11-14-2007, 05:10 PM
Here are the headlines and question of the week from today's DNR statewide news packet, which is produced and distributed by the DNR's Information and Education Bureau.
You can always find DNR news releases in the newsroom on our Web site at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/index.html.
DNR NEWS HEADLINES - NOV. 13
DNR adopts motorized watercraft restriction on Towner Lake DNR seeks comments on proposals for motor vehicle use on state forest lands in Mississippi Headwaters State Forest and southwest Beltrami County Local conservation groups receive $476,000 for wildlife habitat projects
DNR QUESTION OF THE WEEK - NOV. 13<br />
Q: Late summer and early fall large numbers of loons were recently spotted gathering on a number of lakes. However, they were not feeding and not fighting; they appeared to be partying. Why is this? Is this part of the fall migration?
A: Loons are territorial when they are nesting and raising chicks. But starting in mid-summer, groups of non-mated loons, or loons that were unsuccessful with nesting, begin to gather and move around between lakes. I call these groups "loon parties" because they are indeed socializing and not fighting. Sometimes the loons will circle and actively interact.
As the summer wanes on, these groups get larger and blend into the pre-migratory behavior of gathering on larger lakes. In September, many adult loons that successfully raised chicks leave those lakes, and their chicks, to join the loon groups. In 1998, loon counts completed on Mille Lacs and Winnibigoshish lakes documented a peak of more than 1,500 loons on each lake in the third week of October.
On Oct. 19, 2006, a new high count of 2,729 loons on Mille Lacs was reported by Peder Svingen, a birdwatcher from Duluth.
These groups are comprised of adult loons and young-of-the year. After gathering on these larger lakes, the loons head south on a north wind in late October or November. Loons spend the winter on the ocean and young loons will remain there for two or three years before returning to Minnesota.
-Pam Perry, DNR nongame wildlife lake specialist, Brainerd
You can always find DNR news releases in the newsroom on our Web site at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/index.html.
DNR NEWS HEADLINES - NOV. 13
DNR adopts motorized watercraft restriction on Towner Lake DNR seeks comments on proposals for motor vehicle use on state forest lands in Mississippi Headwaters State Forest and southwest Beltrami County Local conservation groups receive $476,000 for wildlife habitat projects
DNR QUESTION OF THE WEEK - NOV. 13<br />
Q: Late summer and early fall large numbers of loons were recently spotted gathering on a number of lakes. However, they were not feeding and not fighting; they appeared to be partying. Why is this? Is this part of the fall migration?
A: Loons are territorial when they are nesting and raising chicks. But starting in mid-summer, groups of non-mated loons, or loons that were unsuccessful with nesting, begin to gather and move around between lakes. I call these groups "loon parties" because they are indeed socializing and not fighting. Sometimes the loons will circle and actively interact.
As the summer wanes on, these groups get larger and blend into the pre-migratory behavior of gathering on larger lakes. In September, many adult loons that successfully raised chicks leave those lakes, and their chicks, to join the loon groups. In 1998, loon counts completed on Mille Lacs and Winnibigoshish lakes documented a peak of more than 1,500 loons on each lake in the third week of October.
On Oct. 19, 2006, a new high count of 2,729 loons on Mille Lacs was reported by Peder Svingen, a birdwatcher from Duluth.
These groups are comprised of adult loons and young-of-the year. After gathering on these larger lakes, the loons head south on a north wind in late October or November. Loons spend the winter on the ocean and young loons will remain there for two or three years before returning to Minnesota.
-Pam Perry, DNR nongame wildlife lake specialist, Brainerd