Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Loon in Downtown Chicago

Do you ever woner where the loons are on their migration journey? In 1998 the USGS's did a Common Loon Migration Study. This tracked five loons from lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin on their journey south to the Atlantic Ocean. From this, we know that loons usually stage on the Great Lakes, specifically Lake Michigan, late into the fall before continuing south.

On Sunday, November 16th we received a report of a loon in Chicago. This loon was in Belmont Harbor for the day, and was even photographed! See photos.

If you are around southern Lake Michigan, this is a great time to be out loon watching!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Reminder: STO Loon Research Proposals Due Dec. 5, 2008

LoonWatch is still accepting proposals for its 22nd annual award for research conducted in North America on any loon (Gavia) species. To apply for cash awards up to $3,000, a proposed research project and curriculum vitae must be received by December 5th, 2008. Projects should be for the 2009 calendar year. The winner(s) will be notified by January 30th, 2009.

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.

Research on behavior, breeding ecology, migration, winter ecology, toxicology and evolution will be considered. Proposals addressing human impacts to loons will be given special consideration.