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LoonWatch accepting grant proposals

September 30, 2010

LoonWatch, a program of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College, is accepting proposals for the 2011 Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award. The award is named for biologist Sigurd T. Olson, whose 1952 paper with co-author William H. Marshall, "The Common Loon in Minnesota," continues to be cited as one of the premier baseline reports on the species.

Since 1986, the loon research award has provided funding for original research that leads to better understanding and management of loon populations. LoonWatch will accept proposals for research conducted in North America on any Gavia species. Research on behavior, breeding ecology, migration, winter ecology, toxicology and evolution will be considered. Proposals addressing human impacts, including but not limited to the Deep Water Horizon oil spill impact to the Gulf of Mexico winter habitat, will be given special consideration.

The award will be designated for research that will be conducted during the 2011 calendar year. The maximum grant is $3,000. A portion of the award is funded by the North American Loon Research Endowment. The proposal deadline is December 10, 2010 and the award winner will be notified by January 31, 2011.

LoonWatch, now in its 32nd year of coordinating volunteers to monitor loon activity and reproductive success, is one of the many programs at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute. Since its founding in 1972, the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College has facilitated solutions to environmental problems in the north country through education, research, and citizen involvement. The Institute's namesake, Sigurd F. Olson (1899-1982), is one of North America's most beloved nature writers and an influential conservationists of the 20th century. In 1974 he won the John Burroughs Medal for his book, "Wilderness Days" To obtain more information about the Institute, call (715) 682-1223 or visit our website at: www.northland.edu/soei.

For more information on the award, please go to www.northland.edu/loonwatch. To request proposal guidelines contact LoonWatch at: STO Loon Research Award, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College, 1411 Ellis Ave, Ashland WI 54806, e-mail loonwatch@northland.edu or call 715-682-1220