Steven C Houdek (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Visibility correction factors for multiple species of sea ducks and diving ducks using an aerial remote sensing approach
Aerial ocular surveys used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service provide the most cost and time-efficient method to evaluate the relative abundance and spatial distributions of breeding, staging, and wintering waterbirds. However, the survey method is subject to substantial visibility bias, and visibility correction factors must be calculated to correct for incomplete detection...
Voluntary Waterfowl Avoidance Area
The Mississippi flyway is one of the most important flyways in North America providing habitat for songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl, especially the canvasback duck ( Aythya valisineria), tundra swan ( Cygnus columbianus), and scaup ( Aythya spp.). During their migration, it is energetically favorable if migrating birds can rest and refuel in areas without stressors such as hunters, boats, and...
Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons habitat use in Louisiana in winter, 2016-2019 (ver. 2.0, December 2025) Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons habitat use in Louisiana in winter, 2016-2019 (ver. 2.0, December 2025)
Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons breed in Arctic habitats in North America and winter in the California Central Valley, Mexico and southern United States. Louisiana historically provided winter habitat to a large portion of the Greater White-fronted Goose population in North America. We used global positioning system (GPS) neck collars to monitor 78 Greater White-fronted Geese...
Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2024) Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2024)
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill on April 20, 2010 caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, study lakes in a seven-county region in...
Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2023) Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2023)
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, study lakes in an eight-county region in north-central...
Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2021-2022) (ver. 1.1, August 2024) Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2021-2022) (ver. 1.1, August 2024)
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, study lakes in an eight-county region in north-central...
Common loon migration and winter data: telemetry locations and archival geolocator tag location (ver 2.0, October 2022) Common loon migration and winter data: telemetry locations and archival geolocator tag location (ver 2.0, October 2022)
The data details common loon locations based on archival geolocator tag information, characteristics of common loon dives during wintering, and common loon locations based on telemetry data. Satellite transmitters (Model PTT-100, Microwave Telemetry, Inc) were implanted in 31 adult male (marked during July 2010 and July 2011) and 27 juvenile (marked during August 2014 and August 2015)...
Lake Michigan Sea Duck Survey 2009-2014 Lake Michigan Sea Duck Survey 2009-2014
These data contain observation and null polygons for waterfowl aerial surveys of Lake Michigan collected through the years 2009-2014. Polygons were created adjacent to either side of the flight lines (transects). The right and left offset of the polygons from the flight path, was determined using the average altitude of the plane along the transect and the observation angle through the...
Greater white-fronted goose habitat use in Louisiana provides water depth management insights Greater white-fronted goose habitat use in Louisiana provides water depth management insights
Numerous waterfowl species have altered their geographic distribution in recent decades. The greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) has shifted its wintering distribution from coastal marshes in Texas and Louisiana, USA, to interior landscapes, creating challenges for conservation managers. Although the range shift has been primarily attributed to landscape-scale changes in rice...
Authors
William S. Beatty, Paul Link, Brett Leach, Steven Houdek, Elisabeth Webb
Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2024 annual report Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2024 annual report
In cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey monitored 98 common loon (Gavia immer) focal territories and an additional 37 nonfocal territories in 2024 across 53 study lakes in Minnesota. Focal territories were those territories from which study inferences will be made, whereas nonfocal territories were observed to monitor common loon...
Authors
William Beatty, Kelly Amoth, Luke Fara, Brian Gray, Kristin Hall, Steven Houdek, Jayden Jech, Kevin Kenow, Mike Wellik, Steven Yang
Restoration of common loon (Gavia immer) in Minnesota—2023 annual report Restoration of common loon (Gavia immer) in Minnesota—2023 annual report
The Deepwater Horizon mobile drilling platform exploded on April 20, 2010. The resulting massive oil spill injured natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, including wintering common loons (Gavia immer). We report on activities completed under the “Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota” project in calendar year 2023, which was funded by the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group. In...
Authors
William S. Beatty, Kelly Amoth, Katelyn Bergstrom, Luke J. Fara, Brian Gray, Steven Houdek, Jayden Jech, Kevin Kenow, Robert Rabasco, Spencer Rettler, Michael Wellik, Steven Yang
Dive characteristics of Common Loons wintering in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southern U.S. Atlantic coast Dive characteristics of Common Loons wintering in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southern U.S. Atlantic coast
Common Loons (Gavia immer) winter primarily in marine coastal areas and utilize a forage base that is poorly defined, especially for offshore areas. Information on dive activity is needed for describing foraging strategies and for inferring prey distribution. Archival geolocator tags were used to determine the wintering locations and dive characteristics of adult Common Loons captured...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian Gray, Darryl Heard, Michael Meyer, Timothy Fox, Robert Kratt, Carrol Henderson
Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2022 annual report Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2022 annual report
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon mobile drilling platform on April 20, 2010, caused a massive oil spill and injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico. Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project “Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota” to restore common loons lost to the spill. Here, we...
Authors
William S. Beatty, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Robert Rabasco, Spencer Rettler, Elizabeth Rasmussen, Kevin Kenow, Brian Gray, Steven Yang, Kelly Amoth
The relative importance of cisco (Coregonus artedi) in the diets of common loons (Gavia immer) among a set of cisco refuge lakes in Minnesota The relative importance of cisco (Coregonus artedi) in the diets of common loons (Gavia immer) among a set of cisco refuge lakes in Minnesota
Common loon (Gavia immer (Brünnich, 1764)) foraging patterns and the relative importance of cisco (Coregonus artedi Lesueur, 1818) in the diets of loons were evaluated for the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, a set of coldwater cisco refuge lakes in Minnesota, USA. Environmental DNA metabarcoding of loon fecal samples detected 15 fish species. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens (Mitchill, 1814))...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Yer Lor, Beth Holbrook, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Tariq Tajjioui, Brian Gray, Peter Jacobson
Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2021 annual report Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2021 annual report
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, priority lakes in an eight-county region in north-central...
Authors
William Beatty, Luke Fara, Steven Houdek, Kevin Kenow, Brian Gray
Sea duck joint venture key site atlas entries: Garden Peninsula; Green Bay and Bay de Nocs; Southeast Lake Michigan; Sleeping Bear Dunes Sea duck joint venture key site atlas entries: Garden Peninsula; Green Bay and Bay de Nocs; Southeast Lake Michigan; Sleeping Bear Dunes
No abstract available.
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian R. Lubinski
Migration patterns and wintering distribution of common loons breeding in the Upper Midwest Migration patterns and wintering distribution of common loons breeding in the Upper Midwest
Identification of geographic linkages among breeding, migratory and wintering common loon Gavia immer populations is needed to inform regional and national conservation planning efforts and compensation of loons lost during marine oil spill events. Satellite telemetry and archival geolocator tags were used to determine the migration patterns and wintering locations of breeding adult and...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian Gray, Darryl Heard, Michael Meyer, Timothy Fox, Robert Kratt, Scott Ford, Anette Gendron-Fitzpatrick, Carrol Henderson
Patterns of mercury and selenium exposure in Minnesota common loons Patterns of mercury and selenium exposure in Minnesota common loons
Common loons (Gavia immer) are at risk of elevated dietary mercury (Hg) exposure in portions of their breeding range. To assess the level of risk among loons in Minnesota (USA), we investigated loon blood Hg concentrations in breeding lakes across Minnesota. Loon blood Hg concentrations were regressed on predicted Hg concentrations in standardized 12‐cm whole‐organism yellow perch (Perca
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Steven Houdek, Luke J. Fara, Richard Erickson, Brian Gray, Travis Harrison, Bruce Monson, Carrol Henderson
Distribution and foraging patterns of common loons on Lake Michigan with implications for exposure to type E avian botulism Distribution and foraging patterns of common loons on Lake Michigan with implications for exposure to type E avian botulism
Common loons (Gavia immer) staging on the Great Lakes during fall migration are at risk to episodic outbreaks of type E botulism. Information on distribution, foraging patterns, and exposure routes of loons are needed for understanding the physical and ecological factors that contribute to avian botulism outbreaks. Aerial surveys were conducted to document the spatiotemporal distribution...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Steven Houdek, Luke J. Fara, Brian Gray, Brian Lubinski, Darryl Heard, Michael Meyer, Timothy Fox, Robert Kratt
Identifying the origin of waterbird carcasses in Lake Michigan using a neural network source tracking model Identifying the origin of waterbird carcasses in Lake Michigan using a neural network source tracking model
Avian botulism type E is responsible for extensive waterbird mortality on the Great Lakes, yet the actual site of toxin exposure remains unclear. Beached carcasses are often used to describe the spatial aspects of botulism mortality outbreaks, but lack specificity of offshore toxin source locations. We detail methodology for developing a neural network model used for predicting waterbird...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Zhongfu Ge, Luke Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian Lubinski
Science and Products
Visibility correction factors for multiple species of sea ducks and diving ducks using an aerial remote sensing approach
Aerial ocular surveys used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service provide the most cost and time-efficient method to evaluate the relative abundance and spatial distributions of breeding, staging, and wintering waterbirds. However, the survey method is subject to substantial visibility bias, and visibility correction factors must be calculated to correct for incomplete detection...
Voluntary Waterfowl Avoidance Area
The Mississippi flyway is one of the most important flyways in North America providing habitat for songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl, especially the canvasback duck ( Aythya valisineria), tundra swan ( Cygnus columbianus), and scaup ( Aythya spp.). During their migration, it is energetically favorable if migrating birds can rest and refuel in areas without stressors such as hunters, boats, and...
Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons habitat use in Louisiana in winter, 2016-2019 (ver. 2.0, December 2025) Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons habitat use in Louisiana in winter, 2016-2019 (ver. 2.0, December 2025)
Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons breed in Arctic habitats in North America and winter in the California Central Valley, Mexico and southern United States. Louisiana historically provided winter habitat to a large portion of the Greater White-fronted Goose population in North America. We used global positioning system (GPS) neck collars to monitor 78 Greater White-fronted Geese...
Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2024) Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2024)
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill on April 20, 2010 caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, study lakes in a seven-county region in...
Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2023) Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2023)
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, study lakes in an eight-county region in north-central...
Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2021-2022) (ver. 1.1, August 2024) Summary of Detection Data for Breeding Common Loons in North-central Minnesota (2021-2022) (ver. 1.1, August 2024)
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, study lakes in an eight-county region in north-central...
Common loon migration and winter data: telemetry locations and archival geolocator tag location (ver 2.0, October 2022) Common loon migration and winter data: telemetry locations and archival geolocator tag location (ver 2.0, October 2022)
The data details common loon locations based on archival geolocator tag information, characteristics of common loon dives during wintering, and common loon locations based on telemetry data. Satellite transmitters (Model PTT-100, Microwave Telemetry, Inc) were implanted in 31 adult male (marked during July 2010 and July 2011) and 27 juvenile (marked during August 2014 and August 2015)...
Lake Michigan Sea Duck Survey 2009-2014 Lake Michigan Sea Duck Survey 2009-2014
These data contain observation and null polygons for waterfowl aerial surveys of Lake Michigan collected through the years 2009-2014. Polygons were created adjacent to either side of the flight lines (transects). The right and left offset of the polygons from the flight path, was determined using the average altitude of the plane along the transect and the observation angle through the...
Greater white-fronted goose habitat use in Louisiana provides water depth management insights Greater white-fronted goose habitat use in Louisiana provides water depth management insights
Numerous waterfowl species have altered their geographic distribution in recent decades. The greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) has shifted its wintering distribution from coastal marshes in Texas and Louisiana, USA, to interior landscapes, creating challenges for conservation managers. Although the range shift has been primarily attributed to landscape-scale changes in rice...
Authors
William S. Beatty, Paul Link, Brett Leach, Steven Houdek, Elisabeth Webb
Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2024 annual report Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2024 annual report
In cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey monitored 98 common loon (Gavia immer) focal territories and an additional 37 nonfocal territories in 2024 across 53 study lakes in Minnesota. Focal territories were those territories from which study inferences will be made, whereas nonfocal territories were observed to monitor common loon...
Authors
William Beatty, Kelly Amoth, Luke Fara, Brian Gray, Kristin Hall, Steven Houdek, Jayden Jech, Kevin Kenow, Mike Wellik, Steven Yang
Restoration of common loon (Gavia immer) in Minnesota—2023 annual report Restoration of common loon (Gavia immer) in Minnesota—2023 annual report
The Deepwater Horizon mobile drilling platform exploded on April 20, 2010. The resulting massive oil spill injured natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, including wintering common loons (Gavia immer). We report on activities completed under the “Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota” project in calendar year 2023, which was funded by the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group. In...
Authors
William S. Beatty, Kelly Amoth, Katelyn Bergstrom, Luke J. Fara, Brian Gray, Steven Houdek, Jayden Jech, Kevin Kenow, Robert Rabasco, Spencer Rettler, Michael Wellik, Steven Yang
Dive characteristics of Common Loons wintering in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southern U.S. Atlantic coast Dive characteristics of Common Loons wintering in the Gulf of Mexico and off the southern U.S. Atlantic coast
Common Loons (Gavia immer) winter primarily in marine coastal areas and utilize a forage base that is poorly defined, especially for offshore areas. Information on dive activity is needed for describing foraging strategies and for inferring prey distribution. Archival geolocator tags were used to determine the wintering locations and dive characteristics of adult Common Loons captured...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian Gray, Darryl Heard, Michael Meyer, Timothy Fox, Robert Kratt, Carrol Henderson
Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2022 annual report Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2022 annual report
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon mobile drilling platform on April 20, 2010, caused a massive oil spill and injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico. Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project “Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota” to restore common loons lost to the spill. Here, we...
Authors
William S. Beatty, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Robert Rabasco, Spencer Rettler, Elizabeth Rasmussen, Kevin Kenow, Brian Gray, Steven Yang, Kelly Amoth
The relative importance of cisco (Coregonus artedi) in the diets of common loons (Gavia immer) among a set of cisco refuge lakes in Minnesota The relative importance of cisco (Coregonus artedi) in the diets of common loons (Gavia immer) among a set of cisco refuge lakes in Minnesota
Common loon (Gavia immer (Brünnich, 1764)) foraging patterns and the relative importance of cisco (Coregonus artedi Lesueur, 1818) in the diets of loons were evaluated for the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, a set of coldwater cisco refuge lakes in Minnesota, USA. Environmental DNA metabarcoding of loon fecal samples detected 15 fish species. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens (Mitchill, 1814))...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Yer Lor, Beth Holbrook, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Tariq Tajjioui, Brian Gray, Peter Jacobson
Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2021 annual report Restoration of Gavia immer (common loon) in Minnesota—2021 annual report
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive injury to natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, and Gavia immer (common loon) were negatively affected from the spill. The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group funded the project Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota to restore common loons lost to the spill. In 2020–21, priority lakes in an eight-county region in north-central...
Authors
William Beatty, Luke Fara, Steven Houdek, Kevin Kenow, Brian Gray
Sea duck joint venture key site atlas entries: Garden Peninsula; Green Bay and Bay de Nocs; Southeast Lake Michigan; Sleeping Bear Dunes Sea duck joint venture key site atlas entries: Garden Peninsula; Green Bay and Bay de Nocs; Southeast Lake Michigan; Sleeping Bear Dunes
No abstract available.
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian R. Lubinski
Migration patterns and wintering distribution of common loons breeding in the Upper Midwest Migration patterns and wintering distribution of common loons breeding in the Upper Midwest
Identification of geographic linkages among breeding, migratory and wintering common loon Gavia immer populations is needed to inform regional and national conservation planning efforts and compensation of loons lost during marine oil spill events. Satellite telemetry and archival geolocator tags were used to determine the migration patterns and wintering locations of breeding adult and...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Luke J. Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian Gray, Darryl Heard, Michael Meyer, Timothy Fox, Robert Kratt, Scott Ford, Anette Gendron-Fitzpatrick, Carrol Henderson
Patterns of mercury and selenium exposure in Minnesota common loons Patterns of mercury and selenium exposure in Minnesota common loons
Common loons (Gavia immer) are at risk of elevated dietary mercury (Hg) exposure in portions of their breeding range. To assess the level of risk among loons in Minnesota (USA), we investigated loon blood Hg concentrations in breeding lakes across Minnesota. Loon blood Hg concentrations were regressed on predicted Hg concentrations in standardized 12‐cm whole‐organism yellow perch (Perca
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Steven Houdek, Luke J. Fara, Richard Erickson, Brian Gray, Travis Harrison, Bruce Monson, Carrol Henderson
Distribution and foraging patterns of common loons on Lake Michigan with implications for exposure to type E avian botulism Distribution and foraging patterns of common loons on Lake Michigan with implications for exposure to type E avian botulism
Common loons (Gavia immer) staging on the Great Lakes during fall migration are at risk to episodic outbreaks of type E botulism. Information on distribution, foraging patterns, and exposure routes of loons are needed for understanding the physical and ecological factors that contribute to avian botulism outbreaks. Aerial surveys were conducted to document the spatiotemporal distribution...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Steven Houdek, Luke J. Fara, Brian Gray, Brian Lubinski, Darryl Heard, Michael Meyer, Timothy Fox, Robert Kratt
Identifying the origin of waterbird carcasses in Lake Michigan using a neural network source tracking model Identifying the origin of waterbird carcasses in Lake Michigan using a neural network source tracking model
Avian botulism type E is responsible for extensive waterbird mortality on the Great Lakes, yet the actual site of toxin exposure remains unclear. Beached carcasses are often used to describe the spatial aspects of botulism mortality outbreaks, but lack specificity of offshore toxin source locations. We detail methodology for developing a neural network model used for predicting waterbird...
Authors
Kevin Kenow, Zhongfu Ge, Luke Fara, Steven Houdek, Brian Lubinski