Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota
During the breeding season (late March to early September), common loons can be found in the northern United States, and portions of Alaska and Canada. Common loons nest in lakes that range in size from 12 acres to over 10,000 acres. Nests are generally found near shore in a protected bay or in the lee of islands. Common loons prefer to nest on clear lakes with abundant small fish and are susceptible to changes in water clarity and quality, as well as human and shoreline development. Loons migrate from inland freshwater locations to coastal marine locations and experience challenges to survival during migration and on the winter grounds. Common loon nests typically contain 1–2 eggs and fluctuating water levels and increased predation during the nesting season have caused declines in the reproductive success of common loons.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill negatively impacted wintering common loons in the Gulf of America. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded this project to restore common loons lost to the spill. The project seeks to meet this through protecting nesting habitat, enhancing existing common loon nesting habitat, increasing lake stewardship, and reducing common loon lead exposure. To enhance existing habitat, the study deployed artificial nesting platforms on lakes in Minnesota, and the study aims to document the impacts of these platforms on common loon reproduction.
This project is ongoing and is in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Learn more:
Minnesota Loon Restoration Project | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)
During the breeding season (late March to early September), common loons can be found in the northern United States, and portions of Alaska and Canada. Common loons nest in lakes that range in size from 12 acres to over 10,000 acres. Nests are generally found near shore in a protected bay or in the lee of islands. Common loons prefer to nest on clear lakes with abundant small fish and are susceptible to changes in water clarity and quality, as well as human and shoreline development. Loons migrate from inland freshwater locations to coastal marine locations and experience challenges to survival during migration and on the winter grounds. Common loon nests typically contain 1–2 eggs and fluctuating water levels and increased predation during the nesting season have caused declines in the reproductive success of common loons.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill negatively impacted wintering common loons in the Gulf of America. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded this project to restore common loons lost to the spill. The project seeks to meet this through protecting nesting habitat, enhancing existing common loon nesting habitat, increasing lake stewardship, and reducing common loon lead exposure. To enhance existing habitat, the study deployed artificial nesting platforms on lakes in Minnesota, and the study aims to document the impacts of these platforms on common loon reproduction.
This project is ongoing and is in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Learn more:
Minnesota Loon Restoration Project | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)