Loons

Dr. Walter H. Piper knows loons. I mean… he really knows loons.

Since 1993, he and several colleagues have led The Loon Project, an in-depth study of loon territorial behavior in Oneida County, Wisconsin. During the late spring and summer months, you can find Dr. Piper on many of our lakes, banding, studying and analyzing data to better understand our “Great Northern Divers”.

We recently had the chance to catch up with Dr. Piper, who is also a professor of biology at Chapman University, in Orange, California. What follows is a 5 part interview series where Dr. Piper explains his research and shares insights into some fascinating findings about loon behavior.

NorthernWisconsin.com:  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, The Loon Project and how you got involved with it?

Dr. Piper:  I have been interested in birds all my life. I grew up a birdwatcher in Cleveland, where my mom nurtured my interest and took me on lots of local birding outings. I have always been good at science, so it was fortunate that I have come to do research on birds. Now I am able to spend many hours outdoors collecting data on birds and then to return home to analyze their behavior quantitatively.

It was long ago when I started the Loon Project. In the summer of 1992, I was a postdoc at Indiana University studying dominance interactions among broods of white-throated sparrows in the Upper Peninsula. As it happened, I was staying at the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory run by Dave Evers. Dave had recently begun to capture and mark loons in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with colored leg bands. In the course of his work, he noticed that some of the birds he banded were being evicted from their territories by unbanded birds. To him, this was a nuisance, because it meant that he needed to go back and mark the new unbanded owners. To someone like me, interested in aggression and dominance, this was exciting; it meant that loons showed a form of territory acquisition that was not well documented in animals.

I immediately urged Dave to pursue these findings with a detailed behavioral study. When Dave informed me that he could not do so, but was happy to support my efforts, I began my investigation of territory acquisition… in 1993. Since the tightest cluster of loons that Dave and his team had banded was in central Oneida County, Wisconsin, that was where I began my work. Those 8 lakes became the nucleus of what has become a study area containing roughly 100 lakes each year.

More from Dr. Piper and The Loon Project discoveries:

Part 1: Loons Facts or Fiction? An Update From Dr. Piper
Part 2: Do Loons Mate for Life?
Part 3: Male Loons Fight to the Death
Part 4: Loon Banding & How We Track Them
Part 5: Favorite Memories

[Image: Courtesy of The Loon Project]

Part 2 of an interview series with Dr. Piper, founder of The Loon Project, a 20 year study of loon behavior in Oneida County, Wisconsin.

NorthernWisconsin.com: When we first talked, you mentioned that scientists have learned a good deal about loons in the past 20 years. What is one of the biggest discoveries?

Dr. Piper:  It took only a year or two to dispel the biggest myth about loons: that they mate for life.

Right away we could see that territory owners – both male and female — face constant pressure to maintain their territories from territorial intruders intent on seizing the territory from them. When an owner loses its territory to an intruder, it usually takes refuge on the nearest loonless lake. Soon, it begins to look for a new territory and mate, which is also likely to be near its original territory. The mate of a displaced loon pairs quickly with the usurper. So loons’ allegiance is clearly more to their territory than to their mate.

People like to think of loons as an example of lifelong fidelity to a breeding partner, and that is a nice image. The truth, revealed by color-banding and careful observation, is that each loon struggles to find and acquire a territory and then recover when it is booted off of that first territory to find a second territory and mate… and a third. It is a very different story from what we thought at first, but maybe even more compelling.

More from Dr. Piper and The Loon Project discoveries:

Part 1: Loons Facts or Fiction? An Update From Dr. Piper
Part 2: Do Loons Mate For Life?
Part 3: Male Loons Fight to the Death
Part 4: Loon Banding & How We Track Them
Part 5: Favorite Memories

[Image: Courtesy of The Loon Project]

Part 3 of an interview series with Dr. Piper, founder of The Loon Project, a 20 year study of loon behavior in Oneida County, Wisconsin.

NorthernWisconsin.com:  What are some of the other big discoveries you have found through your research in Oneida County, Wisconsin?

Dr. Piper: In the course of our work on territory takeover, we came upon another interesting behavioral pattern: fatal battles among males.

Although it took many years of data collection to confirm the pattern statistically, we have learned that about 1/3 of all male takeovers – when an intruder seizes an owners’ territory – result in the death of the former owner. We do not yet fully understand this behavior pattern.

Both females and males battle viciously for territories. To watch contestants grab each others’ heads with their bills and whack each other repeatedly with their wings, you would expect that both sexes are endangered by the fights. But females almost never fight to the death; somehow a female owner that is being beaten up by an intruder is able to slink off to a protected spot in the lake, rest, and ultimately fly off to another lake nearby to lick her wounds. Not so with many male owners, who become so weakened by repeated beatings that they lose the capacity to defend themselves, cannot find refuge and end up dying on the lake they used to own.

We are puzzled at the inability of male owners to recognize that a battle is going poorly for them and escape a victorious intruder, but we have a clue about why males might fight harder for their territories than females.

After combining information from nest locations, nesting success and identities of breeding pair members ( see loon territory data from The Loon Project), we have learned that male loons, not females, decide where to place the nest. We know this because breeding pairs that consist of a male that has never bred on a territory and a female that has bred there before fail to reuse nest locations where they hatched chicks successfully. In contrast, pairs made up of an experienced male and a new female do “remember” successful nesting sites.

We do not know why males should be in charge of selecting the site for the nest, but since they are in charge, we can see that this makes their territory uniquely valuable to them. A male who allows himself to be kicked off his territory loses both the territory and his knowledge of where to nest on the territory.  If lucky enough to find a new territory and mate, he must start from scratch in building his knowledge of a new territory. A female that gets evicted from a territory is not so bad off, providing she can resettle on a new territory with a male who knows where to nest on the territory.

More from Dr. Piper and The Loon Project discoveries:

Part 1: About Dr. Walter Piper & The Loon Project
Part 2: Do Loons Mate for Life?
Part 3: Male Loons Fight to the Death
Part 4: Loon Banding & How We Track Them
Part 5: Favorite Memories

[Image: Courtesy of Dan Salisbury via The Loon Project]

Part 4 of an interview series with Dr. Piper, founder of The Loon Project, a 20 year study of loon behavior in Oneida County, Wisconsin.

NorthernWisconsin.com:  Can you explain the loon banding process? When do you do it and how do you possibly keep track of every loon?

Dr. Piper: We can only capture loons efficiently in the late summer, when they have chicks. A pair that has chicks will not dive as much as a chickless pair. Instead, they will remain with the chicks and protect them, allowing us to creep up to them in a motorboat with a spotlight at night and net them.

The banding process is quick; we bring the birds to shore and place on their legs one metal band from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and three UV-resistant colored leg bands in a unique combination. So the male might be “blue over silver” on its right leg and “yellow over green” on its left leg; the female might be “silver over red, pink over mint”. We also place bands on chicks, once they reach 5 weeks of age and have legs large enough to hold bands safely.

Banding of loons has provided a wealth of information on social behavior and population status. Loons are not easily identifiable without a unique set of bands. But since each loon is given its own color band combination, we can distinguish it from its mate and all other loons and track it in the event it gets evicted from its territory and has to move to another territory.

The tracking part sounds high‑tech, but it isn’t  In fact, the way we relocate banded loons that have been kicked off of their territories is by good old‑fashioned hard work. We simply look in every lake near the territory from which the loon was evicted and eventually find it. It helps that our lakes are fairly clustered. Often we blunder upon a displaced territory owner when it intrudes into a territory that we happen to cover and near the one that it used to own.

So color banding and careful observation of banded loons in lakes with binoculars from canoes has allowed us to learn that: 1) loons do not mate for life, 2) loons boot each other off territories with male loons often fighting to the death, and 3) loons often reacquire a territory after losing one.

Finally, the metal band on each loon has a number etched into it so that someone who happens to find the loon later can report it to the Bird Banding Laboratory in Maryland and provide us with information about longevity and migration patterns.

NorthernWisconsin.com:  What have you learned by banding chicks?

Dr. Piper:  By banding chicks, we can track them throughout their lives. Half of all chicks return to the breeding ground as adults, at which point they try to find a territory of their own. So banding of chicks has allowed us to observe the process of territory acquisition in young loons.

We have made two exciting findings about young loons through banding of chicks.

First, young adults (3 to 5 year-old males; 5 to 6 year-old females) tend to settle on lakes by “founding” territories in unoccupied spaces. That is, they settle peacefully and without battles. When they become a little older (6 years in males, 7 years in females), young adults suddenly start usurping territories. We don’t know why this occurs exactly, but it probably has something to do with the fact that young loons are still improving in body condition during their early years. Having a few years to put on weight probably allows a young bird to battle for a territory instead of having to settle on an unproven space. (Repeated captures of young males has confirmed that they do indeed gain weight during their early years.)

The second finding we have made about young loons is that they practice “natal-site matching”. That is, young loons show a strong tendency to settle on a breeding territory that resembles their natal territory in both size and lake chemistry (as measured by pH). We do not know why young loons would behave this way, but the effect is very strong. Perhaps a loon settles on a natal-like lake because it tends to contain the same species of fish and invertebrate prey that the loon became used to on its natal lake.

More from Dr. Piper and The Loon Project discoveries:

Part 1: About Dr. Walter Piper & The Loon Project
Part 2: Do Loons Mate for Life?
Part 3: Male Loons Fight to the Death
Part 4: Loon Banding & How We Track Them
Part 5: Favorite Memories

[Image: Courtesy of The Loon Project]

Part 5 of an interview series with Dr. Piper, founder of The Loon Project, a 20 year study of loon behavior in Oneida County, Wisconsin.

NorthernWisconsin.com:  Do you have a favorite memory or story from your Northern Wisconsin loon experiences so far?

Dr. Piper:  After two decades of working in northern Wisconsin, I have lots of good memories. Many of these come from friendships I have made with folks who live on our study lakes.

However, one of my warmest memories was of saving a loon’s life who had become entangled in monofilament fishing line in 2009. This bird, a female nonbreeder, had fishing line on her head, wings and legs. She was a mess. She was also rather skittish and would dive, albeit awkwardly, whenever we got within 20 yards in a canoe. Still, it was awful to watch how she struggled, and it was clear that she was unable to move about effectively. So we decided that we must try and free her from the line.

We waited for nightfall to try and find her in our spotlight and net her. She was not quite as evasive at night as during the daytime, and we were lucky to catch her on the first try. Once we were back on shore, it took only a few minutes to snip the line off her body. We banded her too, since she was in good condition. She has not settled on a territory yet, but we have seen her as a territorial intruder each year since.

NorthernWisconsin.com: Your research and findings are fascinating.  Is there any way northern Wisconsin residents or visitors can help you with your research?

Dr. Piper:  We find it very helpful to have people report loon battles and loon injuries to us so that we can learn from this behavior and also get help for struggling loons. We are only able to visit our study lakes for an hour every 4-5 days, so we often miss exciting territorial contests. Please email me at wpiper@chapman.edu. And, while we are not qualified to rehabilitate wildlife, we know that you can contact Wild Instincts to get help for injured loons.

More from Dr. Piper and The Loon Project discoveries:

Part 1: About Dr. Walter Piper & The Loon Project
Part 2: Do Loons Mate for Life?
Part 3: Male Loons Fight to the Death
Part 4: Loon Banding & How We Track Them
Part 5: Favorite Memories

[Image: Courtesy of Dan Salisbury via The Loon Project]

This book review was submitted by Anna Ward (age 14), a summer resident of Eagle River and a self-proclaimed loon enthusiast from as far back as she can remember.

“The Little Looney Tales – Hatched” is written by two authors, Lizzie and Jack. Lizzie resides “Up North” on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Jack lives on the Monterey Coast in California. This is the first book the two authors wrote together and they both share a love and passion for loons.  The beautiful illustrations for the book are the work of  B.T. Bonnell, a graphic artist who lives in Minneapolis.

When Gabe, a baby loon is born, he plays in the crystal blue waters all day while his parents watch him and protect him from harmful creatures that lurk beneath the surface. Gabe loves his life and enjoys spinning in circles and being the center of his parent’s attention. That is until his baby sister Fluffy is born. Gabe’s parents are now busy tending to little Fluffy because she isn’t strong enough to hold her head up yet. The brother loon is very “fowl” to his little sister and doesn’t miss an opportunity to push her off her parent’s backs. He teases her and pushes her away. After a while, the two siblings tolerate each other. Suddenly, Gabe sees a predator and yells. A snapping turtle almost gets Fluffy’s foot! After the day’s fiasco Gabe realizes that family is important and decides to love his sister.

I thought the story was really cute and I think kids with younger siblings will relate to Gabe’s feelings toward Fluffy. The vivid illustrations of the loons are beautiful and very true to life. This book reminds me of being at our cottage in northern Wisconsin where we sit on the screen porch listening to loons talk to each other. This sweet story will be a nice addition to the collection of loon books that my grandma reads to the little ones before bed.

The Little Loony Tales: Hatched
By Lizzie Jack
Illustrated by B.T. Bonnell

Denny Olson is a neat guy from Duluth, Minnesota, who goes around educating about wildlife and nature — often dressed as the character or animal he is talking about. He has more more than 27 years of experience teaching nature-based lectures and classes in the North Woods and Mountain West. He has done a lot of research on animals such as beavers, hares and loons. Denny Olson usually wears outrageous costumes and tells stories as his characters, or humorous “alter-egos,” such as Critterman, Wolfman, The Grizz, Dr. Death, Prof. Avian Guano, Bir.D, Dr. Loonacy, The Lost Voyageur and The Mad Herbalist.

Here are some of things he had to say as Dr. Loonacy:

“The loon is the most primitive bird we know,” Dr. Loonacy tells a museum audience.

“…With solid bones for diving, wings that seem too short for flying due to the loon’s body shape and weight of 7 to 10 pounds, the loon is ‘a flying submarine’ — something man hasn’t yet been able to duplicate,” he says with a smile.

“…The loon nest is thrown together…. Loons lay one or two eggs — and they turn them over every two to four hours…”

“…While loons may reluctantly leave an egg that is stolen by a predator, they will launch an all-out attack to save their babies,” Dr. Loonacy continues. “The babies are born helpless, and often ride on their mother’s back for reasons of safety and warmth…”

To find out more about Denny Olson as Dr. Loonacy, visit http://www.crittermansworld.com/

[Image: Courtesy of http://davisclipper.com/]

A special note about loons from the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin:

Imagine a northern lake without the haunting, mournful call and stately presence of the common loon. Although still abundant and widespread in most of Alaska and Canada, the common loon’s numbers and range have decreased in the lower 48 states of the U.S. The estimated 15,000 loons in the Upper Great Lakes States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan comprise nearly three-quarters of the loon population outside of Alaska.

Research suggests that loon populations in Michigan and Wisconsin have rebounded from drastic declines earlier in this century, and the loon population in Minnesota is still thriving. But many threats remain. Human activities are largely responsible for the disappearance of loons from many lakes.

Development of shorelines and islands for summer homes, campgrounds, and marinas has destroyed traditional nesting areas and other suitable sites. Disturbance of loons, especially during sensitive nesting and chick-rearing periods, can reduce or wipe out loon populations. Pollution of lakes used by nesting loons can lead to accumulations of toxins in eggs and young and the loss of food for chicks and adults.

In 1978, the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute initiated a loon-conservation program in Wisconsin, and later, a similar program in Minnesota. In 1988, these two loon projects merged into one program known as LoonWatch. LoonWatch focuses its activities in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but its regional scope also covers Michigan and Ontario.

For more information about loons, contact the LoonWatch Program, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College, (715) 682-1220.

[Image: Courtesy of Mike Crowley; available for sale at his website Life in the Northwoods]

What do loons look like?

Loons are powerful, streamlined birds with red eyes, greenish-black head, long tapered beak and black and white checkerboard plumage.

How large are loons?

The Common Loon weighs between 8 – 11 pounds, is about 25 inches tall, and has a wingspread of 5 to 5 1/2 feet.

How many species of loons are there?

There are four species of loons that exist in the northern hemisphere. The Common Loon, the Arctic Loon, the Yellow-Billed Loon, and the Red-Throated Loon. The Common Loon is the only one found in northern Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Canada whereas the other three species are found in northern Canada and Alaska.

Are loons good swimmers?

Loons are supreme rulers of their aquatic domain. With legs located well back on their sleek bodies, loons are superb swimmers easily capable of catching fish for food.

Are loons good divers?

Unlike other marine birds, loons have dense bones which permit them to dive to depths of 200 feet and remain submerged for five to ten minutes.

Do loons ever come to shore?

Loons do come ashore but only to nest. With legs positioned behind their balance point, loons have great difficulty walking or even standing. It is not unusual for loons to support some of their weight on land with their chests.

Why are loons’ eyes red?

The red is caused by a pigment in the retina that filters light when loons dive beneath the water’s surface and allows for sight.

How can one tell the difference between the male and female loon?

It is impossible to determine the sex of a loon without observing its internal organs.

[Image: Courtesy of Mike Crowley; available for sale at his website Life in the Northwoods]

Some frequently asked questions – and answers – about the Common Loon and their life cycle:

Do loons mate for life?
Loons are believed to mate for life, but more research is needed in this area.

Do loons have a courtship ritual?
Yes. Courtship consists mainly of head dipping and shallow dives. In spring, loons are frequently observed chasing each other across the surface of a lake. This is primarily territorial behavior, not courtship ritual.

What does a loon nest look like?
The nest consists of reeds, sticks, grasses and muddy vegetation from the bottom of lakes. This material is loosely formed in the shape of a mound, roughly 1.5 feet in diameter, with a slight hollow in the middle. Both the male and female participate in nest building which is completed by mid-May.

Where do loons construct their nests?
Because of their difficulty moving about the land, loons build nests within a few inches of water. When a nesting loon is disturbed, it slips off the nest and submerges to keep the location of its nest unknown.

How many eggs does a female lay?
Soon after construction of the nest, the female lays two eggs.

What size and color are loon eggs?
Loon eggs are roughly 3 1/2″ by 2 1/4″ in size with a thick shell and are olive green color speckled with brown spots.

How long do loons live?
The Common Loon may live twenty years or more.

How many loons are there in Wisconsin?
1995 statistics by Wisconsin’s LoonWatch Program estimated the loon population of Wisconsin to be about 3,017 loons! [Update:  In 2010, LoonWatch estimated the adult loon populations at approximately 4,000 and chick population at approximately 600].

[Image: Courtesy of Mike Crowley; available for sale at his website Life in the Northwoods]