Common loons often migrate several hundred miles to reach coastal waters during fall migration. Many people consider the loon a symbol of wilderness; its rich yodeling and moaning calls, heard by day or night, are characteristic sounds of early summer in the north woods. Common Loon bodies are adapted for diving and fishing underwater. Loons were the third most common bird species to wash ashore in the wake of the BP oil spill in April 2010, which likely caught younger loons that had not yet migrated or would have spent the summer in the Gulf. When waters rise, they can flood the nest. It's the call of the common loon. All of these flights were likely single movements. Male and female loons are similar in appearance. Being the peak of migration in general, September is also an excellent month for rarities and vagrant birds to show up, potentially adding spice to a day’s bird watching. Although sport hunting was considered a major mortality factor for the Common Loon in the United States nearly a century ago, largely because of the species’ perceived threat to sport fishing, today’s threats to the Common Loon are complex and wide-ranging. This map depicts the seasonally-averaged estimated relative abundance, defined as the expected count on an eBird Traveling Count starting at the optimal time of day with the optimal search duration and distance that maximizes detection of that species in a region, averaged across the pre-breeding migration season. Adult loons have four basic types of vocalizations; the yodel, hoot, wail, and tremelo. Over land, they fly higher. Common Loons migrate from northern lakes to coastal ocean waters. Loons in western Canada and Alaska migrate to the Pacific Coast, from Alaska’s Aleutian Islands down past Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. 0.6. Like most migratory birds, the loon waits until the wind is blowing in a favorable direction before it abandons its North Country residence. Common Loons are medium-distance migrants. Loons feast throughout autumn to hold themselves over during their winter molt, when they cannot swim or fly. Spring migrants arrive in late March with peak migration … The first adult Common Loons return to Lake Ontario in mid-August, joining the few nonbreeders in various plumages that have summered there. For additional information on common loon territorial behavior, visit The Loon Project website provided by Dr. Walter Piper at Chapman University. 2000. Every fall, as the days turn cooler, and then cold and crisp, the most common and intriguing question posed to the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation is: “Where do the loons go for the winter?” In another case, a loon traveled distances of 360 and 505 miles during two consecutive days. Extensive banding and observation of marked loons in northern Wisconsin has shown that loons first return to the breeding grounds at age 2-5 years, with males tending to return nearer to their natal territory than females. Best known for its mournful, wailing call, it is capable of producing a variety of other sounds, including short yelps and hoots. Common Loon Migration Study, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, United States Geological Survey Michigan’s Special Animals, Michigan Natural Features Inventory Minnesota Department of Natural Resources NatureServe Explorer Sibley, David. Adult loons generally migrate before the juveniles, but there is considerable overlap. Perry, Pamela Skoog, and Kevin Woizeschke. Those loons marked in New Hampshire and Maine wintered off the Maine Coast, 152 to 239 km from breeding lakes. During migration, Common Loons can be seen on rivers and lakes, sometimes in large groups. What's the Winter Range of a Common Loon? They generally move one foot at a time to walk, shuffling along with their breast close to the ground. Adult loons marked in the Adirondack Park wintered along the coasts of Massachusetts (414 km from … The birds gather in large migration groups during late summer and early fall, and then migrate south alone. Come fall, they head to the ocean coasts to overwinter. Scoter migration rates peaked daily between 11:00 and 13:00 UTC, but we found no daily peak for either loon species. Conservation Status . 97.55. The Common is the most frequently sighted loon, followed by Pacific, then Red-throated, and Yellow-billed. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Common loon flying exhibiting the typical flight profile of a Gavia species Common loon (Gavia immer) rearing up. Print. In New York, common loons breed on the lakes of the Adirondack Mountains and in the St. Lawrence River region. Common Loon Gavia immer. Peaks for the fall migration are from late August to late November. Loons from the Great Lakes region migrate to the Gulf of Mexico or Florida coasts. Home; Facts; Resources; Sightings; Map How long does the loon chick ride on the parent's back? The incubation period is 26-69 days long. Over land, they fly higher. Do common loons return to the same place to nest where they were hatched and raised as chicks? Biologists suspect there are two primary reasons for back riding: Loons are a long-lived bird. Migration Status. The distance between breeding and wintering grounds of the loons we monitored in Minnesota and Wisconsin ranged from 1,170 to 1,570 miles. They are excellent indicators of water quality as they require crystal-clear lakes (which makes it easier for them to see prey underwater) with abundant populations of small fish. In the spring, peaks are from late April to early May. Year-round. Call of the Great Northern Diver (known in North America as the Common Loon) - … Natural Connections: Mergansers on migration Mergansers are one of the last waterfowl to migrate in the fall. 0. Common Loons Migrating. Video about USGS loon research in the Upper Midwest: Unraveling Mysteries of the Common Loon . The Common Loon is a large bird, weighing between six to 14 pounds, and has an average wingspan of 41–52 inches. Both adults incubate the eggs and share in care of the young. To find prey, it peers below the water’s surface, then dives below the water to chase it down. Information about this part of the loon's life history is not well known. Loon Migration lizndale. Adults will usually Over land, they fly higher. A long-bodied, low-slung diver. Within a day after a cold front passes the region, many of the loons take off and slowly climb to an altitude of 5000 to 8000 feet. 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