.

Shiloh in the field with his camera

Annual Report dedication

Manomet’s Annual Report will be dedicated to Shiloh, featuring his photography.

A shorebird photograph from the Recovering Shorebird Populations exhibit
June–August 2026

Exhibit returns to Cape Cod

“The Art & Science of Recovering Shorebird Populations” shows at the Osterville Village Library June 1–August 28, 2026, dedicated to Shiloh, with a reception July 8 and a photo talk August 25.

Exhibit details
A researcher banding a shorebird in the field

A new scholarship for early-career scientists

Manomet is creating a new scholarship in Shiloh’s honor for early-career scientists pursuing field work — reflecting his lifelong passion for helping others get their start.

Support the scholarship
Members of the Seacoast Track Club gathered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Remembrance in Portsmouth

On the first anniversary of his passing, the Seacoast Track Club gathered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to remember Shiloh.

Remembrance in Alaska

That same evening, Manomet’s field crews in Alaska gathered for their own remembrance.

In the News

Scientists are tracking whimbrels to help their populations rebound
Alaska Public MediaJune 23, 2026

Scientists are tracking whimbrels to help their populations rebound

June 2026 - Dan Ruthrauff carries on the whimbrel tracking project Shiloh began two years ago, fitting satellite transmitters to birds west of Kaktovik on Alaska's North Slope. With whimbrel numbers down about 70%, the team hopes to replicate the American Oystercatcher recovery Shiloh helped lead (Alaska Public Media / KNBA)

Manomet Conservation SciencesMay 8, 2026

Ruddy Turnstone Tagged on Cape Cod Spotted in Brazil After Tracker Signal Is Lost

May 2026 - A Ruddy Turnstone satellite-tagged on Cape Cod in 2025 bred in the Canadian Arctic and was resighted alive in Brazil after its transmitter failed, documenting a trans-Atlantic migration. The Manomet-led study continues the shorebird tracking work Shiloh helped pioneer

Manomet Conservation SciencesMarch 29, 2026

CMS COP15 Provides Hope for Declining Shorebird Species in the Americas

March 2026 - At the Convention on Migratory Species COP15 in Brazil, governments added the Hudsonian Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, and Lesser Yellowlegs to Appendix I and adopted a Concerted Action for the Magellanic Plover - the same species South American partners named "Shiloh" in his honor

Manomet Conservation SciencesMarch 17, 2026

A New Name, A New Chapter for the Hudsonian Whimbrel

March 2026 - Manomet explains the 2025 taxonomic split recognizing the Hudsonian Whimbrel as a species distinct from the Eurasian Whimbrel. Once separated, the Hudsonian population's nearly 70% decline is no longer masked in global assessments, sharpening conservation focus on the whimbrel Shiloh tracked across the Americas

New Study Maps Pacific Flyway Shorebird Declines
Manomet Conservation SciencesFebruary 25, 2026

New Study Maps Pacific Flyway Shorebird Declines

February 2026 - Manomet reports the first comprehensive flyway-wide assessment of nonbreeding shorebirds along the Pacific Americas Flyway, finding nearly half of monitored species declining, including Hudsonian Whimbrel

Alaska Lovebirds Go Their Own Way
4 sourcesFebruary 12, 2026

Whimbrel Pair Migrate Separately to South America

Multiple outlets covered the Valentine's Day story of Lindsay and Katakturuk — the mated whimbrel pair tagged by Shiloh whose remarkable split-flyway migration he discovered. Dan Ruthrauff describes continuing Shiloh's Arctic NWR research.

Journal of Applied EcologyJanuary 10, 2026

Comparing acoustic and visual monitoring methods for assessing biodiversity and distributions of Arctic-breeding shorebirds

January 2026 - Peer-reviewed study in Journal of Applied Ecology co-authored by Shiloh comparing ARU and visual survey methods for monitoring Arctic shorebirds, finding acoustic monitoring detects 50% higher species richness

Tracking Whimbrels Through Emerging Threats
Center for Conservation BiologyOctober 8, 2025

Tracking Whimbrels Through Emerging Threats

October 2025 - Center for Conservation Biology report on monitoring whimbrel populations facing new environmental challenges during migration, using transmitter technology on Virginia's Eastern Shore

The First Tracking Data for Juvenile Hudsonian Whimbrels
ManometOctober 1, 2025

The First Tracking Data for Juvenile Hudsonian Whimbrels

October 2025 - Satellite tracking study co-authored by Shiloh revealing migratory connections between Cape Cod and wintering sites across the Caribbean and South America

The Whimbrel and the Wind Turbines: Capable of Coexistence?
Inside Climate NewsSeptember 8, 2025

The Whimbrel and the Wind Turbines: Capable of Coexistence?

September 2025 - Investigation into whether whimbrels can coexist with Virginia's offshore wind project, finding 42% of tracked birds fly through the wind energy area during migration

NPRJuly 28, 2025

NPR All Things Considered

July 28, 2025 - Feature on shorebird conservation success

NPRJuly 23, 2025

NPR Morning Edition

July 23, 2025 - American Oystercatcher population rebound story

Prominent bird researcher from Maine killed in North Slope helicopter crash
Anchorage Daily NewsJune 9, 2025

Prominent bird researcher from Maine killed in North Slope helicopter crash

Anchorage Daily News coverage of the fatal crash near Deadhorse, detailing Shiloh's role as senior shorebird scientist at Manomet

KNBA Alaska Public RadioJune 9, 2025

Family and colleagues remember the scientist and pilot

Alaska Public Radio remembrances from family and professional colleagues following the fatal helicopter crash near Deadhorse

Conservation biologist Shiloh Schulte dies in Alaska helicopter crash
NewsCenter MaineJune 9, 2025

Conservation biologist Shiloh Schulte dies in Alaska helicopter crash

Maine news coverage of the loss of Kennebunk resident and conservation biologist Dr. Shiloh Schulte

Plymouth scientist killed after helicopter crashes in remote part of Alaska
Boston.comJune 9, 2025

Plymouth scientist killed after helicopter crashes in remote part of Alaska

Boston-area coverage of the loss of Dr. Shiloh Schulte from Manomet Conservation Sciences in the Alaska helicopter crash

Scientist at Plymouth conservation nonprofit dies in remote Alaska crash
Boston GlobeJune 7, 2025

Scientist at Plymouth conservation nonprofit dies in remote Alaska crash

Boston Globe report on the helicopter crash that killed Shiloh during Arctic whimbrel research near Deadhorse, Alaska

Inside the All-Out, 16-State Mission to Save the American Oystercatcher
Audubon MagazineMay 20, 2025

Inside the All-Out, 16-State Mission to Save the American Oystercatcher

May 2025 - Audubon feature on the American Oystercatcher Working Group's multi-state conservation initiative to prevent the species from being listed as endangered

NPR Living on Earth Interview
NPR Living on EarthMay 16, 2025

NPR Living on Earth Interview

May 16, 2025 - Shiloh discusses American Oystercatcher recovery success

WHSRNApril 29, 2025

Key WHSRN Site for American Oystercatcher and Whimbrel Moves Toward Official Protection

April 2025 - WHSRN report on conservation progress at the Mataquito-Huenchullamí site in Chile, a breeding and wintering area for the American Oystercatcher subspecies Shiloh helped recover and for over 1,500 Whimbrels, moving toward formal protection through Manomet-led international collaboration

Oystercatcher Recovery Campaign Offers a Rare Success Story about Shorebird Conservation
Inside Climate NewsMarch 20, 2025

Oystercatcher Recovery Campaign Offers a Rare Success Story about Shorebird Conservation

March 2025 - Inside Climate News feature on the 15-year recovery initiative led by Shiloh that achieved a 45% population increase, with discussion of future climate threats to coastal species

Audubon MagazineMay 1, 2020

Audubon Magazine Profile

May 2020 - Arctic fieldwork feature 'The Midnight Sun and the Whimbrels'

USFWS Alaska

Whimbrel Wanderings

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Alaska - Shiloh's satellite tracking research on whimbrels from Kanuti Refuge and the Colville River, documenting their 9,000-mile migrations between the Arctic and South America

ScienceDirect

ArcticSoundsNET Research

Advanced bioacoustic monitoring technology for Arctic bird populations

How Manomet's Bird Banding Lab is protecting migratory species
WCVB

How Manomet's Bird Banding Lab is protecting migratory species

From piping plovers to American oystercatchers, this Plymouth-based conservation group tracks bird recovery while connecting students to nature. Mentions Shiloh around the 4 minute mark.