Pacific Loon
A species of Loons Scientific name : Gavia pacifica Genus : Loons
Pacific Loon, A species of Loons
Botanical name: Gavia pacifica
Genus: Loons
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Description People often ask General Info
Description
Breeding adults are like a smaller sleeker version of common loon. They measure 58–74 cm (23–29 in) in length, 110–128 cm (43–50 in) in wingspan and weigh 1–2.5 kg (2.2–5.5 lb). They have a grey head, black throat, white underparts and chequered black-and-white mantle. The black throat has purple reflections. Non-breeding plumage is drabber with the chin and foreneck white. Its bill is grey or whitish and dagger-shaped. In all plumages, lack of a white flank patch distinguishes this species from the otherwise very similar black-throated loon. The Pacific loon can be differentiated from the red-throated loon in winter by the latter's paler look, the fact that the red-throated loon has less of a contrast between both the crown and hindneck and the throat, and the bill that looks to be upturned. Like other gaviiformes, the Pacific loon's legs are located towards the back of its body making it difficult for it to walk on land. The leg placement helps the loons efficiently forage for food underwater. The physiological structure of the Pacific loon makes taking off from land practically impossible, and the loon requires 30-50 yards on the water to successfully attain flight. This distance requirement for takeoff limits the number of lakes the Pacific loon can realistically breed and forage on. 
Size
61-71 cm (24-28 in)
Colors
Black
Gray
White
Purple
Life Expectancy
28 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Clutch Size
1 - 2 eggs
Incubation Period
1 brood
Number of Broods
23 - 28 days
Feeding Habits
Pacific Loon's diet primarily comprises small fish and, seasonally, snails, mollusks, insect larvae, and zooplankton. Their feeding style involves underwater hunting in groups, often with mixed-species flocks. They dive after visually spotting prey and may use sediment stirring or 'bait ball' techniques to access or concentrate prey. Pacific Loon ingest pebbles for digestion, and during breeding, they diversify their diet with aquatic invertebrates and occasionally seeds and plant fibers.
Habitat
Pacific Loon are typically found in tundra and taiga regions, favoring the freshwater lakes of northern Canada and eastern Siberia for breeding. They prefer large ponds, which are necessary for adequate takeoff space, surrounded by vegetated edges featuring species like pendant grass and water sedge. The specific environmental conditions they thrive in are flat lowlands and occasionally foothills. During winter, pacific Loon inhabit nearshore ocean waters with sandy bottoms along the Pacific coast of North America, congregating in areas rich in prey such as channels and estuaries.
Nest Behavior
Both sexes of pacific Loon select the site and build the nest together, which takes a few hours to two days. Egg-laying and parental care details are unspecified but imply shared responsibilities.
Nest Characteristics
Pacific Loon's nest is typically located on lakeshores or islands, made from mud and dead aquatic vegetation. Nests are oval-shaped, about 15-20 inches for mound constructions, or a 9 inch wide and 1 inch deep bowl for ground nests. Some nests may float.
Dite type
Piscivorous
People often ask
General Info
Behavior
Pacific Loon predominantly devote their day to foraging, resting, and flight. They require substantial open water 'runways' to achieve takeoff, lacking agility on calm surfaces. Expert swimmers and divers, pacific Loon employ their feet for adept maneuvering while keeping their wings shut. Holding steadfast to breeding territories, males stake claims on nesting lakes, defending rigorously. Territorial disputes may lead to vociferous and physical confrontations. Incubation and chick care are cooperative efforts between mates. Breeding season prompts both solitary and communal display behaviors, with synchronized motions and calls. Migration witnesses pacific Loon forming extensive, yet dispersed groups, though they also forage solitarily or in pairs.
Species Status
The Pacific loon population is currently increasing and is spread over a wide range of approximately 15,700,000 square kilometers. Current efforts of conservation are focused around loon population monitoring and maintaining accurate counts of populations and breeding behaviors. A recent in depth study of the Pacific loon population in the Western Alaskan Arctic found that the population of the birds there is actually ~1.5-2.0 times larger than previous aerial surveillance had indicated. The study indicated potential encroachment upon the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA), one of the Pacific loons primary breeding grounds, by natural gas and oil companies as a potential threat to Pacific loons. One harmful environmental pollutant to the Pacific loon population is heavy metals like mercury, which can be observed in their habitat as a result of legacy mining in the areas the loons migrate through and hunt in. It has been shown that elevated levels of mercury in the environment poses a significant health risk to avian piscivores like the Pacific loon. Mercury is up-taken by small fish which is a primary source of food in a loon's diet. When a loon eats the fish it will incorporate the mercury from the fish into its body, which can cause adverse health effects. Additionally, it has been shown that nest visits from researchers and capture events can have a significant impact on the survival rates within Pacific loon nests. When investigators capture Pacific loons while they are breeding or incubating eggs regardless of how close they are to the nest at the time of capture, the survival rates of the eggs decrease. This is most likely due to the fact that Pacific loons nest in a traditionally remote part of Western Alaska and are not typically accustomed to human interaction of any form. The lowered survival rate of the loon's offspring when a parent is captured or the nest is visited indicates that the population could face severe consequences from encroaching human contact. Reports also exist of Pacific loons ingesting polluted plastic, a problem that is becoming an increasingly high concern among avians in Canada and across the globe. Luckily, the diving foraging behavior of loons keeps them at a relatively low risk of death from overconsumption of plastic, as most of the polluted debris exists floating on the surface of the water rather than in the depths.
