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Monitoring birds - Protecting waters - Inspiring change
Research on Fish-Eating Waterbirds Reveals the Health of the Great Lakes Ecosystem
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — May 20, 2026 — Scientists affiliated with the Wings Over Water Research Institute are visiting colonies of gulls, terns, and herons across Michigan as part of the organization’s 2026 field season, continuing more than 50 years of scientific research on pollution and wildlife in the Great Lakes.
WOWRI researchers and partner agencies study colonial waterbirds to better understand the health of the Great Lakes environment. Because these fish-eating birds accumulate contaminants from local waters in their eggs and young, they serve as important indicators of environmental quality.
WOWRI-affiliated researchers maintain the largest colonial waterbird pollution research and monitoring program in U.S. waters of the Great Lakes. Dr. Keith Grasman, a professor at Calvin University and one of the nation’s leading researchers on contaminants in colonial waterbirds, has overseen the program since 1991.
“Many of the contaminants we study are older chemicals, but they remain extremely persistent in the environment,” Grasman said. “Even though their use has declined, we continue to see significant concentrations and long-term effects from these legacy pollutants. Waterbirds provide an important window into those impacts and help us evaluate both past cleanup efforts and emerging threats such as PFAS.”
Each spring, after receiving permits from wildlife agencies and approval from landowners, field crews make multiple visits to selected colonies throughout the breeding season. Researchers census nests, collect eggs and blood samples for contaminant analysis, monitor egg viability and chick survival, and assess immune system function using state-of-the-art biomedical techniques.
Blood samples processed in a mobile laboratory housed in the back of a pickup truck help scientists analyze contaminants including PCBs, pesticides, PFAS, and mercury, while also measuring immune function and other indicators of health.
Researchers say the work has become even more important following the 2022 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, which caused significant mortality in many colonial waterbird species, including more than 16 percent of the Great Lakes population of Caspian terns, a state-threatened species in Michigan.
The research also supports cleanup and restoration efforts in Michigan Areas of Concern and other heavily polluted waterways undergoing long-term remediation.
“There is tremendous public interest in these waters, not only for their economic value, but for their ecological importance,” Grasman said. “Long-term monitoring is essential to ensure we are truly making progress.”
However, the lack of dedicated funding for intensive field work in 2025 and 2026 has significantly reduced research and monitoring efforts. Annual monitoring across a broad geographic range of colonies is critical for maintaining long-term data on contaminant levels, wildlife health, and population trends. The number of colonies visited each year depends on available funding.
“Every colony visit provides critical information about the health of Michigan’s waters and wildlife,” said Jennifer Day, Executive Director and CEO of WOWRI. “Private donations help ensure this work can continue.”
About Wings Over Water Research Institute
Founded in 2025, the Wings Over Water Research Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing environmental science in the Great Lakes region. The organization is dedicated to long-term monitoring of bald eagles and fish-eating waterbirds across the Great Lakes and beyond. Using these species as sensitive indicators of water quality, WOWRI conducts scientific research, public outreach, and educational programming to inform environmental management and cleanup decisions.
To learn more and financially support this work, visit wingsoverwaterri.org
Contact:
Jennifer Day, Executive Director / CEO WOWRI, 734-465-9505, jennifer@wingsoverwaterri.org
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