Monitoring birds - Protecting waters - Inspiring change
WOWRI News Releases
WOWRI Officially Launches to Continue Critical Work on Great Lakes Science and Research
ANN ARBOR, MI – April 24, 2026 – A new voice for science-driven conservation has emerged in Michigan. The Wings Over Water Research Institute (WOWRI) is a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing environmental science in the Great Lakes region, building on more than 60 years of research on bald eagles and other fish-eating waterbird populations. This long-running body of work has been instrumental in tracking bird populations and colonies, as well as monitoring contamination levels, cleanup progress, and restoration efforts at Areas of Concern across Michigan and the broader Great Lakes basin.
WOWRI co-founder Dr. William Bowerman, a professor and researcher at the University of Maryland, has been at the forefront of bald eagle research for decades. "Bald eagles are a key indicator species because they bioaccumulate contaminants from the fish they eat, allowing researchers to track environmental contamination levels in a cost-effective way," said Dr. Bowerman. WOWRI was created to ensure this vital work — and the irreplaceable data it generates — continues uninterrupted.
The urgency of that mission is real. Declining federal and institutional funding, combined with the retirement of veteran scientists, threatens the continuity of research programs that have taken generations to build.
"The Wings Over Water Research Institute was created to build on this legacy of research and restoration," said Jennifer Day, co-founder and CEO of WOWRI. "We have seen firsthand what coordinated science and sustained investment can achieve. Now, we must ensure that progress continues — and that requires strong, ongoing research capacity."
About the Wings Over Water Research Institute
Founded in 2025, the Wings Over Water Research Institute is dedicated to the long-term monitoring of bald eagles and fish-eating waterbird populations across the Great Lakes region and beyond, using these species as sensitive indicators of water quality. WOWRI produces rigorous research, public outreach, and educational programming, providing the data needed to manage avian populations and guide environmental cleanup decisions. The organization was established to address research funding gaps, sustain long-running foundational studies, and pioneer a new model for funding environmental science.
To learn more or make a donation, visit wingsoverwaterri.org.
Contact:
Jennifer Day, Executive Director / CEO WOWRI, 734-465-9505, jennifer@wingsoverwaterri.org