DNR QUESTION OF THE WEEK - NOV. 13
Q: Late summer and early fall large numbers of loons were recently
spotted gathering on a number of lakes. However, they were not feeding
and not fighting; they appeared to be partying. Why is this? Is this
part of the fall migration?
A: Loons are territorial when they are nesting and raising chicks. But
starting in mid-summer, groups of non-mated loons, or loons that were
unsuccessful with nesting, begin to gather and move around between
lakes. I call these groups "loon parties" because they are indeed
socializing and not fighting. Sometimes the loons will circle and
actively interact.
As the summer wanes on, these groups get larger and blend into the
pre-migratory behavior of gathering on larger lakes. In September, many
adult loons that successfully raised chicks leave those lakes, and their
chicks, to join the loon groups. In 1998, loon counts completed on Mille
Lacs and Winnibigoshish lakes documented a peak of more than 1,500 loons
on each lake in the third week of October.
On Oct. 19, 2006, a new high count of 2,729 loons on Mille Lacs was
reported by Peder Svingen, a birdwatcher from Duluth.
These groups are comprised of adult loons and young-of-the year. After
gathering on these larger lakes, the loons head south on a north wind in
late October or November. Loons spend the winter on the ocean and young
loons will remain there for two or three years before returning to
Minnesota.
-Pam Perry, DNR nongame wildlife lake specialist, Brainerd
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/
