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Click here to download the Research Award Guidelines (.pdf).

Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award

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.

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. Since 1986, more than $35,000 dollars in funding has been awarded. Past Awards are listed below.

To support the Loon Research Award, you can make a gift online and under the section called "Placing your Gift," select other from the drop-down menu and include Sigurd T. Olson Loon Research Award in that text area.

Award proposal guidelines and application are placed are place here in October. Proposals are due in December, and the awardee is notified in January. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for the next award, please check back here in October 2012 to download proposal guidelines and application.

Award History

Year	Title and Authors
1986	Vocal tagging assessment of Common Loon population dynamics in upper Michigan: A base study Dr. Ed Miller, Governors State University
1987	Population turnover rate of Common Loons in upper Michigan/Wisconsin Dr. Ed Miller, Governors State University
1988	Behavior, movements, habitat use and migration of Common Loons in northern Wisconsin Dr. Raymond Anderson, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
1988	Aspects of the nocturnal chorusing behavior of Common Loons: Pair site fidelity and pair-bond longevity Lauren Wentz, Ohio State University
1989	Population turnover rate and early-season usage of multi-lake territories by Common Loons in upper Michigan and Wisconsin Dr. Ed Miller, Governors State University
1989	Aspects of nocturnal vocal behavior of the Common Loon Lauren Wentz, Ohio State University
1990	Establishing a color-marked Common Loon population David Evers, Kalamazoo Nature Center
1991	The impact of fish mercury contamination on Common Loon productivity in Wisconsin Dr. Michael Meyer, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
1992	An investigation into the impact of fish mercury contamination on Common Loon productivity in Wisconsin Dr. Michael Meyer, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
1992	Investigation of morbidity and mortality of the Common Loon in Minnesota Jimmy Pichner, Minnesota Zoo
1994	Common Loon monitoring in Minnesota: Development and implementation of a strategy for tracking populations of a widely dispersed species Richard Baker, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
1996	Importance of food and mercury consumption to chick survival in acidified lakes of northern Wisconsin Jerry Hartigan and Dr. Evelyn Merrill, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
1998	Effects of human disturbance on Common Loon nesting behavior, chick rearing, and productivity in northeast Minnesota Cory Counard, University of Minnesota-St. Paul
1999	Sternal punctures in Common Loons: Are they indicative of behavioral pathology Rose Miconi and Dr. Mark Pokras, Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, Massachusetts
2000	Common Loon breeding atlas and associated human-use patterns: Isle Royale National Park, Michigan Joseph D. Kaplan and Keren B. Tischler, BioDiversity Research Institute
2000	Factors influencing lacustrine habitat selection of piscivorous birds in northern Wisconsin Jennifer Newbrey, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
2001	Nesting Success and Incubation Patterns of Common Loons in Voyageurs National Park Dawn Cummings, North Dakota State University
2002	Factors that inhibit loon nesting success at Isle Royale National Park Joseph D. Kaplan, BioDiversity Research Institute and Michigan Technological University
2003	Provisioning variation and fledging success of red-throated loons in western Alaska: marine regime shifts as a potential mechanism for long-term population decline Jeffery Ball, Simon Fraser University
2004	Experimental Analysis of the behavioral consequences of using nest platforms to manage Common Loon populations: are loons getting too much of a good thing? Jay Mager, Cornell University
2005	Assessing the conservation implications of common loon parasites: black flies, haematozoans, and the loon immune response Meggin Weinandt, Northern Michigan University
2006	Learning from Loons: Lead Poisoning and its Threats to Wildlife and Human Health Dr. Mark Pokras, Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, Massachusetts
2007	Common Loon Contaminant Burdens and Condition during Fall Migration through the Lower Great Lakes Dr. Scott Petrie, Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, Bird Studies Canada Port Rowan, Ontario
2008	Evaluating waterbird mortality associated with botulism E outbreaks on northern Lake Michigan Joseph D. Kaplan, Common Coast Research and Conservation Houghton, Michigan
2009	No award given.
2010	No award given.
2011	No award given.