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#           Loon Research      

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      By Alaska Science Center      January 2, 2024    

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            -              Science           
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            -              Multimedia           
            -              Publications           
            -              Web Tools           

Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is informing distribution and abundance of loons in northern Alaska and how they may respond to environmental and human changes to the northern landscape.

**Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems**

View Media Details

The main objectives of the USGS Alaska Science Center loon research program are to: 
                                - Provide ecological and demographic information on Alaska’s three loon species.
                                - Determine mechanisms for population trends, particularly for the Red-throated Loon (declines noted across much of Alaska) and the Yellow-billed Loon (a candidate species for listing as ‘threatened’ from 2009 to 2014).
                                - Provide science information to Department of Interior management agencies and others for their decision-making regarding loons.

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### Brian Uher-Koch

##### Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

buher-koch@usgs.gov

907-786-7052

### Explore Search

                      - Birds
                      - Fossil Fuels
                      - Habitat Loss
                      - Migratory Birds
                      - Threatened and Endangered Species
                      - Ecosystems
                      - Energy and Wildlife
                      - Threats
                      - Wildlife and Terrestrial Species
                      - Biology
                      - Ecosystems
                      - loons
                      - Yellow-billed loon
                      - Red-throated Loon
                      - Pacific Loon
                      - decision-making
                      - habitat
                      - distribution
                      - abundance
                      - Alaska
                      - fossil fuels
                      - Wildlife & Terrestrial Species
                      - Threatened and Endangered

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link

January 3, 2024

####                 Changing Arctic Ecosystems              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

link

January 3, 2024

####   Changing Arctic Ecosystems

Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

February 15, 2023

####                 Breeding Biology of Loon and Waterfowl Species on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska during 1973-1975              

Alaska Science Center

February 10, 2023

####                 Gavia Species Identification and Diet Composition from Feces, Central North Slope, Alaska, 2012-2014              

Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

January 28, 2021

####                 Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014              

Alaska Science Center

December 16, 2019

####                 Tracking data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)              

Alaska Science Center

May 1, 2019

####                 Influenza A antibodies in Pacific (Gavia pacifica), Red-throated (G. stellata), and Yellow-billed Loons (G. adamsii) in Alaska, 2008-2017              

Alaska Science Center

April 11, 2019

####                 Pacific (Gavia pacifica), Yellow-billed (G. adamsii), and Red-throated Loon (G. stellata) Nest Monitoring Data; National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014              

Alaska Science Center

December 19, 2018

####                 Serological Data on Influenza A from Birds and Mammals on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Northern Alaska, 2011-2017              

Alaska Science Center

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

July 2, 2015

#### Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.

Alaska Science Center

July 2, 2015

#### Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

link

#### Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific Loon take off

June 6, 2015

#### Pacific Loon take off

link

A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

June 6, 2015

#### Pacific Loon take off

link

#### Pacific Loon take off

link

A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

August 12, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

link

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

August 12, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

link

#### Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

link

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

June 7, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

link

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

Alaska Science Center

June 7, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

link

#### Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

link

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

Alaska Science Center

Below are publications associated with this project.

February 8, 2023

####                 eDNA Metabarcoding Analyses of Diet in Yellow-Billed Loons of Northern Alaska              

Alaska Science Center

April 15, 2021

####                 Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

February 20, 2020

####                 Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

August 21, 2019

####                 The Yellow-billed Loon              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

June 1, 2019

####                 Spatio-temporal population change of Arctic-breeding waterbirds on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

March 29, 2019

####                 Serologic evidence for influenza A virus exposure in three loon species (Gavia spp.) breeding in Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

July 1, 2018

####                 Comparative nest survival of three sympatric loon species breeding in the Arctic              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 10, 2018

####                 International migration patterns of Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) from four breeding populations in Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

November 1, 2016

####                 A suspended dive-net technique for catching territorial divers              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

April 11, 2015

####                 Diet of yellow-billed loons (*Gavia adamsii*) in Arctic lakes during the nesting season inferred from fatty acid analysis              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

February 1, 2015

####                 Nest visits and capture events affect breeding success of Yellow-billed and Pacific loons              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 1, 2015

####                 Fast and efficient: postnatal growth and energy expenditure in an Arctic-breeding waterbird, the Red-throated Loon (*Gavia stellata*)              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

July 31, 2023

####                 Tagged Animal Movement (TAME)              

The Tagged Animal Movement Explorer (TAME) is an interactive data visualization tool for exploring spatial and temporal patterns of animal movements.

Alaska Science Center

Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on Alaska’s three loon species since the late 1970s. Loons rely on freshwater lakes for nesting habitat and fish and invertebrates inhabiting lakes and marine ecosystems for food. All three loon species in Alaska occur within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) on Alaska’s northern coast. Research by the USGS is informing distribution and abundance of loons in northern Alaska and how they may respond to environmental and human changes to the northern landscape.

**Return to Ecosystems >> Terrestrial Ecosystems**

View Media Details

The main objectives of the USGS Alaska Science Center loon research program are to: 
                                - Provide ecological and demographic information on Alaska’s three loon species.
                                - Determine mechanisms for population trends, particularly for the Red-throated Loon (declines noted across much of Alaska) and the Yellow-billed Loon (a candidate species for listing as ‘threatened’ from 2009 to 2014).
                                - Provide science information to Department of Interior management agencies and others for their decision-making regarding loons.

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### Brian Uher-Koch

##### Wildlife Biologist

Alaska Science Center

buher-koch@usgs.gov

907-786-7052

### Explore Search

                      - Birds
                      - Fossil Fuels
                      - Habitat Loss
                      - Migratory Birds
                      - Threatened and Endangered Species
                      - Ecosystems
                      - Energy and Wildlife
                      - Threats
                      - Wildlife and Terrestrial Species
                      - Biology
                      - Ecosystems
                      - loons
                      - Yellow-billed loon
                      - Red-throated Loon
                      - Pacific Loon
                      - decision-making
                      - habitat
                      - distribution
                      - abundance
                      - Alaska
                      - fossil fuels
                      - Wildlife & Terrestrial Species
                      - Threatened and Endangered

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link

January 3, 2024

####                 Changing Arctic Ecosystems              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

link

January 3, 2024

####   Changing Arctic Ecosystems

Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

February 15, 2023

####                 Breeding Biology of Loon and Waterfowl Species on the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska during 1973-1975              

Alaska Science Center

February 10, 2023

####                 Gavia Species Identification and Diet Composition from Feces, Central North Slope, Alaska, 2012-2014              

Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

January 28, 2021

####                 Survey Data for Loon Occupancy in Freshwater Lakes, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014              

Alaska Science Center

December 16, 2019

####                 Tracking data for Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii)              

Alaska Science Center

May 1, 2019

####                 Influenza A antibodies in Pacific (Gavia pacifica), Red-throated (G. stellata), and Yellow-billed Loons (G. adamsii) in Alaska, 2008-2017              

Alaska Science Center

April 11, 2019

####                 Pacific (Gavia pacifica), Yellow-billed (G. adamsii), and Red-throated Loon (G. stellata) Nest Monitoring Data; National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, 2011-2014              

Alaska Science Center

December 19, 2018

####                 Serological Data on Influenza A from Birds and Mammals on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Northern Alaska, 2011-2017              

Alaska Science Center

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

July 2, 2015

#### Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.

Alaska Science Center

July 2, 2015

#### Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

link

#### Red-throated Loon swimming near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Red-throated Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River Delta.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

June 18, 2015

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

#### Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake near the Colville River, Alaska

link

A Pacific Loon swimming in a small lake on the Colville River delta.

Alaska Science Center

Pacific Loon take off

June 6, 2015

#### Pacific Loon take off

link

A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

June 6, 2015

#### Pacific Loon take off

link

#### Pacific Loon take off

link

A Pacific Loon taking off from a small lake near the Colville River Delta in northern Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

August 12, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

link

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

August 12, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

link

#### Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska

link

Yellow-billed Loon on a lake in the northern area of Alaska.

Alaska Science Center

Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

June 7, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

link

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

Alaska Science Center

June 7, 2013

#### Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

link

#### Yellow-billed Loon swimming on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

link

A Yellow-billed Loon swimming in a small lake on the Arctic Coastal Plain.

Alaska Science Center

Below are publications associated with this project.

February 8, 2023

####                 eDNA Metabarcoding Analyses of Diet in Yellow-Billed Loons of Northern Alaska              

Alaska Science Center

April 15, 2021

####                 Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) use of nearshore marine habitats—Results from a 2019 pilot study in northern Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

February 20, 2020

####                 Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center

August 21, 2019

####                 The Yellow-billed Loon              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

June 1, 2019

####                 Spatio-temporal population change of Arctic-breeding waterbirds on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

March 29, 2019

####                 Serologic evidence for influenza A virus exposure in three loon species (Gavia spp.) breeding in Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

July 1, 2018

####                 Comparative nest survival of three sympatric loon species breeding in the Arctic              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 10, 2018

####                 International migration patterns of Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) from four breeding populations in Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center

November 1, 2016

####                 A suspended dive-net technique for catching territorial divers              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

April 11, 2015

####                 Diet of yellow-billed loons (*Gavia adamsii*) in Arctic lakes during the nesting season inferred from fatty acid analysis              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

February 1, 2015

####                 Nest visits and capture events affect breeding success of Yellow-billed and Pacific loons              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 1, 2015

####                 Fast and efficient: postnatal growth and energy expenditure in an Arctic-breeding waterbird, the Red-throated Loon (*Gavia stellata*)              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

July 31, 2023

####                 Tagged Animal Movement (TAME)              

The Tagged Animal Movement Explorer (TAME) is an interactive data visualization tool for exploring spatial and temporal patterns of animal movements.

Alaska Science Center