[mou] Common Loons

[Anthony X. Hertzel]

The 19 October 2004 Common Loon survey on Mille Lacs produced a total 
of 1545 birds in eight hours -- a typical number for this time of 
year, or perhaps even a bit low. A heavy fog in the middle of the 
lake, intermittent rain, and at times a heavy lake chop made counting 
difficult, and almost certainly the number of birds actually on the 
lake was substantially more than this.

While birds were found at nearly all 50 survey points around the 
lake's perimeter, the largest single flock was the 785 loons feeding 
together at Liberty Beach on the southeastern side. An additional 
smaller group of 101 birds here plus six lone individuals put the 
total at this stop at 892 birds. Other concentrations included 213 
loons at the U.S. Highway 169 rest stop just south of Garrison, and 
another 140 at St. Alban's Bay.

-- 
Anthony X. Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com