46 Years of Loon Reproduction Records on Lynx Lake

The following summary of loon reproduction on Lynx Lake was submitted by Guy Carter

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46 Year Summary of loon reproduction on Lynx Lake – 1975-2021

• Data from 1975 – 1991 collected by Robert Green; 1992 – 2021 by Guy and Sondra Carter.
• Total loon chicks fledged: 31 over a 46 year period.
• Longest drought: 13 years (1992 through 2005) with only 2 chicks hatched and fledged.
• First year with two nesting pairs on Lake: 1993 (no chicks hatched).
• Over the most recent 15 years (2006 through 2021) there have been 8 years with two confirmed nesting pairs (7 chicks fledged).
• Best years: 2005 – 4 chicks fledged (two adult pairs each with two chicks); 2008 – one nesting pair fledged three chicks.
• Worst years: 2018 & 2021 – two nests each with two eggs, both nests lost to inundation by rising lake level following repeated heavy rains (2018) and to predation (2021).
• Most confusing observation: 2016 – one chick hatched and monitored on Lake, however, after severe storm causing substantial tree damage TWO chicks were present in family group and raised to fledging.

 

Loon reproduction