Check out Mercer Wisconsin All About Loons Website at:
http://www.mercerwi.com/loons.htm
Loon Facts:
How many loons are there in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Project Loon Watch estimates the loon population in Wisconsin to be 1,500 to 2,000 birds with heavy concentration in Vilas and Oneida Counties.
Why do loons make so many weird calls?
Loon calls have been identified into four classifications: Wail, Tremolo, yodel and hoot.
* The wail is perhaps the call most frequently heard. A loon will wail when it becomes separated from the chick or if its mate fails to return.
* The tremolo is an aggressive response given when disturbed by a boater or predator.
* The yodel is also an expression of aggression and is given by the male during a confrontation.
* The hoot symbolizes a call of curiosity and/or happiness.
The sounds are apparently a learned communication between the birds. To hear the richness of their harmonics is clearly a unique experience.
When approached, why do loons sometimes stand up on the water with their wings tacked to their sides, like penguins?
The “penguin dance” is a sign of extreme agitation. This behavior symbolizes that the loon’s territory has been violated. The penguin dance is generally combined with frantic calls and is one of the last defense actions
available to loons. Anyone observing such a response should retreat immediately.
How many loons inhabit a lake?
Loons are territorial birds and generally only one pair is found on each lake, except for very large bodies of water where several pairs inhabit a lake.
Are there different species of loon?
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 (3) species are found in Northern Canada and Alaska.
SOURCE: Mercer Wisconsin All About Loons Website
http://www.mercerwi.com/loons.htm
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