MONTANA LOON SOCIETY
What is Montana Loons Society? - Montana Loons
The Montana Loon Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to insuring that common loons continue to be a part of the landscape of Montana.
National concern for common loons began in the 1970’s following increased awareness about the effect of DDT on water birds.
Early loon research helped define nesting and nursery habitat requirements, clutch and brood sizes, pair bond establishment, and general dates of spring arrival, nest initiation, and hatch.
Between 1980-1986, Montana researchers and volunteers defined the breeding range and breeding-lake characteristics of loons. In 1986, the Montana Loon Society established the first systematic breeding survey or “Loon Day”.
Results from 1999 – 2013 show that Montana continues to support the largest breeding population of common loons in the western continental United States with a 10-year average summer count of 216 individuals. This population consists of an average of 62 territorial pairs, 52 non-breeding “single” adults, and 41 chicks. Since surveys began in the late 1980’s, the population has remained remarkably stable. Chick production in Montana appears to be above average with between .66 and 0.70 chicks fledged per territorial pair. The chart and graphs below show this steady rate.