Loon deaths on Winnipesaukee

[DougPaul]

Keeping in mind I have never made a fromal study of it just casual observations throughout my birding year in Maine, NH and CT.

Which fact? If you mean 4-5 yrs on salt water before breeding, I think I got that from a lecture by one of the loon monitors ("loon rangers") for the area just west of central Lake George. Probably for the common loon.

Don't have a reference off hand. Some the references quoted by others might help. Or google.

Doug

 

[Puck]

Which fact? If you mean 4-5 yrs on salt water before breeding, I think I got that from a lecture by one of the loon monitors ("loon rangers") for the area just west of central Lake George. Probably for the common loon.

Don't have a reference off hand. Some the references quoted by others might help. Or google.

Doug

Got it. This is a PDF file with a Photo and a fact sheet. It is well substantiated with citations. Turns out that the winter range extends from the coastline to the continetal shelf so the population could be easily missed by landlocked birders. They do hang out in the marine environment until maturity, three years. So Doug, I learned something new, makes it a great day. I am just curious why this fact is bit obsucred in the common lierature.

http://www.northland.edu/NR/rdonlyres/E5A7F45B-F606-452C-B3F2-F171A2F5A483/0/LAWposter03.pdf

 

[bikehikeskifish]

My wife's family has a place on Lake Sunapee. It is a rare year when we don't see several loons. The lake is 'infested' with rock bass (an introduced pest species) so the more loons that eat them, the better! Last year a pair spent much the week of our family vacation right out in front of the cottage. It was pretty neat watching them and listening to them. I have them on video, but no still photos -- not a good enough zoom on the digital camera.

Puck's link says "Breeds on clear freshwater lakes with rocky shorelines surrounded by forest" which describes Sunapee (except for the houses everywhere, but it still quite forested.)


Tim