LoonWatch and
Northwoods Loon Protection Program

Since 1978, LoonWatch, a program of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College, has gathered information about the distribution and reproductive success of Common Loons throughout Wisconsin. Each year, volunteers observe loon activity on one or more lakes of their choice from ice-off to fall. Go to the LoonWatch website for contact information. While there be sure to check out the Learn About Loons pages.

In addition, the Northwoods Loon Protection Program (NLPP), sponsored by Wisconsin DNR Science Services, began recruiting volunteers to monitor lakes in northcentral Wisconsin in 2007, specifically to document loon data for use in the Wisconsin Loon population model. NLPP volunteers collect data, including leg band colors, weekly when possible. Loon chicks are captured in July and color-banded by NLPP personnel. Click to see the leg bandings. Contact information can be found at this Wisconsin DNR webpage.

Completed data forms from both LoonWatch and NLPP programs allow scientists to analyze critical patterns and changes in the loon population as they develop future protective actions.

NLPP doesn't yet have a website. Until they do, here are some NLPP-related links.

NLPP Red Eye News, Volume 1, Issue 1
NLPP Red Eye News, Volume 2, Issue 1
NLPP Red Eye News, Volume 3, Issue 1
WDNR Citizen Lake Monitoring Network
Northland Adventures Loon Lookers video
Northwoods Loon Protection Program poster
Leg Bandings