Common Loon

This common loon has a large, heavy body with a thick and pointed black bill. In the breeding season the plumage, head and neck are black with white bands on the neck and white spots on the back; in the winter the crown, hindneck and upperparts dark grey and the throat and underparts are white. The call of the loon, which occurs usually at night and during migration, is a loud, wailing laugh or a mournful yodel and has been described as "one of the most striking wilderness sounds, a strange, sad, mournful, unearthly cry, half laughing, half wailing". The loon breeds from Aleutian Islands, Alaska and Northern Canada, south to New Hampshire, Montana, and California, USA. Loons nest on forested lakes and rivers and winter on coastal bays and oceans south to the Gulf Coast. Also breeds in Iceland. Loons are expert divers whose eyes can focus both in water and in air. They concentrate oxygen in their leg muscles to sustain them while diving to depths of up to 200 feet. Nearly solid bones make them heavier than many other birds.

General issues across the Sub Region will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey

http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/clls/resources/CLLSsummary.pdf

The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey was an on-going study of behaviors of the Common Loon, Gavia immer.  In 1981 the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey began in Ontario for citizen participants to monitor breeding patterns of Common Loons. The population of this unique species is about 250,000 breeding pairs in Canada, a number which represents approximately 95% of the world’s population. After a nation-wide effort between 1992 and 2010, the surveys were analyzed and graphs were produced to demonstrate patterns of loon reproduction across Canada. The study encouraged participants to observe the reproductive success of the species between June and August each year.

The Common Loon is an aquatic bird that spends its life on or near water. Consequently, the health of lakes are important for the survival of the loon and its offspring. The survey results suggest that loon reproductive success is a strong indicator of the health of a lake. Lake longitude, pH level, and pollutant content were recorded and compared to the success of loon population reproduction. Once the surveys were complete and the data was analyzed, the study concluded that the reproductive success of the Common Loon was negatively impacted by mercury pollution and lower pH levels (indicators of higher levels of acidity in the water). It was found that the most successful lakes for reproduction were larger lakes with higher pH levels in comparison to more acidic and smaller lakes. Loon offspring had the greatest success of survival in lakes that were larger and had limited mercury and acid content.

The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey produced valuable results for citizens and scientists to better understand factors that impact the health of both loons and lakes. n order to support the success of loon reproduction, citizens should take action as active participants in advocating for the loon population. This can include researching and lobbying for loon and lake conservation, limiting impact on the environment, and participating in and reporting to conservation projects such as the Bird Studies Canada’s Canadian Lakes Loon Survey.

Conservation concerns of the Common Loon species in the BC province stem from indirect (oil spills, chemical contamination, mercury and lead content in water sources) and direct (habitat degradation, shooting, fishing nets, breeding/nest disturbance) human influences. As a result of urbanization and increased human activity in the rural interior BC, loon populations have depleted in recent years and further habitat degradation and disturbance continue to create difficulties for loons to migrate and breed throughout the year. In addition, increases in mercury and lead content in fresh-water sources has resulted in egg-shell thinning and elevated mercury levels show a high incidence of reduction in the reproductive capacity in loons. Human activities such as building resorts, cottages and campgrounds around lakes and coastal areas has negatively impacted loons' breeding patterns and population distribution patterns, with several flocks of birds migrating further each year in search of undisturbed areas to breed and migrate to for winter and summer. Recreational uses for humans in summer including jet skiing and motor boat activity on lakes has also led to declines in loon populations, primarily due to disturbance of nests. Higher mortality rates are seen in areas where motor boats are used, as waves created tend to wash away nests and eggs. This is furthered by canoeing activities in lakes which can cause separation between parents and young chicks, leading to predation by larger predators such as the Bald Eagle.

Conservation efforts are focused on changing the attitudes of the public and local residents in order to inform them about the loon species, the threats they face and actions required to continue to protect the species in the BC area. Improving the content of the species knowledge to the public through education curricula and media sources including the internet will create awareness of the status of the common loon population and reduce the threats from humans to prevent further decline of the species. Development of non-game programs will benefit an entire ecosystem and enhance biodiversity in the interior BC and further the entire province. Continued monitoring by means of wildlife surveys, sightings, field diaries and notes, published and unpublished reports will contribute to the database of knowledge of the common loon species which will help the development of conservation plans. Policies involving the North America Waterfowl Management plan, Shorebird Conservation Plan and the United Nations Environment Program's Global Mercury Assessment among others continue to develop management strategies to prevent human influence over North American and Canadian birds and protect the population status of the valuable and important common loon species.

Source: Featured Species - Common Loon

Issues:

• Lack of data on population dynamics in Sub Region
• There may be herbicide spraying in regions in the Sub Region that may be affecting birds that eat or depend on the sprayed plants

Goals:

• Implement studies to determine population dynamics
• Implement studies to determine the effects of water management on loons
• Determine where and when herbicide spraying occurs, and what plant species are being treated
• Determine if the herbicide spraying is affecting loon populations