Help to Protect Loons:
Become a Lake Monitor
Since 1978, LoonWatch’s Annual Lakes Monitoring Program has engaged an active volunteer network of Loon Rangers collect critical long-term data on loons in northern Wisconsin. Working as population monitors and educators, these volunteers have been the field force that has provided SOEI and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) with loon data, and contributed to environmental awareness around loons and their habitat needs. With threats from oil spills, mercury, lead, and habitat loss, long-term monitoring programs are essential to detect changes in loon populations and to develop effective management strategies.
LoonWatch sends out a volunteer packet in early spring with instructions and data forms. Throughout the nesting season, Loon Rangers commit to collect data, usually on a lake where they live, vacation, or often visit. They record when loons arrive, if they nest, number of chicks produced and fledged, and any potential threats to nest sites. In fall, data is returned to LoonWatch and is entered into a database. LoonWatch partners with natural resource agencies including WDNR, US Forest Service and others who are working to manage loon habitats.
Loon Rangers also help protect loons by sharing information with lake associations, installing Loon Alert signs at boat landings and encouraging other lake users to steer clear of loons on nests and on the water. If you would like to be a Loon Ranger for your lake, sign up now!
LoonWatch sends out a volunteer packet in early spring with instructions and data forms. Throughout the nesting season, Loon Rangers commit to collect data, usually on a lake where they live, vacation, or often visit. They record when loons arrive, if they nest, number of chicks produced and fledged, and any potential threats to nest sites. In fall, data is returned to LoonWatch and is entered into a database. LoonWatch partners with natural resource agencies including WDNR, US Forest Service and others who are working to manage loon habitats.
Loon Rangers also help protect loons by sharing information with lake associations, installing Loon Alert signs at boat landings and encouraging other lake users to steer clear of loons on nests and on the water. If you would like to be a Loon Ranger for your lake, sign up now!
Loon Ranger FAQ
Who can volunteer?
Anyone who lives or vacations on a Wisconsin lake can send us their observations.
How often do I need to monitor the loons?
We recommend that volunteers observe loon as often as possible on the lake—the more observations you make, the more confidence you will have in your interpretation of the summer’s events. However, useful information can come from as little as one day of observations—so don’t hesitate to join the Annual Lake Monitoring Program.
What if someone is already monitoring the lake?
We have a number of lakes with multiple observers. This can be helpful, particularly on large lakes with multiple loon pairs. It also allows us to check volunteer accuracy and enhance the data for each lake. We do encourage volunteers to work together to create a more complete picture of loon activity at a lake and submit one monitoring form.
Is there specific information loon rangers collect during the season?
Yes. Loon Rangers receive a packet with instructions and a data form. Rangers identify when loons first arrived on the lake, if they nested or just visited the lake, if they had chicks, how many chicks hatched and fledged, and if there are any threats to the loon nest site. Information is gathered throughout spring and summer, and then the volunteer returns the form in the fall.
What if I don’t know anything about loons, but I still want to help?
We periodically offer workshops to train new Loon Rangers, learn about new research findings and provide an opportunity for volunteers to share and learn from each other. However, you can participate in the program without specific training. Volunteers may download the instructions and explore our website for information about loons and volunteer tasks.
How do I sign up?
Send us an email and tell us the county, township, and name of the lake you wish to monitor. We will email you instructions, data form and lake map (if available). If you would like a hard copy you please include your mailing address in your email. If you do not do email, you can mail a letter to us at ). Box 151, Washburn, WI 54891. We also welcome donations to SOEI to support LoonWatch!
Anyone who lives or vacations on a Wisconsin lake can send us their observations.
How often do I need to monitor the loons?
We recommend that volunteers observe loon as often as possible on the lake—the more observations you make, the more confidence you will have in your interpretation of the summer’s events. However, useful information can come from as little as one day of observations—so don’t hesitate to join the Annual Lake Monitoring Program.
What if someone is already monitoring the lake?
We have a number of lakes with multiple observers. This can be helpful, particularly on large lakes with multiple loon pairs. It also allows us to check volunteer accuracy and enhance the data for each lake. We do encourage volunteers to work together to create a more complete picture of loon activity at a lake and submit one monitoring form.
Is there specific information loon rangers collect during the season?
Yes. Loon Rangers receive a packet with instructions and a data form. Rangers identify when loons first arrived on the lake, if they nested or just visited the lake, if they had chicks, how many chicks hatched and fledged, and if there are any threats to the loon nest site. Information is gathered throughout spring and summer, and then the volunteer returns the form in the fall.
What if I don’t know anything about loons, but I still want to help?
We periodically offer workshops to train new Loon Rangers, learn about new research findings and provide an opportunity for volunteers to share and learn from each other. However, you can participate in the program without specific training. Volunteers may download the instructions and explore our website for information about loons and volunteer tasks.
How do I sign up?
Send us an email and tell us the county, township, and name of the lake you wish to monitor. We will email you instructions, data form and lake map (if available). If you would like a hard copy you please include your mailing address in your email. If you do not do email, you can mail a letter to us at ). Box 151, Washburn, WI 54891. We also welcome donations to SOEI to support LoonWatch!
Loon Ranger Sign-up
Annual Lakes Monitoring Form
If you monitored your lake this summer and still need to fill out the monitoring form information, please download and print the following PDFs and return them to LoonWatch.
- Instructions for the Annual Lake Monitoring Form
- Annual Lake Monitoring Form
Monitoring and population Reports
Annual Lakes Monitoring Program Reports
Who can volunteer?
Anyone who lives or vacations on a Wisconsin lake can send us their observations.
How often do I need to monitor the loons?
We recommend that volunteers observe loon as often as possible on the lake—the more observations you make, the more confidence you will have in your interpretation of the summer’s events. However, useful information can come from as little as one day of observations—so don’t hesitate to join the Annual Lake Monitoring Program.
What if someone is already monitoring the lake?
We have a number of lakes with multiple observers. This can be helpful, particularly on large lakes with multiple loon pairs. It also allows us to check volunteer accuracy and enhance the data for each lake. We do encourage volunteers to work together to create a more complete picture of loon activity at a lake and submit one monitoring form.
Is there specific information loon rangers collect during the season?
Yes. Loon Rangers receive a packet with instructions and a data form. Rangers identify when loons first arrived on the lake, if they nested or just visited the lake, if they had chicks, how many chicks hatched and fledged, and if there are any threats to the loon nest site. Information is gathered throughout spring and summer, and then the volunteer returns the form in the fall.
What if I don’t know anything about loons, but I still want to help?
We periodically offer workshops to train new Loon Rangers, learn about new research findings and provide an opportunity for volunteers to share and learn from each other. However, you can participate in the program without specific training. Volunteers may download the instructions and explore our website for information about loons and volunteer tasks.
How do I sign up?
Send us an email and tell us the county, township, and name of the lake you wish to monitor. We will email you instructions, data form and lake map (if available). If you would like a hard copy you please include your mailing address in your email. If you do not do email, you can mail a letter to us at ). Box 151, Washburn, WI 54891. We also welcome donations to SOEI to support LoonWatch!
- 2020 report
- 2019 report
- 2018 report
- 2017 report
- 2016 report
- 2015 report
- 2014 report
Who can volunteer?
Anyone who lives or vacations on a Wisconsin lake can send us their observations.
How often do I need to monitor the loons?
We recommend that volunteers observe loon as often as possible on the lake—the more observations you make, the more confidence you will have in your interpretation of the summer’s events. However, useful information can come from as little as one day of observations—so don’t hesitate to join the Annual Lake Monitoring Program.
What if someone is already monitoring the lake?
We have a number of lakes with multiple observers. This can be helpful, particularly on large lakes with multiple loon pairs. It also allows us to check volunteer accuracy and enhance the data for each lake. We do encourage volunteers to work together to create a more complete picture of loon activity at a lake and submit one monitoring form.
Is there specific information loon rangers collect during the season?
Yes. Loon Rangers receive a packet with instructions and a data form. Rangers identify when loons first arrived on the lake, if they nested or just visited the lake, if they had chicks, how many chicks hatched and fledged, and if there are any threats to the loon nest site. Information is gathered throughout spring and summer, and then the volunteer returns the form in the fall.
What if I don’t know anything about loons, but I still want to help?
We periodically offer workshops to train new Loon Rangers, learn about new research findings and provide an opportunity for volunteers to share and learn from each other. However, you can participate in the program without specific training. Volunteers may download the instructions and explore our website for information about loons and volunteer tasks.
How do I sign up?
Send us an email and tell us the county, township, and name of the lake you wish to monitor. We will email you instructions, data form and lake map (if available). If you would like a hard copy you please include your mailing address in your email. If you do not do email, you can mail a letter to us at ). Box 151, Washburn, WI 54891. We also welcome donations to SOEI to support LoonWatch!