Five Common Loons from lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin were radio-tagged a few weeks ago. The implanted satellite transmitters are sending signals about the birds' locations. This will let you follow the birds as they move south for the winter, and learn their winter locations. This information will be posted for the next several months by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey. You can find it on the web site of the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center. The web address is
http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/loons/migrations.html
Postings will be made once or twice a week.
The birds were tagged as part of a study of avian botulism. Scientists want to know where migratory waterfowl stop to rest and feed during migration. Botulism intoxication causes paralysis and death in affected animals.
Sixty-eight additional loons were given devices called geolocater tags. The tag records an estimate of the bird's daily location, along with temperature, and water pressure data that translates to foraging depth for diving birds. This data is not transmitted back to the lab. These tags must be removed from the birds for information to be available. Researchers plan to re-capture the loons next spring, when they return to their "home" lakes (as they do about nine out of 10 times).
More on botulism from Bob Russell who works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from its Minneapolis offices: Researchers are seeking an understanding of feeding patterns and exposure routes of certain waterbird species historically at risk to botulism die-offs. This list includes Common Loons. The information is central to developing ecological studies to assess pathways of botulism exposure through aquatic food chains in the Great Lakes, along with identification of physical and biological linkages that drive botulism outbreaks.
This isn't a Minnesota loon. The photo was taken two years ago in Alaska. (You take 'em where you can get 'em.)
