"Little Family" by Lesley LewisA Gift in Turn
This is the time of year when the loons are returning to their northern territorial lakes, and when our day to day monitoring and protecting efforts for the birds begins in earnest. This is the time when your financial support is needed most of all, as we prepare materials for the Loon Rangers, educational materials for riparian owners and lake users, as well as sending them to groups and agencies throughout Michigan. We also help provide materials for Artificial Nesting Islands and loon informational buoys to help protect nesting loons.Your membership and donation support is greatly appreciated. Please consider the gifts the loons give to us with their presence on our lakes, as they grace us with their beauty and stir our spirits with their haunting and ancient song. Helping them helps us in turn.
We have new membership opportunities, beginning with an Introductory $10 category. Our mail-in membership form can be found at michiganloons.com (be sure to write-in your $10 Introductory choice), or contact Luanne Jaruzel: jaruzel@tds.net. Thank you very much!
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Recent Happenings!
The April 5, 2009 Citizen Science Day at North Central College, Petoskey, was a great success as we presented our information and recruited a new volunteer Loon Ranger as well as a prospective Loon Ranger and new members.
MLPA, Michigan Loonwatch and Wildlife Recovery Association attended together and had a large collective display, along with some of the live birds that share the loons’ habitat. Although general population attendance was limited due to the Sunday time, we enjoyed a productive and exciting day and are looking forward to next year’s event.
We were able to make and renew contacts with other professional and important outdoor groups such as the MI DNR Nongame Wildlife Division, Bird Studies Canada, Osprey Nesting Project, and Ducks Unlimited/MI Duck Hunters’ Association, who have helped us in the past with building and placing Loon Nesting Islands; as well as with Michigan Audubon and many others. We had seven representatives present: Joanne Williams, Joe and Barb Rogers, Ross and Rose Ann Powers, Jeff Lange and our CMU Student Photographer, Paige Calamari (all photos). Thank you all for a great day!
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The April 5, 2009 Citizen Science Day at North Central College, Petoskey, was a great success as we presented our information and recruited a new volunteer Loon Ranger as well as a prospective Loon Ranger and new members.MLPA, Michigan Loonwatch and Wildlife Recovery Association attended together and had a large collective display, along with some of the live birds that share the loons’ habitat. Although general population attendance was limited due to the Sunday time, we enjoyed a productive and exciting day and are looking forward to next year’s event.
We were able to make and renew contacts with other professional and important outdoor groups such as the MI DNR Nongame Wildlife Division, Bird Studies Canada, Osprey Nesting Project, and Ducks Unlimited/MI Duck Hunters’ Association, who have helped us in the past with building and placing Loon Nesting Islands; as well as with Michigan Audubon and many others. We had seven representatives present: Joanne Williams, Joe and Barb Rogers, Ross and Rose Ann Powers, Jeff Lange and our CMU Student Photographer, Paige Calamari (all photos). Thank you all for a great day!
Great Lakes Loons ESPN Radio Interview on April 3, 2009 at Dow Diamond in Midland was an exciting opportunity for us! Cathy Jaruzel, daughter of MLPA Board member Luanne Jaruzel, arranged for the interview with Brad Golder, Director of Communications for 100.9, ESPN Radio Midland. Cathy, Luanne and Joanne Williams were pleased to be able to talk about Michigan’s beautiful loons and about our organization and work to protect and preserve them in our state. Especially exciting was the chance to discuss how thrilled we were to have the Great Lakes Loons Baseball Team named after our favorite bird, and how many things related to both the birds and the team, from the migrating south in the winter and returning north in the spring, to the enduring qualities that make for success, such as perseverance, dedication, strength, and a never-give-up heart…the “Loon Heart” of legend and tradition. Thank you, Great Lakes Loons; and best of luck this season to the Team and to our wonderful birds, our Michigan Loons!
