Date: 04/25/1997

Number: 1

DEAR LOON WATCHERS, I AM THE "LOON LADY" FOR MONTANA. I HAVE BEEN HELPING TO MANAGE THIS SPECIES SINCE 1985. MOST OF THE "LOON LAKES" WHICH I WORK ON ARE STILL FROZEN. THEY ARE IN THE SWAN VALLEY WHICH IS EAST OF HERE ABOUT 100 MILES. HOWEVER, 1 LAKE CALLED SALMON IS ABOUT 75% ICE-FREE. THE PAIR OF LOONS WHICH NEST THERE ARRIVED BY APRIL 26. THIS IS ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATE FOR THESE BIRDS. HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL ALOT OF SNOW PRESENT ALSO. ON SATURDAY, I SURVEYED 2 RESERVOIRS AND 2 LAKES WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE BIRDS. WE FOUND 3 LOONS ON KICKING HORSE RESERVOIR AND ABOUT 14 LOONS ON PABLO RESERVOIR. THESE ARE PROBABLY BIRDS WHICH ARE MIGRATING THROUGH. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS PAIRS. ON LAKE MARY RONAN, 1 BIRD WAS SEEN AND THE LAKE IS ABOUT 40% ICE FREE. RAINBOW LAKE WAS TOTALLY ICE FREE AND ALSO HAD 1 LOON. THEY'RE BACK!!!

Polson, MT

Latitude: 47.7 Longitude: -114.3

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