- Academics
- Overview
- Catalog
- General Education
- Majors & Minors
- All Majors & Minors
- Art
- Biology
- Business
- Business Management
- Chemistry
- Ecological Restoration
- Education
- Education
- Faculty Profiles
- Broad Field Science Education Major (B.S)
- Broad Field Social Studies Education Major (B.S.)
- Elementary/Middle Education (Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence) Major (B.S.)
- Secondary (Early Adolescence to Adolescence) Education Major (B.S.)
- Education Department Website
- Career Opportunities
- Photo Gallery
- Schedule a Visit
- Environmental Geosciences
- Fisheries Ecology & Management
- Geology
- Humanities
- History
- Humanity and Nature Studies
- Mathematical Science
- Meteorology
- Music
- Native American Studies
- Natural Resources
- Outdoor Education
- Pre-Professional Programs
- Public Affairs Management
- Sociology and Social Justice
- Sustainable Community Development
- Spanish Program
- Water Science
- Wildlife Ecology & Management
- Writing and English
- Course Offerings
- Off-Campus Programs
- Academic Calendar
- Faculty Profiles
- Advising
- Accreditation
- Registrar
- Policy and Procedures
- Lecture Series
- Library
- Admissions
- Overview
- Admissions Checklist
- Application for Admission
- Financial Aid
- Tuition Match - Access Guarantee
- Affordability Tips
- Parents
- Transfer Students
- International Students
- High School Counselors
- Alumni Success Stories
- Admissions Staff
- Visits and Events
- Request Information
- Student Life
- Athletics
- Sustainability
- Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
- Overview
- LoonWatch
- History
- Nature Writing Awards
- Lake Superior Binational Forum
- Chequamegon Bay Area Partnership
- Student Opportunities
- SOEI Staff
- Support the SOEI
- Contact Us
- Visit the SOEI

Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
- Overview
- LoonWatch
- History
- Nature Writing Awards
- Lake Superior Binational Forum
- Chequamegon Bay Area Partnership
- Student Opportunities
- SOEI Staff
- Support the SOEI
- Contact Us
- Visit the SOEI
Contact InformationErica LeMoine
LoonWatch Program
1411 Ellis Avenue
Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
Ashland, WI 54806
(715) 682-1220
Email
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.
Apr 4, 2013
7:00 pm @ Alvord Theathre - Ponzio Campus Center
'Facing Climate Catastrophe with Hope: Rediscovering the Olson Way' - SOEI 40th Anniversary Event
Apr 4, 2013
Location Information
7:00 pm @ Alvord Theathre - Ponzio Campus Center
April 4, 7 - 9 p.m. | Ponzio Campus Center, Alvord Theater
7 p.m. - Welcome from Mark Peterson, Executive Director, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
7:15-8:15 p.m. - "Facing Climate Catastrophe with Hope:
Rediscovering the Olson Way" by David Backes, Professor of Mass
Communications at UW-Milwaukee and author of A Wilderness Within: The
Life of Sigurd F. Olson
8:15-8:30 p.m. - Break with refreshments
8:30-9 p.m. - Filmmaker Peter Olsen will share clips
and stories from his newest documentary project, "The Singing
Wilderness; The Life of Sigurd F. Olson
April 5, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Ponzio Campus Center, Alvord Theater
Wilderness Expeditions - Trip Reports from around North America*8-8:50 a.m. - "Pam's Journey to the Arctic Ocean and Beyond" by John Olson- John has been an active lifetime paddler and wildlife biologist for 37 years with the WI DNR .
*9-9:50 a.m. - "One Man, One Canoe, Two Countries" by Dave R. Doering- Dave is an independent film maker, owner of "Sun Ridge Moving Pictures" and Bayfield Public School Teacher.
*10-10:50 a.m. - "Baffin Island 2007: Exploring The Frontlines of Climate Change" by Elizabeth K. Andre- Elizabeth is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education and Outdoor Education at Northland College.
*11-11:50 a.m. - "Ideas of the North" by Conor Mihell- Conor is an editor-at-large with Canoe and Kayak magazine and an award-winning environmental and adventure travel journalist based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
12-12:50 p.m. - Lunch on your own
1-1:50 p.m. - "Traversing the Brooks Range by Canoe: Haul Road to the Chukchi Sea" by Geoffrey Smith-Geoffrey is an Aquatic Ecologist for Voyageurs National Park and has worked for the National Park Service for over 30 years.
2-2:50 p.m. - "Pikes Portage: East onto the Barrens from Great Slave Lake with lessons from Sigurd Olson" by Bob Henderson- Bob is the author of Every Trail has a Story: Heritage Travel in Canada and the long time editor of Pathways: The Ontario Journal of Outdoor Education. He has taught outdoor education at McMaster University and now Brock University for over 30 years.
*3-3:25 p.m. - "The Voyageur's Highway: A Journey in Five Parts" by Ted Gostomski. Ted is a biologist, writer and hivernant whose internal compass points North.
3:30-3:55 p.m. - "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: America's Last Wilderness" by Laurel Ipsen. Laurel is a freshman at Northland College studying Outdoor Education. She hails from Duluth, MN.
4-4:25 p.m. - "Life is Better There" by Will "John Wayne" Krift. Will grew up hiking trails north of The Smoky Mountains National Park and is a student at Northland College. He spent 4 months last summer hiking the Appalachian Trail.
All events have been coordinated and supported by the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute and the A.D. & Mary Elizabeth Andersen Hulings Distinguished Chair in the Humanities.
Contact Information
Jean Ayers
SOEI
715-682-1264
jayers@northland.edu
Apr 4, 2013
8:30 pm @ Alvord Theathre - Ponzio Campus Center
'The Singing Wilderness: The Life of Sigurd Olson' - SOEI 40th Anniversary Event
Apr 4, 2013
Location Information
8:30 pm @ Alvord Theathre - Ponzio Campus Center
April 4, 7 - 9 p.m. | Ponzio Campus Center, Alvord Theater
7 p.m. - Welcome from Mark Peterson, Executive Director, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
7:15-8:15 p.m. - "Facing Climate Catastrophe with Hope:
Rediscovering the Olson Way" by David Backes, Professor of Mass
Communications at UW-Milwaukee and author of A Wilderness Within: The
Life of Sigurd F. Olson
8:15-8:30 p.m. - Break with refreshments
8:30-9 p.m. - Filmmaker Peter Olsen will share clips
and stories from his newest documentary project, "The Singing
Wilderness; The Life of Sigurd F. Olson
April 5, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Ponzio Campus Center, Alvord Theater
Wilderness Expeditions - Trip Reports from around North America*8-8:50 a.m. - "Pam's Journey to the Arctic Ocean and Beyond" by John Olson- John has been an active lifetime paddler and wildlife biologist for 37 years with the WI DNR .
*9-9:50 a.m. - "One Man, One Canoe, Two Countries" by Dave R. Doering- Dave is an independent film maker, owner of "Sun Ridge Moving Pictures" and Bayfield Public School Teacher.
*10-10:50 a.m. - "Baffin Island 2007: Exploring The Frontlines of Climate Change" by Elizabeth K. Andre- Elizabeth is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Education and Outdoor Education at Northland College.
*11-11:50 a.m. - "Ideas of the North" by Conor Mihell- Conor is an editor-at-large with Canoe and Kayak magazine and an award-winning environmental and adventure travel journalist based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
12-12:50 p.m. - Lunch on your own
1-1:50 p.m. - "Traversing the Brooks Range by Canoe: Haul Road to the Chukchi Sea" by Geoffrey Smith-Geoffrey is an Aquatic Ecologist for Voyageurs National Park and has worked for the National Park Service for over 30 years.
2-2:50 p.m. - "Pikes Portage: East onto the Barrens from Great Slave Lake with lessons from Sigurd Olson" by Bob Henderson- Bob is the author of Every Trail has a Story: Heritage Travel in Canada and the long time editor of Pathways: The Ontario Journal of Outdoor Education. He has taught outdoor education at McMaster University and now Brock University for over 30 years.
*3-3:25 p.m. - "The Voyageur's Highway: A Journey in Five Parts" by Ted Gostomski. Ted is a biologist, writer and hivernant whose internal compass points North.
3:30-3:55 p.m. - "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: America's Last Wilderness" by Laurel Ipsen. Laurel is a freshman at Northland College studying Outdoor Education. She hails from Duluth, MN.
4-4:25 p.m. - "Life is Better There" by Will "John Wayne" Krift. Will grew up hiking trails north of The Smoky Mountains National Park and is a student at Northland College. He spent 4 months last summer hiking the Appalachian Trail.
All events have been coordinated and supported by the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute and the A.D. & Mary Elizabeth Andersen Hulings Distinguished Chair in the Humanities.
Contact Information
Jean Ayers
715-682-1264
jayers@northland.edu
Contact Information
Jean Ayers
SOEI
715-682-1264
jayers@northland.edu
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.








