Tweeters:

The common loons seen on Rattlesnake Lake, Tradition Lake, Sprague Lake, etc, are most likely non-territorial loons that move from lake to lake during the summer months. They provide a supply of adults for recruitment for the lakes that do contain territorial breeding pairs in WA. They may also begin a new territory of their own when mature, approximately 5-9 years of age. WA has few (14-16) territorial/breeding common loons and a small number of non-territorial loons returning to their natal lake region. In 2008 in NE WA, three territorial females expired; two due to non-return from the winter territory and the third with most likely lead toxicosis. (Necropsy pending.)

Common loons are very slow in recolonizing or expanding their breeding range. Failed nesters usually remain on territory to protect their lake but will occasionally move to surrounding/adjacent lakes for feeding or socializing for a short time. Common loon chicks fledge at 12-13 weeks of age and the adults remain with the chicks until this time. They begin migration in late August through November with the adults going usually going first. Juveniles, during the first 24 months, have a mortality rate of about 80% on the maturation territory, which is the same geographic location as the adult wintering habitat in salt water, coastal fresh water bodies or large rivers. Only one WA common chick that was banded in 1995, has returned as an adult to begin a territory. Six other juveniles/adults, that were banded as chicks, have been seen for one or two years near their natal lake region as a two or three-year old, and most have never been seen again.

We would appreciate any reports regarding sightings of common loons with color-marked bands located on their tarsus. WA adults have bicolor orange (half orange-half white) /silver on the right leg with one or two colors on the opposite leg. WA chicks were banded with the bicolor orange/silver or just silver on the left leg with an additional one or two colors on the right. During the winter months on the salt water, other color combinations may be seen as Washington, California, Montana, and Alaska all have banded loons. Some loons have satellite transmitters with a short antenna near the tail. Please report any sightings of these loons to:


Ginger Gumm and Daniel Poleschook, Jr.
Loon Lake Loon Association/BioDiversity Research Institute
509-939-9699
ggloon at msn.com<about:blank>


Russell Link, WDFW or Chris Anderson, WDFW
Mill Creek Office
425-775-1311
linkrel at dfw.wa.gov