Loons are faring well in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Minnesota's loon population is estimated at about 12,000, the most loons of any state in the Lower 48. The population is stable to slowly increasing, said Carrol Henderson, nongame wildlife program supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Only Alaska has more loons than Minnesota.
The last loon population estimate was made in 1989, but annual loon surveys have been made each year since 1994.
"To say that nothing has changed in 20 years is about as good as it gets," said Rich Baker, nongame research coordinator for the Minnesota DNR.
Wisconsin's adult loon population is estimated at 3,373, based on a 2005 survey. The outlook for loons in the state is good, according the LoonWatch Program of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College in Ashland. LoonWatch has surveyed loons every five years since 1985, and the 2005 survey showed the largest number of adult loons and loon chicks since the survey began.
A total of 805 chicks were observed in 2005, up from 462 in 2000.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The adult common loon population in Wisconsin appears to be strong and may even be growing," according to the 2005 report.
Want to monitor loons?
In Minnesota, volunteers monitor lakes they live on or visit frequently. To volunteer, contact Pam Perry with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at (218) 828-2228 or pam.perry@dnr.state.mn.us .
In Wisconsin, Loon Rangers with the LoonWatch program volunteer to monitor loon populations. For information on the program, contact the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College, Ashland, WI 54806, (715) 682-1220, loonwatch@northland.edu .
Those bones are heavy
While most birds have hollow bones, loons have solid bones. That helps them dive as deep as 250 feet in search of food. Loons can remain under water for up to five minutes but typically dive for 45 seconds to one minute at a time.
Because loons have such heavy bodies in comparison to their wing size, they need a long "runway" to take off. Without a headwind, loons sometimes run and flap across a lake for several hundred yards before gaining flight or giving up.
Loons and lead
ADVERTISEMENT
Although loon populations are stable in Minnesota and Wisconsin, some loons die as a result of ingesting lead sinkers or jigs used by anglers. One lead sinker can be enough to poison a loon. Loons with lead poisoning sometimes fly poorly, crash-land or stagger onto the ground. Ultimately, the loon quits feeding and stays behind when other loons migrate.
In Minnesota, the Pollution Control Agency sponsors a lead tackle exchange in which anglers can get free samples of nontoxic tackle whey they turn in lead tackle. In Duluth, anglers can do so at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District's Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 27th Avenue West and the waterfront. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Under a program sponsored by the PCA and the DNR, anglers can also acquire lead-free tackle from sporting goods stores. Tackle exchange events are scheduled for these times and places:
* Red Rock Wilderness Store, Ely, 2 to 7 p.m. July 24.
* Buck's Hardware Hank, Grand Marais, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16.
The official bird
The loon is Minnesota's official state bird. Laura Erickson, Duluth ornithologist and host of the "For the Birds" radio program, has lobbied to have the chickadee named Minnesota's "official emergency auxiliary backup state bird," to serve during the six months of every year when loons have flown the coop and are not fulfilling their responsibilities.
"Being state bird is just about as important as being a British monarch," Erickson says. "Sure, the queen is -- well, the queen. But when she's not around, the country still has a prince to fulfill the royal duties. As with any figurehead, a state bird needs to have a next-in-line to make sure all those figurehead duties aren't being shirked."
ADVERTISEMENT
To date, state legislators have taken no action on Erickson's proposal.
Loon nesting platforms -- are they right for your lake?
On some lakes, the loon population has been increased by providing artificial nesting platforms for the birds. These platforms float on the lake and are anchored to the bottom. They offer protection from predators and from changing water levels on lakes.
"Part of the reason I think we have such a strong population [of loons] is that there are quite a few lakes where people have taken the initiative to put out loon nesting platforms," said Carrol Henderson, nongame wildlife program supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The platforms may be made of wood or aluminum. Often, lake associations raise money or provide money to put out nesting platforms, Henderson said.
A loon nesting platform may not be right for your lake. Check with your nearest DNR wildlife official for advice. In Wisconsin, contact the LoonWatch Program at Northland College, (715) 682-1220.
