Common Loons (Gavia immer) Wintering off the Louisiana Coast Tracked to Saskatchewan during the Breeding Season

摘要

Common Loon (Gavia burner) migration pathways have been previously identified using resightings, band recoveries, and satellite tracking with platform terminal transmitters, but there remains much to be learned. No band recoveries or resightings of Common Loons from Louisiana have been documented to date, and it is unclear where Common Loons from this region migrate and breed. On 29 March 2011, as part of a pilot study, we implanted two platform terminal transmitters in Common Loons wintering off the Louisiana coast. Both individuals migrated to Saskatchewan, Canada. Previous research using satellite telemetry on migrating Common Loons in the western USA states (Nevada and Montana) showed they migrated to Saskatchewan, but wintered at Lake Mead, Nevada, the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean. Our findings are of interest as Common Loons from the same breeding area in Saskatchewan overwinter in different regions of North America.