Migration Patterns and Wintering Range of Common Loons Breeding in the Northeastern United States

Kenow, Kevin P.; Adams, David; Schoch, Nina; Evers, David C.; Hanson, William E.; Yates, David E.; Savoy, Lucas; Fox, Timothy J.; Kratt, Robert J.; Ozard, J.

doi:10.1675/063.032.0204

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Higher densities of common loons in this area potentially indicate higher biomass of loon forage items including small demersal fish, crabs, lobsters and flounder (Evers 2007). The higher densities of common loons in relatively shallow waters is consistent with previous research by Kenow et al (2009), who found that satellite-tagged common loons were most likely found in waters 3 to 20 m deep (see also Daub 1989). In contrast, Kenow et al (2009) found that common loons were more common in areas with a relatively flat ocean floor, whereas we found that features of the ocean floor (i.e.…”

Section: Environmental Covariates Predicting Common Loon Distributionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The higher densities of common loons in relatively shallow waters is consistent with previous research by Kenow et al (2009), who found that satellite-tagged common loons were most likely found in waters 3 to 20 m deep (see also Daub 1989). In contrast, Kenow et al (2009) found that common loons were more common in areas with a relatively flat ocean floor, whereas we found that features of the ocean floor (i.e. bottom roughness and sediment grain size) were not included in our final model.…”

Section: Environmental Covariates Predicting Common Loon Distributionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Approximately 3 aerial surveys per month were conducted, from 1 December to 28 February in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 for a total of 14 aerial surveys. Although our surveys were restricted to the daytime, Kenow et al (2009) found that satellitetagged common loons had relatively small home ranges on their wintering grounds; thus we assumed their locations during daytime and nighttime were similar. All aerial surveys occurred around midday (usually between 10:00 and 15:00 h) on 24 transect lines, oriented perpendicular to the coast and spaced 3 km apart, with a mean (± SD) transect length of 46.3 ± 12.3 km (min.−max.…”

Section: Aerial-based Line Transect Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current population estimates are approximately 5500 common loons nesting in New England and New York (Evers 2007), with the species classified as a species of concern in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut, threatened in New Hampshire, and endangered in Vermont (Evers 2007, Kenow et al 2009). Recent satellite telemetry research suggests that common loons breeding throughout the northeastern USA primarily winter in nearshore waters from Maine to New Jersey (Kenow et al 2009), although little is known about the biotic and abiotic environmental factors that affect their distribution and abundance when using marine waters in this region during winter (Daub 1989, Ford & Gieg 1995, Kenow et al 2009). Available evidence suggests that wintering common loons primarily occur in shallow (< 20 m deep), nearshore marine waters, although low densities occur out to 100 km offshore (Powers & Cherry 1983, Haney 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Available evidence suggests that wintering common loons primarily occur in shallow (< 20 m deep), nearshore marine waters, although low densities occur out to 100 km offshore (Powers & Cherry 1983, Haney 1990). The spatial distribution of loons during winter is thought to be driven by prey availability (Evers 2007), which appears to be influenced by water clarity (McIntyre 1978, Thompson & Price 2006, water depth (Daub 1989, Kenow et al 2009, and tidal regime (McIntyre 1978, Daub 1989.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatially explicit model of wintering common loons: conservation implications

Winiarski¹,

Miller²,

Paton³

et al. 2013

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Common loons Gavia immer are a conservation concern in New England due to a variety of anthropogenic factors, yet little is known about biotic and abiotic environmental factors determining their wintering distribution and abundance in nearshore and offshore waters. The primary objective of this study was to develop a spatially explicit abundance model of wintering common loons in the maritime waters of southern New England (USA) that could inform decisions about offshore development. Aerial line-transect surveys were conducted throughout a 3800 km 2 study area off the coast of Rhode Island during the winters of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. A density surface model (DSM) approach was used to account for imperfect detection and incorporate spatially explicit environmental covariates. Common loon densities were greatest in waters < 35 m deep, with high chl a surface concentrations (> 2 mg m −3). The DSM predicted 5047 (95% CI = 3993−6379) common loons in the study area during winter, which suggests this region provides key habitat for this species in eastern North America. This study highlights important areas for common loons in the region, suggests key biotic (primary productivity as measured by long-term chl a surface concentrations) and abiotic covariates (water depth) driving the spatial distribution and abundance of common loons in southern New England, and identifies sites that should be considered for protection from offshore development, including offshore wind facilities.

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Section: Environmental Covariates Predicting Common Loon Distributionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Environmental Covariates Predicting Common Loon Distributionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Aerial-based Line Transect Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Spatially explicit model of wintering common loons: conservation implications

Winiarski¹,

Miller²,

Paton³

et al. 2013

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Population‐level effects of lead fishing tackle on common loons

et al. 2017

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Poisoning from lead fishing tackle has been identified as the leading cause of mortality in adult common loons (Gavia immer). As a K-selected species, adult survival is a critical component in the population demography of loons, but the population-level effects of mortality from ingested lead tackle on loons have not been quantified. We used a long-term dataset on common loon mortality in New Hampshire, USA, to describe the types of lead tackle ingested by loons, investigate methods of ingestion of lead tackle, document the number and rate of adult mortalities resulting from lead tackle, and test for a population-level effect of lead tackle on the loon population in New Hampshire. Nearly half (48.6%) of collected adult mortalities resulted from lead toxicosis from ingested lead fishing tackle, representing an adjusted annual mortality rate of 1.7 AE 0.6% (SD) of the statewide population. Jigs accounted for 52.6% and sinkers for 38.8% of the archived lead tackle objects removed from loons, a higher proportion of jigs than has been reported in previous studies. The timing of lead tackle mortalities and a high incidence of accompanying non-lead associated fishing gear (hooks, fishing line, leaders, swivels, wire), which peaked in July and August, suggest that loons obtain the majority of lead tackle from current fishing activity rather than from a reservoir of lead tackle on lake bottoms. To project the statewide loon population in the absence of lead fishing tackle as a stressor, we constructed a retrospective population model, which re-inserted loons that died from lead tackle into the population, and used linear regression to test for a population-level effect. We defined a populationlevel effect as a difference in the population growth rate (l). We estimated that lead tackle mortality reduced the population growth rate (l) by 1.4% and the statewide population by 43% during the years of the study. This study suggests that replacing lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing 28.4 g with non-toxic alternatives would result in an immediate benefit to the loon population in New Hampshire. Ó 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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Oiling of American white pelicans, common loons, and northern gannets in the winter following the Deepwater Horizon (MC252) oil spill

Paruk

Stenhouse

Sigel

et al. 2019

Environ Monit Assess

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The Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill assessed the external oiling of migratory bird species dependent on open water in the Gulf of Mexico following the aforementioned spill. The assessment was designed to evaluate birds that use open water during the winter within 40 km of the Gulf shoreline. We focused on the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), common loon (Gavia immer), and northern gannet (Morus bassanus). Point counts (pelican, loon) or strip transects (gannet) were used and each target species was assessed for oiling (unoiled, trace, light, moderate, or heavy amounts) and photographed. Due to distance at sighting and/or poor visibility, not all visible birds were assessed. The percentage of birds oiled varied by species, with the common loon being the highest (23.6%), followed by American white pelican (16.9%), and northern gannet (6.9%). Most of the American white pelicans and common loons had trace (83% and 72%, respectively) or light levels (11% and 24%, respectively) of oiling. The northern gannet had just trace levels of oiling. Some pelicans (6%) and loons (4%) had moderate amounts of oiling. Based on expert derived-mortality estimates and our estimates of oil exposure, we used Monte Carlo simulations to predict expected decreases of 2.5%, 4%, and 11% in the observed population for the northern gannet, American white pelican, and common loon, respectively. While these values are underestimates of the true values given the long time lag (10-12 months) between the oil spill and the assessment, these data represent some of the few estimates of exposure for these species and describe minimum risk estimates to these species. Keywords American white pelican. Common loon. Deepwater horizon oil spill. Northern gannet. Oiling

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Migration Patterns and Wintering Range of Common Loons Breeding in the Northeastern United States

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

Spatially explicit model of wintering common loons: conservation implications

Spatially explicit model of wintering common loons: conservation implications

Population‐level effects of lead fishing tackle on common loons

Oiling of American white pelicans, common loons, and northern gannets in the winter following the Deepwater Horizon (MC252) oil spill

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