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Restoration of Common Loon (Gavia immer) in Minnesota—2023 Annual Report

Open-File Report 2024-1044
Prepared in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
By: , , , , , , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20241044

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Abstract

The Deepwater Horizon mobile drilling platform exploded on April 20, 2010. The resulting massive oil spill injured natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, including wintering common loons (Gavia immer). We report on activities completed under the “Restoration of Common Loons in Minnesota” project in calendar year 2023, which was funded by the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group. In 2022, a subset of monitored breeding territories was identified as focal territories, which are sampling units for the study. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, monitored 98 common loon focal territories and an additional 43 nonfocal territories in 2023 across 56 study lakes in Minnesota. We collaborated with lake associations and private citizens to deploy 42 artificial nesting platforms within 44 focal treatment territories. The remaining 54 focal territories were controls. Territorial surveys were completed from May 8 to August 11, 2023, to evaluate occupancy, nest success, and chick survival. At least one nest attempt was observed in 31 of 44 treatment territories and a second nest attempt was observed after a failed initial attempt in 6 treatment territories. However, only one nest was on an artificial nesting platform in a treatment territory; the remaining nest locations were natural. At least one nest attempt was observed in 37 of 54 control territories, and a second nest attempt was observed after a failed initial attempt in 5 control territories. Chicks or other evidence of hatching were observed in 17 of 54 control territories and 17 of 44 treatment territories, with 1 of those successful treatment nests occurring on an artificial nesting platform. This report includes no formal analysis, but we plan to analyze data after collection of all field data in subsequent years.

Suggested Citation

Beatty, W.S., Amoth, K., Bergstrom, K., Fara, L.J., Gray, B.R., Houdek, S.C., Jech, J., Kenow, K.P., Rabasco, R., Rettler, S., Wellik, M., and Yang, S., 2024, Restoration of common loon (Gavia immer) in Minnesota—2023 annual report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2024–1044, 6 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20241044.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Benchmarks to Evaluate Project Progress
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Restoration of common loon (Gavia immer) in Minnesota—2023 annual report
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2024-1044
DOI 10.3133/ofr20241044
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description Report: vi, 6 p.; 2 Data Releases
Country United States
State Minnesota
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details