Pacific Loon

Dma3@aol.com
Wed, 3 Jun 1998 20:04:38 EDT 

Some questions were raised about the loon's origin and behavior.

     First, it is not that far out of range. The nearest breeding grounds are
on the west shore of James Bay, Ontario, less than 1200 miles away. At 60 mph,
a migrating loon can cover that distance in 20 hours. (Flight speed of 80mph
reported in HOW BIRDS FLY, by John K. Terres.) Pacific Loons also breed
eastwards to the southeast tip of Baffin Island, which at 65 degrees west
longitude, is well east of Washington DC. So while a Pacific Loon anywhere on
the east coast is a spectacular rarity, especially one in alternate plumage,
it is not that far from home.
 
     It is thought that the vast majority of Pacific Loons breeding in Canada
fly west around Alaska, and then south, to winter in the Pacific. At least a
few apparently winter on the east coast of North America, where a few are
reported every year. There are accepted records from at least ME, NH, MA, RI,
NY, NJ, as well as FL, AL, and MS, on the Gulf Coast. Some pertinent records
from BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS, by Veit and Petersen, include: 24 APR 1969,
alternate plumage, 4 MAY 1961, prealternate molt, 20 MAY 1976, alternate
plumage. From BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE, by John Bull: 29 APR 1893, specimen in
alternate plumage, and 30 MAR 1941, 26  APR 1959,  and 5 MAY 1963, all in
alternate plumage.

     Second, the "friendly" behavior is frequently exhibited by some
individual loons. Over the last twenty years I have seen many Common Loons go
through the same routine in Washington Channel. They watch you, and if you are
not too animated, slowly drift closer. They start diving and feeding,
surfacing closer each time. Eventually they are coming up right at your feet,
although usually behind whatever direction you face. If you turn around while
they are under they will still try to come up behind you. I think that they
can see you as they near the surface. Both Common and Red-throated Loons
routinely do this at the Ocean City jetty, but the  tides usually carry them
away after a few dives, so the behavior is less noticeable. While the fishing
along the wall may be the chief attraction, I think it goes beyond simple
habituation. Some individuals are just plain curious about people. (Maybe this
applies only to non-breeders. The Black-throated Divers, G. a. arctica, that
we saw on Scottish lochs, were very wary and would not approach within a few
hundred yards.) A. .C. Bent mentions hunters using the loons' curiosity to
lure them within gun range. The hunters would hide and wave flags, or flash
mirrors, to bring the loons in.

     The lingering into summer is also not odd. There is a Common Loon in full
breeding off my yard right now. Most lingerers are one-year olds, in drab
plumage, however.

      There was not more discussion about Arctic Loon because, once you see
this bird, there is no doubt about it being a Pacific Loon. The ID points were
covered in the article by Birch and Lee, in BIRDING, April 1997, and were also
gone over a few days ago by Dave Abbott on Fontiers of Bird ID. The DC bird,
despite being a bit messy about the head, fits Pacific Loon, G. pacifica,
perfectly, down to the black strap across the vent. Black-throated Divers from
Europe, and Arctic Loons, G. a. viridigularis, from northern Alaska and
Siberia, both show a very high and prominent white flank patch. 

     Several authors mention that the few specimens and photos from the east
coast of North America are all Pacific Loons. None are Arctics. (There is a MA
sight record is that might be of an Arctic Loon.) The comments in National
Geographic guide about east coast birds possibly being Arctics are misleading.
Arctic Loon MAY occur here, but has never been proven to do so. Pacific Loon
is definitely MORE LIKLEY to turn up in the east.
   
Thanks again to Rob Hilton for finding this bird!

Dave Czaplak
Germantown MD
dma3@aol.com