Loon Migration Study

[StillFishin']

I just happened upon the USGS loon study(Goggle USGS loon study) and there is a neat website about tracking on loons from MN and WI. The only MN loon left on the study is now over southern Lake Michigan while some of the loons from WI have not left their lakes yet. Check it out in your spare time.

I'm curious if there are any loons on the Big V?

StillFishin'

[Silver Scale]

There are some young ones left on Vermilion. All the adults left awhile back.

[Steve Foss]

All the loons, young and old, look alike at this time of year because the adult winter/eclipse plumage is essentially the same as juvenile plumage.

There were still some loons around Ely as of yesterday.

[shamrock7]

Still seeing quite a few around while duck hunting. Not seeing much for ducks but plenty of loons.

[delcecchi]

All the loons, young and old, look alike at this time of year because the adult winter/eclipse plumage is essentially the same as juvenile plumage.

There were still some loons around Ely as of yesterday.

As I understand it, from reading the Conservation Volunteer, the adult loons migrate a fair while before the juveniles. I don't know how the Juvies know where to go or whether they just fly in a southward direction until it looks attractive. I don't think there is any parental interaction after the migration, but I don't really know.

So the loons around now could actually be all juveniles.

[Steve Foss]

Yes, Del, that is possible. Not every last adult loon heads south before the juvies, but most do, so your point is well taken. One DOES wonder why the kids tend to hang back. Maybe they just want Ma and Pa off their backs.

[Raider4ever]

They probably need the the extra few weeks up north feeding because they started the spring out in an egg and their coordination, strength, and reserves probably aren't up to that kind of trek that early in the fall.

Plus, that puts multi-year survivors on the good feeding areas sooner, thus allowing the better birds a better chance to survive while bettering the specie gene pool. Simple Darwinism actually. Just my opinion.

[Raider4ever]

They also get a few weeks by themselves on the lake without competing with the "Cagey Old-Timers" for the same food. Again, allowing a greater chance to survive and return next year.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

dont the young loons stay down south for a few years before they return north? thought I've heard that a few times...

[Steve Foss]

Raider, never thought of it that way. Good perspective.

[upnorth]

We camp at a lake over in Lake County every Sept that usually has a family of loons present. More than once there were young uns that weren't ready in early to mid sept for flight. Could very well be they just need a little more time to build up the strength and skills for flight. And with mom and pops hanging around there may just not be the motivation for some of them to put for the effort to get airborne. Build a little necessity.

[trolloni]

There is a good book called Loon Magic written by Tom Klein real good info ,check it out if youre interested ,one thing i read in it was that the juvenile loons migrate to the coastal regions South Carolina to Texas they go to salt water and stay there 2-3 years until they reach maturity then they return north,it also says they cruise at 93 mph and can reach 108 mph!They are a real cool to watch while youre out on the lake my favorite is to watch em land looks like there havin fun at it!it also discuses diets it says they love trout but usually dine on small minnows ,i seen one crunchin on a rusty one day that was a welcome sight !

[Esox_Magnum]

Well the loons have arrived in NW Iowa, we normaly have a couple around all summer but there was alot around tday, not often you see a dozen on our waters. Watched one chase off a bunch of mud ducks this morning that was neat. Wish more would stay around but I think we have to much boat traffic for their liking or mine to in the summer. A couple thousand boats on 3700 acreas gets fun.

[StillFishin']

I just checked on the MN loon and it's still in Lake Michigan off or Chicago as of Nov 3.

I had always assumed(not good to do) that once they left on there migration they'd fly straight with resting over night. Maybe because it's unseasonably warm?