Date: 04/07/1998

Number: 1

The first Seney loon of the season was reported April 7. It was a male loon
banded as a chick in 1987 --so it is 11 years old. It has been returning to
the refuge for a number of years but has never held a breeding territory.
Last year following a nest failure of long-established male this bird took
over E-pool. After a considerable amount of courting with the E-pool female
(which stayed in the territory) and fighting with another unbanded male it
looked like this loon may have established himself. Then, the E-pool female
appeared disinterested and began wandering the refuge and participating in
gatherings with other loons. Now that this "new" male has returned this
season to a new territory it should make for interesting drama.

The male loon that left the territory last year, following a nest failure, had
been on E-pool since at least 1987. We wonder if he will make any effort to
regain this territory after holding it for so long? Will he even return?
Stay tuned

Seney, MI

Latitude: 46.4 Longitude: -86.1

Observed by:
Contact Observer

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