I wanted to report a very concerning development that, we think, has had a devastating effect on the loon population in this area this summer.

We have about 25 miles of navigable water and typically we see several loon pairs each summer. Each pair has staked out a set territory. We are aware of the declining loon population due to aspergillosi, intestinal parasites and salmonella and over the past few years we have observed that there are fewer pairs than there once were. Additionally, quite often the loon pairs that have returned, have not succeeded in raising any young.

About two years ago we were excited to because we had several sitings of bald eagles on our water system. It was thrilling to watch. In fact, last December, when we were at the cottage for a few days, I watched in utter awe as a bald eagle swooped down onto the ice trying to steal a fish from an otter who was fishing at the edge of the ice (the river was not fully frozen over). Then, this spring we noticed the eagle return, and after observing it in different areas of the waterway here, we decided he had chosen the Marten River / Marten Lake system as his summer home! How thrilled we were to watch him soar.

Sadly, we also noticed that there were even fewer loon pairs this year. However, the loon pair that usually resides on our section of the river had returned and as July wore on, we knew that a hatching would happen soon, because we would only see one adult at a time fishing (meaning that the female was on the nest). One morning we observed the two adult loons swimming together across the river. This would normally be a signal that the chicks(s) had hatched, perhaps in the night. Before we could grab the binoculars to look for a chick, a cacophony of sound broke the morning quiet. And as we watched, the bald eagle swooped down on the loons. The next thing we knew, the eagle had taken off with something in its mouth. The loons were distressed and at first we thought that the eagle has merely stolen a fish from one of them. However, after watching them for a while (with the binoculars), we think that it was the loon chick that the eagle had stolen.

Since that day, we have been out on the water many times and we have not seen a loon chick with any of the loon pairs on this water system. Of course, it is a large system with many bays and it is possible that we have missed seeing all the pairs, but we are concerned about the possibility that the eagle simply flew around and “picked off” all the loon chicks.

At the same time, we have noticed that the size of the Merganser duck broods (and their combined clutches) is much smaller. For example, typically by late August you will see a combined clutch of 12 over more youthful Mergansers swimming and fishing together. This year, the largest clutch in our section of the river includes only 5 Mergansers. We can only assume that last spring the eagle dined on tiny ducklings too.

All this does not bode well for next year. If the eagle was able to feed so well on loon chicks and ducklings, then he will be highly motivated to return. Of course, I understand that nothing can be done about this, it is the “nature of things” and I can only hope that the loons will be resilient and survive this.

But I would be interested to know if there have been any other reports of this situation on other waterways in the north. Has anyone seen/heard anything? I will also be sending an e mail both to the birdscanada.org and the North Bay MNR office.

Thank you in advance.

I have just started a new website for Bird Photographers in Canada Only.

I have some interest from all across Canada.

I have linked to your website (Bird Canada)

I know we share the same interest in the welfare of our birds.

I was wonder if you have an article you would like to publish on the Canadian Bird Photographer?

I would ask if you could link to my wed site?

Thank you David

I work for Nunavut Tourism in Iqaluit, Nunavut Canada. We’ve recently uploaded a very unique video of an angry snowy owl. I would really appreciate it if you would take a look and consider embedding the video in your wildlife blog.

http://www.youtube.com/user/NunavutTourism#p/u/6/bXtzz_M1m0M

Thank you!

Your blog, hoowhee, I have found my birdie heaven Thank you.

Dove

As an ardent birdwatcher and researcher do you have information on customer spending for Birding in Canada or Ontario. I would be starting Birding tours and information in this regard would be most helpful. I would alos like to have a resume of birder as yourself to be attached as a reference.

Kindly email me at the earliest.

thanking you,

Kenneth

Apologies for the long comment below — I wanted to reach out to you and invite you to beta test a new Web site that Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada have developed about Important Bird Areas in Canada. I’m contacting a handful of bird bloggers/twitterers whose posts I follow, which is why I’m contacting you.

As you are probably aware, Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada are the Canadian co-partners in BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation groups who work together for the world’s birds and people. Together, we deliver the Important Bird Areas program, and this new Web site will play an integral part in delivering the program.

What does it mean to be a beta tester? It’s simple. Just click on this temporary link, http://www.bsc-eoc.org:8086/, to visit the Important Bird Areas in Canada web site, and have a look around. Explore different sections, try our online directory to find an IBA, and read whatever content seems interesting to you.

Then, complete a short survey to tell us what you think. The purpose of this survey is to help us make improvements to the site before publicly launching it. You can complete the survey here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3_2b5Erxf7_2fS7VCo0YXeeg7w_3d_3d

I would greatly value your opinions of the site so far. Explore the site as much as you like – the survey should only take you 10 minutes.

Thanks in advance for agreeing to help us with this important piece of research. Please complete the survey by Monday, October 19, 2009. My colleagues and I are very grateful for your support.

Kind Regards,

Chris Sutton
Communications Manager
Nature Canada