Gregory Nelson

David Guttenfelder

LoonWatch

LoonWatch

Brief history of LoonWatch

Loon Rangers

Annual lake monitoring

Wisconsin loon population survey

Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook

Current Range

Historical Southern Limit

Past and Present Common Loon

BreedingRange in

North America

Distribution of Loons

Breeding in Wisconsin

Distribution of Loons

Breeding in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas project,

1995-1999

ShorelineDevelopment

ShorelineDevelopment

Loss ofHabitatLoss ofHabitat

Water ClarityWater Clarity

Darwin Long

RecreationRecreation

PredatorsPredators

A program of the

Annual Lake MonitoringAnnual Lake Monitoring

Program GoalsProgram Goals

Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook

Document how individual lakes are used by Common Loons

Identify critical loon habitat

Monitor loon reproduction

Engage volunteers in protection of loons and their lake habitats

Increase public awareness through volunteer outreach

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Lakes Monitored

# of Loon Rangers

Year

Volunteer Participation1978-2003

Volunteer Participation1978-2003

How accurate are volunteer collected data?

How accurate are volunteer collected data?

To answer this question, LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR biologists surveyed the same 81 lakes for loon reproduction outcomes between 1991-1994.

LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:

98% of reports for # territorial pair present

LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:

98% of reports for # territorial pair present

90% of reports for # nest attempts

LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:

98% of reports for # territorial pair present

90% of reports for # nest attempts

85% of reports for # chicks hatched

LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:

98% of reports for # territorial pair present

90% of reports for # nest attempts

85% of reports for # chicks hatched

87% of reports for # chicks fledged

ConclusionsConclusions

In the sample of 81 lakes, LoonWatch volunteer surveys produced results comparable to that of trained WDNR biologists surveying each lake 4-6 times annually to document Common Loon productivity.

LoonWatch Annual Lake Monitoring Program provides an efficient, cost effective index of Common Loon productivity in Wisconsin.

(Meyer & Daulton 1995)

Speakers’Bureau

Speakers’Bureau

Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook

Estimating Wisconsin’s Common Loon population:

Estimating Wisconsin’s Common Loon population:

A one-day volunteer survey conducted every five years

Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook

How do we do it?How do we do it?

243 lakes are randomly selected from 27 northern Wisconsin counties

Volunteers are recruited to cover as many lakes as possible

Volunteers survey lakes for loon adults and chicks one day in mid-July between 5 and 10 am

3131

23582420

3017

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

1985 1990 1995 2000

Year of Survey

Nu

mb

er o

f A

du

lt L

oo

ns

Population Estimates of Adult Common Loons in Wisconsin

Population Estimates of Adult Common Loons in Wisconsin

678

462516

608

200

400

600

800

1000

1985 1990 1995 2000

Year of Survey

Nu

mb

er o

f L

oo

n C

hic

ksPopulation Estimates of

Common Loon Chicks in WisconsinPopulation Estimates of

Common Loon Chicks in Wisconsin

Next loon population survey: July 2005Next loon population survey: July 2005

Gregory Nelson

Northern Native Plant Propagation ProjectNorthern Native Plant Propagation Project

Timber Wolf Alliance

Timber Wolf Alliance