gregory nelson. david guttenfelder loonwatch
TRANSCRIPT
Gregory Nelson
David Guttenfelder
LoonWatch
LoonWatch
Brief history of LoonWatch
Loon Rangers
Annual lake monitoring
Wisconsin loon population survey
Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook
Current Range
Historical Southern Limit
Past and Present Common Loon
BreedingRange in
North America
Distribution of Loons
Breeding in Wisconsin
Distribution of Loons
Breeding in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas project,
1995-1999
ShorelineDevelopment
ShorelineDevelopment
Loss ofHabitatLoss ofHabitat
Water ClarityWater Clarity
Darwin Long
RecreationRecreation
PredatorsPredators
A program of the
Annual Lake MonitoringAnnual Lake Monitoring
Program GoalsProgram Goals
Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook
Document how individual lakes are used by Common Loons
Identify critical loon habitat
Monitor loon reproduction
Engage volunteers in protection of loons and their lake habitats
Increase public awareness through volunteer outreach
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100
200
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800
900
1000
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Lakes Monitored
# of Loon Rangers
Year
Volunteer Participation1978-2003
Volunteer Participation1978-2003
How accurate are volunteer collected data?
How accurate are volunteer collected data?
To answer this question, LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR biologists surveyed the same 81 lakes for loon reproduction outcomes between 1991-1994.
LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:
98% of reports for # territorial pair present
LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:
98% of reports for # territorial pair present
90% of reports for # nest attempts
LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:
98% of reports for # territorial pair present
90% of reports for # nest attempts
85% of reports for # chicks hatched
LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:LoonWatch volunteers and WDNR concurred on:
98% of reports for # territorial pair present
90% of reports for # nest attempts
85% of reports for # chicks hatched
87% of reports for # chicks fledged
ConclusionsConclusions
In the sample of 81 lakes, LoonWatch volunteer surveys produced results comparable to that of trained WDNR biologists surveying each lake 4-6 times annually to document Common Loon productivity.
LoonWatch Annual Lake Monitoring Program provides an efficient, cost effective index of Common Loon productivity in Wisconsin.
(Meyer & Daulton 1995)
Speakers’Bureau
Speakers’Bureau
Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook
Estimating Wisconsin’s Common Loon population:
Estimating Wisconsin’s Common Loon population:
A one-day volunteer survey conducted every five years
Ginger Gumm / Daniel Poleschook
How do we do it?How do we do it?
243 lakes are randomly selected from 27 northern Wisconsin counties
Volunteers are recruited to cover as many lakes as possible
Volunteers survey lakes for loon adults and chicks one day in mid-July between 5 and 10 am
3131
23582420
3017
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
1985 1990 1995 2000
Year of Survey
Nu
mb
er o
f A
du
lt L
oo
ns
Population Estimates of Adult Common Loons in Wisconsin
Population Estimates of Adult Common Loons in Wisconsin
678
462516
608
200
400
600
800
1000
1985 1990 1995 2000
Year of Survey
Nu
mb
er o
f L
oo
n C
hic
ksPopulation Estimates of
Common Loon Chicks in WisconsinPopulation Estimates of
Common Loon Chicks in Wisconsin
Next loon population survey: July 2005Next loon population survey: July 2005
Gregory Nelson
Northern Native Plant Propagation ProjectNorthern Native Plant Propagation Project
Timber Wolf Alliance
Timber Wolf Alliance