In 1985, LoonWatch established the Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award. The Award was named in honor of wildlife biologist, Sigurd T. Olson, son of the Institute's namesake, Sigurd F. Olson, in recognition of his early contributions to our understanding of loons. His 1952 paper co-authored with William H. Marshall, "The Common Loon in Minnesota," continues to be cited as one of the premier baseline reports on the natural history of the species.

The Loon Research Award provides funding for original research that leads to better understanding and management of loon populations. Since its inception, the Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award has provided more than $20,000 to projects in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Massachusetts and Alaska. The award history reports the amount of the award given, and to what projects the funding goes.

Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award funding has provided critical support for small but important projects that have allowed researchers to increase their understanding of loon nocturnal vocal behavior, impacts of human disturbance on loons and causes of loon mortality. The Award has also assisted in the establishment of projects that are now long-term and/or continent-wide studies.

Funds for the Loon Research Award were initially generated through the hosting of an annual Wisconsin Loon Banquet. Since the mid-1990s, individual donors with an interest in loon research and management have supported the fund. In 2005, the cash assets from the North American Loon Fund were transferred to LoonWatch to create the North American Loon Research Endowment. Over the next year, we hope to raise $11,000 to fully fund the endowment to generate the $2,000 annual award.