Meet The Loon Expert

Dr. F.G. Irwin

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  Paid subscribers only. Deadline May 5, 1997

  Terry Daulton
  Staff Biologist
  Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute
  Northland College
  Ashland, Wisconsin

  Hello,

  My name is Terry Daulton and I am the staff biologist at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. If you check on your map, you will notice that Ashland is locate on Chequamegon Bay (pronounced she-wa-me-gan) of Lake Superior. Northland is a liberal arts/environmental college which specializes in environmental studies, outdoor education, Native American studies, peace and conflict resolution, and a number of other majors. Our environmental emphasis was developed in the 1970's when Sigurd Olson was a trustee of the college. Sig was a conservationist and writer who spent most of his life working on issues relating to wilderness preservation. Our Institute was founded to carry on Sig's life-work in the Lake Superior region. You can look for more information on our Institute and Northland College on our homepage which you can reach through the Journey North loon section.

  Part of my job here at the Sigurd Olson Institute is to coordinate our LoonWatch program. LoonWatch involves citizens throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota in protecting loons and their nesting habitats. We conduct statewide loon population surveys every five years, collect annual data on loon use of lakes, and provide educational talks, brochures and materials. We have a network of about 750 volunteers (loon rangers) who help us to collect data. We also work with lake associations and people who live on lakes to protect loon nesting sites. For example, I am working with a cub scout group here in Ashland who will be going out to several lakes this summer to look for loons, and if necessary we may be building artificial nesting platforms to put on some lakes. If you visit or live on a lake in Wisconsin or Minnesota maybe you would be interested in becoming a loon ranger? If you live in another state or province I could help you find your local loon organization so that you could volunteer.

  While I haven't always worked with loons I have always been interested in the environment. I grew up in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York and I remember doing a paper in high school on careers. I picked "wildlife biologist" , and I suppose that was the beginning of my dream to be a biologist. I have always loved the out of doors and growing up I spent a lot of time hiking on the Finger Lakes Hiking Trail system and backpacking in the Adirondack Mountains.

  When I was in high school I received a brochure from Northland College with a picture of somewone canoing on the cover and the next thing I knew I was here in the North Woods! I went to school here at Northland and then worked for the National Park Service for several years. I have now been here at the Institute for eight years. Last year however, I had a huge adventure. I took a year's leave of absence and travelled "around the world" with another biologist and his son (Zach). We worked on biological research projects on the tundra in Manitoba, in the rainforests of Central America and in the mountains of Nepal. The best part is that Zach is now studying Outdoor Education here at Northland! He was inspired by our experiences during the trip to choose a career working in environmental education.

  I am looking forward to your loon questions and I hope that you will get involved in loon conservation in your home region!

  Sincerely,

  Terry Daulton