Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Unraveling Mysteries of the Common Loon

This podcast provides insight in to the life of the common loon as captured by research scientists with USGS using modern technologies. Scientists used satellite telemetry and archival geolocator tag technologies to gain critical information on migratory movements of breeding loons in the Upper Midwest to guide conservation planning. Critical pieces of the puzzle included identifying migration staging areas and wintering areas, and also important information from dive profiles to describe foraging patterns. This information is necessary for state and federal agencies tasked with managing populations of loons in the face of stressors such as disease, pollution, and climate change.