Research
The National Loon Center aims to promote studies that address loon research needs at a national and international scale, emphasizing questions related to loon conservation.
Ricketts Conservation Foundation Partnership
Since 2025, the National Loon Center has partnered with the Ricketts Conservation Foundation to catalyze widespread support to protect loons for future generations while improving lakeshore habitats and freshwater quality, increasing loon populations, and reducing unnecessary human-caused loon mortalities.
Become a Loon Research Ambassador
Your generosity today helps drive international loon research, expand educational programming, and advance conservation initiatives that will be brought to life at the Center. We are excited to involve our Loon Research Ambassadors in shaping the future of loon science. Learn more about how you can become a part of our critical research:
Scientific Advisory Council
Council Chair
Director
Ricketts Conservation Foundation
Professor/Biologist
Central Lakes College
NLC Board of Directors
Research Wildlife Biologist (Emeritus)
U.S. Geological Survey
Professor/Biologist
Ohio Northern University
Professor/Biologist
St Joseph’s College of Maine
Associate Professor Emeritus
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Tufts University
Director – Waterbirds and Wetlands
Birds Canada
Outreach Biologist
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Scientific Advisory Council
Dr. Walter Wehtje
Council Chair
Director | Ricketts Conservation Foundation
Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Wehtje has spent most of his career in the Western U.S.. He holds a Ph.D. from UC Riverside and has conducted research across North and South America. Since 2018, he has led The Ricketts Conservation Foundation’s conservation efforts across the Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond.
Biography
Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Wehtje has spent most of his career in the Western U.S.. He holds a Ph.D. from UC Riverside and has conducted research across North and South America. Since 2018, he has led The Ricketts Conservation Foundation’s conservation efforts across the Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond.
Dr. Bill Faber
Professor/Biologist | Central Lakes College
NLC Board of Directors
William Faber, of Cushing, is a college instructor of wildlife and natural resources at Central Lakes College. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in wildlife management from both St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota and Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in wildlife ecology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, where his research focused on moose. He is a Board and Life member of the Minnesota Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society, and Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to name a few, in addition to being an active member of the Minnesota Wildlife Federation, Minnesota Native Plant Society, and Minnesota Ornithological Union. He is appointed as a citizen member to a four-year term that ends December 31, 2029.
Biography
William Faber, of Cushing, is a college instructor of wildlife and natural resources at Central Lakes College. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in wildlife management from both St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota and Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in wildlife ecology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, where his research focused on moose. He is a Board and Life member of the Minnesota Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Minnesota Sharp-Tailed Grouse Society, and Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, to name a few, in addition to being an active member of the Minnesota Wildlife Federation, Minnesota Native Plant Society, and Minnesota Ornithological Union. He is appointed as a citizen member to a four-year term that ends December 31, 2029.
Kevin Kenow
Research Wildlife Biologist (Emeritus) | U.S. Geological Survey
Kevin Kenow is a Scientist Emeritus with the U. S. Geological Survey. He has worked for more than 40 years with the U.S. Department of Interior, most of this time as a
Research Wildlife Biologist with the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, LaCrosse, WI. Kevin served as principal investigator during his career on several research projects supporting the conservation of common loons and their habitats. His efforts have included the development of loon capture, propagation, husbandry, radio-transmitter implant, and archival geolocator attachment techniques. He developed and adopted radiotelemetry techniques to study causes and timing of mortality of common loon chicks and incorporated satellite telemetry and archival geolocator tags to determine the migration patterns and wintering locations of common loons. Archival
geolocator tags also provided dive profile (foraging) data. Kevin also led an effort to evaluate the relative importance of cisco in the diets of common loons in Minnesota using fish prey DNA in loon fecal samples. He worked closely with the MN DNR, MPCA and USFWS in the implementation of the Minnesota Loon Restoration Project, funded as part of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill settlement. Kevin continues to encourage new partnerships, mentors other scientists, and supports development of new methods to address biological questions.
Biography
Kevin Kenow is a Scientist Emeritus with the U. S. Geological Survey. He has worked for more than 40 years with the U.S. Department of Interior, most of this time as a
Research Wildlife Biologist with the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, LaCrosse, WI. Kevin served as principal investigator during his career on several research projects supporting the conservation of common loons and their habitats. His efforts have included the development of loon capture, propagation, husbandry, radio-transmitter implant, and archival geolocator attachment techniques. He developed and adopted radiotelemetry techniques to study causes and timing of mortality of common loon chicks and incorporated satellite telemetry and archival geolocator tags to determine the migration patterns and wintering locations of common loons. Archival
geolocator tags also provided dive profile (foraging) data. The information was used to describe the distribution, foraging patterns, and exposure routes of loons to Type E botulism while staging on Lake Michigan in the fall as well as distribution and foraging patterns of wintering loons. Kevin also led an effort to evaluate the relative importance
of cisco in the diets of common loons in Minnesota using fish prey DNA in loon fecal samples. He worked closely with the MN DNR, MPCA and USFWS in the
implementation of the Minnesota Loon Restoration Project, funded as part of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill settlement. Kevin continues to encourage new partnerships, mentors other scientists, and supports development of new methods to address biological questions.
Dr. Jay Mager
Professor/Biologist | Ohio Northern University
Jay Mager is a behavioral ecologist who is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Ohio Northern University, and has spent much of his research life learning more about various aspects of loon behavior (such as those with territory selection and defense, acoustic communication, parental care, foraging strategies and tactics, and social behavior) and their importance and relevance to current and emerging issues in conservation and management.
Biography
Jay Mager is a behavioral ecologist who is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Ohio Northern University, and has spent much of his research life learning more about various aspects of loon behavior (such as those with territory selection and defense, acoustic communication, parental care, foraging strategies and tactics, and social behavior) and their importance and relevance to current and emerging issues in conservation and management.
Dr. James Paruk
Professor/Biologist | St. Joseph’s College of Maine
James “Jim” Paruk is an associate professor in the Biology Department. Currently, he is a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Research Institute’s Loon Center for Conservation. His other affiliations include the Earthwatch Institute, the Waterbird Society, the Wilson Ornithological Society, and the Xerces Society. Jim is a passionate naturalist, equally at home identifying birds, butterflies, or wildflowers. He has travelled extensively and has led college courses throughout North and Central America. Jim has studied Common Loons for 23 years and is considered one of the world’s experts on this species.
Biography
James “Jim” Paruk is an associate professor in the Biology Department. Currently, he is a senior scientist at the Biodiversity Research Institute’s Loon Center for Conservation. His other affiliations include the Earthwatch Institute, the Waterbird Society, the Wilson Ornithological Society, and the Xerces Society. Jim is a passionate naturalist, equally at home identifying birds, butterflies, or wildflowers. He has travelled extensively and has led college courses throughout North and Central America. Jim has studied Common Loons for 23 years and is considered one of the world’s experts on this species.
Dr. Mark Pokras
Associate Professor (Emeritus) | Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine; Tufts University
Born in upstate NY, Mark went to junior high school and high school in Mexico and Venezuela before attending Cornell University. After college, he did ecological research and taught ornithology and marine biology at Stockton University (NJ) before veterinary school. He’s been involved with wildlife rehabilitation since 1971, and loon conservation projects since 1987. Mark attended Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine 1980-84, and then did a residency in zoo and wildlife medicine. He joined the faculty in 1985 and have directed both Tufts Wildlife Clinic, and Center for Conservation Medicine. After retiring to Scarborough, Maine in 2015, he continued his involvement with conservation and wildlife rehabilitation programs. Mark works closely with a great many private, state, federal, and international conservation organizations and is strongly committed to fostering multidisciplinary collaborative efforts. His areas of interest include the medicine and surgery of native wildlife, aquatic birds as indicators of environmental health, allometric scaling, and conservation biology.
He and his wife have 2 wonderful daughters and 4 terrific grandchildren. Hobbies include music, birding, and many outdoors activities.
Biography
Born in upstate NY, I went to junior high school and high school in Mexico and Venezuela before attending Cornell University. Since childhood, nature has been an inspiring theme, and I’ve always been happiest outdoors. After college I did ecological research and taught ornithology and marine biology at Stockton University (NJ) before veterinary school. I’ve been involved with wildlife rehabilitation since 1971, and loon conservation projects since 1987.
I attended Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine 1980-84, and then did a residency in zoo and wildlife medicine. I joined the faculty in 1985 and have directed both Tufts Wildlife Clinic, and Center for Conservation Medicine. After retiring to Scarborough, Maine in 2015, I’ve continued my involvement with conservation and wildlife rehabilitation programs.
I work closely with a great many private, state, federal, and international conservation organizations and am strongly committed to fostering multidisciplinary collaborative efforts. My areas of interest include the medicine and surgery of native wildlife, aquatic birds as indicators of environmental health, allometric scaling, and conservation biology.
My wife and I have 2 wonderful daughters and 4 terrific grandchildren. Hobbies include music, birding, and many outdoors activities.
Dr. Doug Tozer
Director, Waterbirds & Wetlands | Birds Canada
Dr. Doug Tozer grew up in the heart of loon country in Ontario, Canada. He is Director, Waterbirds and Wetlands at Birds Canada in Port Rowan, Ontario. His work includes leading the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey delivered by Birds Canada and co-chairing the Loon and Diver Research Working Group, an international collaboration of over 30 researchers that investigates the potential reasons for Common Loon population declines.
Biography
Dr. Doug Tozer grew up in the heart of loon country in Ontario, Canada. He is Director, Waterbirds and Wetlands at Birds Canada in Port Rowan, Ontario. His work includes leading the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey delivered by Birds Canada and co-chairing the Loon and Diver Research Working Group, an international collaboration of over 30 researchers that investigates the potential reasons for Common Loon population declines.
Tamara Zeller
Outreach Biologist | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Tamara’s love of birds began in the cornfields of Michigan where she studied Tree Swallows as an undergraduate at Grand Valley State University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, her love of adventure and travel brought her to Alaska in 1996, where she helped with research on seabirds and decided to make Alaska home. She holds a Master of Science in Biology from the University of Alaska Anchorage where she studied the effects of human disturbance on loon and grebe productivity. It was during this research where she developed an appreciation for working with people for the benefit of wildlife and these experiences molded her for her current role as an outreach biologist. She currently splits her time between outreach and education, observing seabirds and waterfowl for various monitoring projects, and serving as the point person for loons and grebes. She is the coordinator for the Alaska Jr. Duck Stamp program, chair of the Alaska Loon Working Group, and serves on many different communication teams helping to spread the word that birds are cool! In her spare time, Tamara enjoys hiking with her dogs, canoeing, traveling, and anything that gets her outdoors.
Biography
Tamara’s love of birds began in the cornfields of Michigan where she studied Tree Swallows as an undergraduate at Grand Valley State University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, her love of adventure and travel brought her to Alaska in 1996, where she helped with research on seabirds and decided to make Alaska home. She holds a Master of Science in Biology from the University of Alaska Anchorage where she studied the effects of human disturbance on loon and grebe productivity. It was during this research where she developed an appreciation for working with people for the benefit of wildlife and these experiences molded her for her current role as an outreach biologist. She currently splits her time between outreach and education, observing seabirds and waterfowl for various monitoring projects, and serving as the point person for loons and grebes. She is the coordinator for the Alaska Jr. Duck Stamp program, chair of the Alaska Loon Working Group, and serves on many different communication teams helping to spread the word that birds are cool! In her spare time, Tamara enjoys hiking with her dogs, canoeing, traveling, and anything that gets her outdoors.