Mates for life?

According to Wikipedia.org, biologists have extensively studied the mating behavior of the Common Loon and have found that, contrary to popular belief, pairs seldom mate for life.

A typical adult loon is likely to have several mates during its lifetime because of territorial takeover. Each breeding pair must frequently defend its territory against “floaters” (adults without a territory) trying to evict at least one owner and seize the breeding site.

According to Bird Studies Canada, a loon watch group, the loon population across the north has remained fairly constant in the last several years, though residential development on lakes continue to be a threat. According to local photographer, Wayne Baker, the loons have been less visible on the Lost Channel this summer. “But I managed to capture a photo of this pair while out fishing one early morning,” he wrote in an e-mail to Northern Life.

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