Question for you eager birders...

Just returned from a trip and although we saw hordes of birds, we neither saw nor heard a loon. Plenty of fish to be had so that isn't an issue. We are speaking of Eastern Manitoba, about 3 hours north of Winnipeg.

We saw, Bald Eagles, Osprey (which don't exist in Manitoba), Canadian Geese, multiple species of ducks, Whooping Cranes and Trumpeter Swans, all the same body of water in one day and yet, no Loons.

Any ideas why? We were thinking they had left already.

What a lucky sight for you. Loons typically avoid water bodies where there is a lot of motorized boat traffic. If this is not the case then they were simply elsewhere.

The Puzzle of Loon Parties


Common Loons are not known to be congenial hosts or particularly accommodating to visitors on their territories. In fact, they can be quite nasty at times, chasing and occasionally killing intruding loons or other waterbirds. These occurrences should not be frowned upon, since loons have a strong instinct to protect their chicks or themselves from potential predators or competitors for scarce food supplies.


At other times, however, loons can be quite social. Several CLLS volunteers have commented in letters or survey reports about seeing large flocks of loons on their lakes. These are not isolated incidents; reports of flocks of over 2,000 loons can be found in the literature, but groups of 3 to 20 loons are more common.


There are at least three possible explanations for the large numbers of loons observed on some lakes.


- Loons are most aggressive early in the breeding season; adults will sometimes visit other pairs to socialize later in the season, when hormone levels and aggressiveness are decreasing. I have seen these gatherings as early as July. Some researchers suspect that social gatherings later in the summer let loons slowly prepare for the presence of other loons during migration and on the wintering grounds.

- Groups of loons might also be part of a surplus, non-breeding population, either because they are young and have not gained a territory, were displaced from their territories, or lost their nests early in the season and didn't re-nest. These non-breeding loons will often group together.

- Loons also group together just before migrating, a behaviour known as staging. Staging tends to happen on lakes with good fish stocks in September or October.



The more I observe loons, the more I realize that, like humans, each is an individual. Therefore, there are probably as many reasons for groups of loons as there are groups of loons.

- Harry Vogel

[Ontbirds] Birds in Algonquin Park this Week

Lev Frid
Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:02:18 -0700

Hello Birders,


Autumn color is at peak here in Algonquin, and so is the sparrow migration.
While the warblers have slowed right down here in Algonquin, they have now
been replaced by large numbers of sparrows, which are now common in any
open area, even along the highway. White-crowned, White-throated have been
seen in numbers, with smaller numbers of Lincoln’s and Savannah
Sparrowsand this is the time to look for Nelson’s Sparrow and LeConte’s Sparrow in
wet, grassy areas. Try the south end of the Old Airfield and the Two Rivers
Marsh for these two, or Lake Travers Marsh on the East Side. We will report
if any are seen.


Finches in the Park have been interesting. There were no reports of either
crossbill this week, but the park is being slowly infiltrated by Pine
Siskins, with flocks being seen on the 25th and occasional flyover birds
through the week. Evening Grosbeak is also around, with two birds in the
Visitor Centre parking lot this morning.


A young Northern Cardinal was at Canoe Lake Access Point on the 25th – a
very rare bird in the Park. They do not breed here and are only detected
very infrequently as dispersing individuals. A Pied-billed Grebe was at
West Rose Lake on the 26th – another uncommon bird for the Park.


Specialty birds are as follows:


Spruce Grouse: The best place has been Opeongo Road, where almost ever day
this week there have been up to three birds, including a male. The best
place along this road is adjacent to the big Tamarack (Larch) tree on the
east side of the road past the gate.


Gray Jay: Reports of this friendly jay are streaming in every day, from
birders and non-birders alike, as the birds are now approaching people for
food. The best places have been the North end of Mizzy Lake Trail, Opeongo
Road past the gate and the Algonquin Logging Museum.


Boreal Chickadee: Multiple birds were seen on the 25th at the North end of
Mizzy Lake Trail at Wolf Howl Pond, and at West Rose Lake as well. This is
the best spot for them at this point. They have also been along Opeongo
Road past the bridge, but not as reliably. You’ll hear them before you see
them.


Black-backed Woodpecker: No reports this week. Try the North end of Mizzy
Lake trail, the Spruce Bog Boardwalk, or the Western Uplands Backpacking
Trail entrance.