Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute

Contact InformationErica LeMoine
LoonWatch Program
1411 Ellis Avenue
Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
Ashland, WI 54806
(715) 682-1220
Email

Home / Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute / LoonWatch / Learn About Loons

Learn About Loons

Loons are considered one of the most primitive birds on earth. They have not changed from their current form for the last one million years. The first loon relative appeared about 25 million years ago and measured about six feet from beak to tail. There are five species of loons in the world: Common Loon (Gavia immer), Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii), Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica), Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica), and the Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata). Only the Common Loon breeds in the lower 48 states and usually nests on inland lakes.

LoonWatch focuses on the protection of common loons and their aquatic habitats through education, monitoring, and research.
Loon Identification—What does a common loon look like?
Loon Behavior & Vocalizations—Learn how to identify the diverse behaviors of loons and what they mean.
Loon Ecology—Learn about the life cycle of a loon and loon habitat.
Frequently Asked Common Loon Questions—Do loons mate for life? Are loons protected? How many eggs do loons lay? Look here for the answers to these and other frequently asked loon questions.
Other Loon Groups & Resources—Visit these websites for information and news about loons across North America.
Loon Artificial Nesting Platforms—Determine if your lake is a good candidate for a nesting platform and find out what you need to do to acquire a permit or notify the Wisconsin DNR about your platform project.

Event Calendar
October 2012
SU	MO	TU	WE	TH	FR	SA

30	1	2	3	4	5	6

7	8	9	10	11	12	13

14	15	16	17	18	19	20

21	22	23	24	25	26	27

28	29	30	31	1	2	3

Timber Wolf Awareness Week
Oct 11, 2012, Oct 14, 2012, Oct 15, 2012, Oct 16, 2012, Oct 17, 2012, Oct 18, 2012, Oct 19, 2012, Oct 20, 2012
SOEI

Timber Wolf Awareness Week

Oct 11, 2012, Oct 14, 2012, Oct 15, 2012, Oct 16, 2012, Oct 17, 2012, Oct 18, 2012, Oct 19, 2012, Oct 20, 2012

Location Information
SOEI

With a public presentation on October 17

Adrian Wydevan, DNR Carnivore Specialist
Topic: “Ecology, History and Management of Wolves in Wisconsin, including the new Wolf Hunting Season”
Thursday, Oct. 17 7:00 pm SOEI

Adrian P. Wydeven was born in the Netherlands in 1952, and his family immigrated to the U.S. and Fox Valley region of northeast Wisconsin in 1959. Adrian grew up reading stories of the last wolves disappearing from the state, and the possibility that there might be one or 2 loners left roaming along the Wisconsin/Michigan border. Adrian obtained BS degrees in Biology and Wildlife Management at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1976, and a MS degree in Wildlife Ecology from Iowa State University at Ames in 1979. His master’s research focused on food habitats, habitat use, and competitive interactions of elk with other mammalian herbivores. From 1980 through 1982, he worked as an assistant wildlife area manager in northeast Missouri. Adrian returned to Wisconsin in 1982 to work for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife manager. Over the next 8 years he worked at stations in Oshkosh, Appleton, and Shawano. In 1990 Adrian began work as a non-gam! e biologist in Park Falls, heading up the state wolf recovery program, and other programs on non-game wildlife in northern Wisconsin. His title was changed to mammalian ecologist in 1993, as his focus became mainly mammals, especially the carnivores. Since August 2012 his title has changed to Carnivore Specialist in Wildlife Management in the DNR. Along with heading up the state wolf program, Adrian has been involved with monitoring and management of American martens, surveys for lynx, investigations of cougar observations, surveys of other carnivores, serving on the state wolf, furbearer, elk, marten advisory committees, as well as other state and federal wildlife advisory committees. Adrian lives near Cable, Wisconsin, with his wife Sarah Boles, a professor at Northland College.

Photo Gallery

Wing Flap

View All Photos

Ways to Support LoonWatch

Supporting LoonWatch can include donating your photography, volunteering to be a citizen scientist for research projects, giving a cash donation that ensure LoonWatch will be here to help loons thrive in the Northwoods. For more information, please contact Erica LeMoine at (715) 682-1220 or email at loonwatch@northland.edu.