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Do loons come back to the same lake every year?
About 85 percent of adult loons returned to the same locations year after year, usually within two kilometers (1.25 miles) of previous wintering locations, Paruk and his colleagues report in The Condor: Ornithological Applications.
What happens if a loon loses its mate?
It has been shown, though, that loons do take a new mate in the event of a mate’s death or displacement by another loon. About 20% may have a new mate each year. Loons are actually more faithful to a nesting site than to a mate. 3- Does the male’s yodel stay the same over time?
How often do loons breed?
Photo courtesy of Kittie Wilson. Adult loons provide high levels of parental care to their chicks until the chicks reach fledging age (typically around 12 weeks of age). Because of this extended period of care, loons have only one brood of chicks per year.
Do loons recognize people?
The only reason I have any question is because I’ve spent enough time observing loon behavior to realize that (1) loons can recognize individual people (and judge their character), (2) loons can signal to chicks to stay and wait by a certain area while the adult takes care of important business, and (3) loons will …
Where do loons go in the winter months?
Loons spend the winter season along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Some loons winter on inland reservoirs.
How many years do loons live?
Loons are a long-lived bird. The oldest known common loon lived 25 years but their lifespan may be up to 30+ years.
Are loons mate for life?
Loons are long-lived (20-30 years!) and territorial, returning annually to the same lake to breed. Banding studies have shown that loons do not mate for life and occasionally do switch mates or territories. When one loon dies, the remaining member of a pair will find another mate.
How do you attract loons?
One of the best ways to encourage loons and other water birds to visit your favorite lakeshore is to allow deadfall trees to remain where they’ve naturally toppled into the water. Deadfalls attract a variety of aquatic prey, including insects and fish, and water birds often use these structures for fishing.
Do loons migrate in flocks?
Loon Migration. While loons do not migrate in flocks, they usually congregate in large groups on staging lakes for their migration in order to hunt in a group, which increases their chances for getting a meal. Once on the ocean, loons are able to adapt to living in salt water by using a salt gland that extracts the salt from…
How long do loons live?
Loons are a long lived bird, much like any other low rate reproducing bird such as eagles. They are probably not sexually mature until about 7 years of age, and they may live for as long as 30 years.
When do loons migrate south?
Loons born earlier that spring are the last to head south, sometimes as late as November, because they need the extra time to grow and strengthen for the long migration flight. On their journey south, loons migrate during the day, flying singly or in groups.
Where do loons nest?
A Common loon nest, made of matted grasses, rushes and twigs, is built near the water level. Loons prefer to nest on small islands or sheltered coves along the shore, and might even be found nesting on top of a muskrat mound. Loons will usually lay one to three eggs, which are olive or brown with dark splotches.