Waterbird/Fisheries Specialist

Bill brings many skills to BRI including climbing 100-foot tall trees to band juvenile Bald Eagles.

Bill Hanson, B.S.

Wildlife Ecologist
bill.hanson@briwildlife.org
207-839-7600

Before joining BRI in 2013 as a wildlife ecologist, Bill worked as a biologist with the power industry for 33 years. During that time, the majority of Bill’s work focused on fisheries and wildlife studies at hydropower projects.

Bill has worked with BRI on multiple research projects since 1996. His experience includes: FERC relicensing of hydropower projects; environmental impact studies; Common Loon and Bald Eagle ecology studies; capture, banding, and contaminates sampling; radio telemetry studies of fish, furbearers and wood turtles; satellite telemetry on eagles and loons; wetland assessments; and water quality evaluations.

Education & Certifications

  • B.S., University of Maine, Orono, 1980

Research Interests

  • Wildlife and fisheries conservation
  • Radio and satellite telemetry
  • Contaminant accumulation and impacts

Journal Articles

DeSorbo, C. R., N. M. Burgess, C. S. Todd, D. C. Evers, R. A. Bodaly, B. H. Massey, S. E. Mierzykowski, C. P. Persico, R. B. Gray, W. E. Hanson, D. E. Meattey, & K. J. Regan. 2018. Mercury concentrations in Bald Eagles across an impacted watershed in Maine, USA. Science of the Total Environment 627: 1515-1527. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.023.
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Paruk, J. D., M. D. Chickering, D. Long, H. Uher-Koch, A. East, D. Poleschook, V. Gumm, W. Hanson, E. M. Adams, K. A. Kovach, & D. C. Evers. 2015. Winter site fidelity and winter movements in Common Loons (Gavia immer) across North America. The Condor 117: 485-493. Available at https://academic.oup.com/condor/article/117/4/485-493/5153186.
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Gray, C. E., J. D. Paruk, C. R. DeSorbo, L. J. Savoy, D. E. Yates, M. D. Chickering, R. B. Gray, K. M. Taylor, D. Long, N. Schoch, W. Hanson, J. Cooley, & D. C. Evers. 2014. Body mass in Common Loons (Gavia immer) strongly associated with migration distance. Waterbirds 37: 64-75. Available at http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1675/063.037.sp109.
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Kenow, K. P., D. Adams, N. Schoch, D. C. Evers, W. Hanson, D. Yates, L. Savoy, T. J. Fox, A. Major, R. Kratt, & J. Ozard. 2009. Migration patterns and wintering range of Common Loons breeding in the Northeastern United States. Waterbirds 32: 234-247. Available at http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1675/063.032.0204.
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Evers, D. C., L. J. Savoy, C. R. DeSorbo, D. E. Yates, W. Hanson, K. M. Taylor, L. S. Siegel, J. H. Cooley, M. S. Bank, A. Major, K. Munney, B. F. Mower, H. S. Vogel, N. Schoch, M. Pokras, M. W. Goodale, & J. Fair. 2008. Adverse effects from environmental mercury loads on breeding Common Loons. Ecotoxicology 17: 69-81. Available at http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10646-007-0168-7.
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DeSorbo, C. R., J. Fair, K. Taylor, W. Hanson, D. C. Evers, H. S. Vogel, & J. H. Cooley, Jr. 2008. Guidelines for constructing and deploying Common Loon nesting rafts. Northeastern Naturalist 15: 75-86. Available at https://bioone.org/journals/northeastern-naturalist/volume-15/issue-1/1092-6194(2008)15%5B75%3AGFCADC%5D2.0.CO%3B2/Guidelines-for-Constructing-and-Deploying-Common-Loon-Nesting-Rafts/10.1656/1092-6194(2008)15[75:GFCADC]2.0.CO;2.short.
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DeSorbo, C. R., K. M. Taylor, D. E. Kramar, J. Fair, J. H. Cooley, D. C. Evers, W. Hanson, H. S. Vogel, & J. L. Atwood. 2007. Reproductive advantages for Common Loons using rafts. Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1206-1213. Available at http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.2193/2006-422.
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Hanson, W. E., A. Ave, D. Evers, & P. Reaman. 1998. A comparison of mercury exposure and risk between artificial impoundments and natural lakes measured in Common Loons and their prey, 1996-1997 Field Season Report. Water 04032.

Research Reports