In his position as loon program field coordinator in Maine, Mike organizes staff and activities for field work in the Rangeley area, where BRI has established a biostation. While in Rangeley, Mike and his crew spend nights capturing loons on the local lakes, banding them and collecting blood and feather samples, which are later analyzed at BRI’s mercury lab. Once a year, Mike organizes “Egg Day” at the lab—a day when his staff processes the unhatched loon eggs sent to BRI from around the country for mercury analysis.

While Mike’s research focuses on monitoring the behavior and productivity of the Common Loon throughout Northern New England, he has also worked on several other projects studying freshwater fish, fur-bearing mammals, and waterfowl. Prior to working at BRI, Mike spent two seasons working for the Loon Preservation Committee in North Country, New Hampshire alongside BRI staff.