LE Online-March 2011

LOON ECHOES Newsletter of the Michigan Loon Preservation Association

Special Membership Issue March 2011

“Little Family: Very First Day” by Lesley Lewis, Loon Ranger

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A Good Year! On January 1 of this year, MLPA celebrated its first year of fledging from underneath the

financial wing of Michigan Audubon Society. And what a good year it has been as we have taken flight on our own! The past months have only served to underscore that

which we already knew: what great people we have in our organization; and to realize that their dedication and devotion to the loons, even when times get rough, cannot be

equaled. It is something worth our happiest tremolos and a few little hoots as well, so we will! Thank You! Thank You! to all our wonderful members!

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A Legacy of Loon Protection By Joanne C. Williams

Since Michigan Loonwatch was formed twenty-five years ago at the behest of The MI DNR for the purpose of evaluating the status of Michigan’s loons, developing a

plan for their protection (The Michigan Loon Recovery Plan) and then implementing that plan and continuing to carry it out, much has been accomplished. It has been the ongoing support of our membership over the years that has made this possible. Over the years, many research projects have been undertaken by MLPA-MLW, and many funded wholly or partly by our organization and its members. In the early days, small grants were at times awarded to students studying loons at universities in Michigan and in other states as well. Today, we continue to work with universities, as well as other agencies and loon groups, helping to provide information as well as personnel in the field who are direct observers of loon activity. Our field research has encompassed many facets of loon activity and assessment of their needs in order for them to be successful. In addition to direct intervention to address a threat when necessary, this is also a part of loon protection as we continue to promote and encourage non-invasive and non-aggressive observation and study methods, and to observe the birds in their natural state and habitat. We strive to understand what the loons need in order to be successful in nesting as well as in raising their young. With the help and support of our MLPA membership, here are some of the research projects that are part of the legacy of our organization and its members: Artificial Nest Island Study: Funded partly by the MI DNR, resulting in adoption of the improved ANI design by our Area Coordinator, Jeff Lange. We have seen a 96% success rate with these islands and design. Jet-Ski Study: Commissioned by the Michigan State Legislature, and resulted in helping the writing and enactment of state laws regarding PWC regulation and use on our lakes. Loon Entrapment Study: MLPA grant to Northern MI University graduate student, Joe Christensen, resulting in improved design for fishing nets, with large window at top to reduce the number of loons entrapped. MLPA has worked with commercial fisherman and some tribal fisherman to implement these designs and they have helped reduce the number of loons lost in this way. We also have a brochure that we provide to commercial and tribal fishing to address this issue. Common Loon Nesting Success Study: MI DNR funded. Resulted in compiling threats to loon nesting success and how to better focus our efforts in ways to help them be successful. This study helped improve protection efforts and educational outreach for these problems and targeted protection efforts. Boater Education Study: MI DNR funded. Also included development of our brochure on Michigan’s loons and responsible watercraft use, and ongoing work to help educate boaters about loons and their needs in regard to watercraft use and conservation on the lakes. This brochure is distributed widely by MI DNR offices, as well as by Loon Rangers and others, and has been a great help in boater awareness of loons and their needs.

Government and Civil Cooperative Efforts: MLPA-MLW works extensively with state and federal agencies for loon protection. This includes MI DNR, MIDEQ, USFS, USFWS, state and local law enforcement offices and officers; conservation officers, townships and lake associations. We are also involved yearly in court cases involving lake use issues impacting loons, water levels and development on the lakes where loon nesting may be impacted. Loons and Lead: We also have done extensive studies on the lead situation, and have implemented educational efforts in Michigan, and we are working with other states and with Canada to address the issue. We sponsored a weekend lead symposium to bring together officials from Michigan, as well national and international, and took away a plan to work together on this issue. Since then several other states have enacted bans on the sale of lead fishing tackle. MLPA has been working on this issue for over twenty years, and we haven't stopped. We continue to provide educational efforts, including distribution of our brochure on the subject. All these are only some of the research that MLPA-MLW has done, and that continues to impact our efforts for the loons and their protection. As can be seen, our work over the years has helped us to learn about and then to implement what is needed for loon protection and success. It continues today, an ongoing legacy for our organization and for Michigan, and for the dedicated membership that enables our work to continue. We thank you all!

************************************** Waiting at the Doorway of Spring

We eagerly await the return of the birds to our northern lakes, and listen for that first

haunting voice that tells us that our loons are home again, on territory, and that soon we will see their beautiful mating dance as they reaffirm their pair bonding. Then, before long, we will share the joy of the new little loon family. This is what we wait for each

year, as the circle of life is once again renewed, and with it our own hopes for the future.

“Joy of a Summer Day” by Kristy Morris

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Dear Auntie Arloon, I am amazed at the pattern of the feathers on loons. Not to take away from their beauty, is there a scientific reason that allows these feathers to help loons survive in their habitat? Barb Rachis Dear Barb, You are right, there is more to loon feathers than just beauty. The black and white pattern, although striking in its contrast, allows the bird to blend into the sparkle of rippling waters. Also, many water birds are dark on the black and white underneath which disguises them from underwater predators. I visited Journey North - www.journeynorth.com – a fantastic site about all things boreal and found this about loon feathers:

Who Needs Wet Suits With Feathers Like These?

Two Types of Feather

A loon's body feathers are two main types: contour feathers and down feathers. Down feathers are soft, fluffy gray feathers that insulate a loon's body to hold its heat inside like the stuffing in a human's down jacket. However, down quickly gets soaked and mats together when wet. So not only do loons have to keep their skin dry, but also keep all of their down feathers dry. They can do this thanks to their outer contour feathers. These feathers cover every millimeter of down and skin, working like a diver's dry suit. Contour feathers take their name from the fact that they give loon bodies their shape, or contour. Loon contour feathers are beautifully patterned black and white. The white parts of the neck feathers are longer than the black, giving a loon's neck the texture of exquisite velvet corduroy. Contour feathers are designed to keep the body dry. Water molecules are attracted to other water molecules, and that's why water forms droplets rather than sheeting away on most surfaces.

Dear Auntie Arloon

Contour feathers are so tightly fitted together that drops of water can't squeeze between. To help even more, loons have an oil gland on the base of their tail, when they squeeze it or rub it with their bill, small amounts of oil come out, which they wipe on their outer feathers to make them more waterproof.

How Many Feathers In All? Are you curious about how many feathers a loon has on its body? "Back in 1936 and 1949," says bird expert Laura Erickson, "two ornithologists actually counted every contour feather on several birds. The smallest number was on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, who had 940. The most was on a Tundra Swan, with 25,216. We don't know of anyone who counted all the feathers on a loon, but we'd guess they have somewhere between 18,000 and 20,000.”

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Meet the Seamstress

By Luanne Jaruzel

MLPA is thrilled to have some new, one of a kind and handmade items for sale in the Artful Loon Corner on our website and at our events. The talented woman behind these items is Linda Hollis.

Linda started sewing as a teenager. She said, “Since I was too old to play with dolls when Barbie first came out, I made Barbie clothes for younger kids and even sold a few. I continued learning more about sewing all throughout high school in home economics class, then went to major in home economics in college with the intention of becoming a teacher. However, rather than completing my degree, I fell in love, got married and became a secretary. “ She continued sewing for pleasure throughout her life, making many of her own clothes and home décor. About 12 years ago she took her first quilting class with a couple of friends, and has continued quilting over the years. Her first project was a quilted wall hanging about three feet square learning the techniques for hand quilting and appliqué. She took quilt-of-the-month classes where she would learn a new technique each month on a different block pattern. At Christmastime, she usually gets orders for doll clothes, especially Barbie and American Girl dolls. Recently she began working on items to be sold by the Michigan Loon Preservation Association as a fund-raiser. Most of these items, such as tote bags, pot holders, checkbook holders, hanging dish towels, etc., are machine quilted while the wall hangings are hand quilted by sewing around the print in the fabric panel. She learned of

the loons and the work MLPA does to help them from her niece, and volunteered to help with her sewing. “I enjoy sewing because it is relaxing for me,” says Linda, “and I enjoy the creativity of making something pretty or cute from just ‘pieces’ of material. My friends and family are not surprised to get homemade gifts from me.” Linda plans to keep on sewing as long as her hands and vision hold out because it brings her such pleasure. The MLPA Board is very grateful to Linda for her donation of time and talent to the items she has made for us already. Linda needs more material to make more items for MLPA. The board requests donations of material with loon prints or patterns on them, or non-animal nature prints, whether in panels or a small repeating pattern so she can do this. If you have material, or are willing to donate some, please contact Luanne at 989-871-4819 or [email protected] and she will arrange to get the material to Linda. Thank you!

To view Linda’s work, visit The Artful Loon Corner www.michiganloons.org ******************************************

”July 2010” by Laura Tom, Loon Ranger

Wintering Loons! Letters from Ken Fox, a Loon Ranger spending the winter months in Florida, have reported back to us large gatherings of loons that he has seen while there. In late December, two groups of loons were observed: eighteen offshore from St. Joseph State Park in Florida’s panhandle (Apalachicola/Port St. Joe), on The Gulf of Mexico. Then, just three hours later, another group of more than sixty loons were observed a mile farther north; many diving, and some even sending out a few tremolos. In January, he reported often seeing a lot of loons feeding and preening in the Gulf about 100-200 yards offshore, with no oil in sight and good fishing. In late February, extreme cold and storms moved in and the loons left; only a very few returned afterward. With the bad weather, the fish move farther out, and the loons also move to calmer waters and to where the fishing is better. The birds have no tie to any particular area in the wintering grounds, but move with the weather and the food supply. Some may even have begun a leisurely journey heading back north by that time.

Fly by to see us at these events……

April 15 & 16 MICHIGAN LAKE & STREAMS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls MI

To register for the conference, visit mlswa.org

May 14 & 15 MAS TAWAS BIRDING FESTIVAL E. Tawas MI A great opportunity to see birds and fly with the experts!

May 21 KIRTLAND’S WARBLER FESTIVAL Kirtland Community College, Roscommon MI

Come early to take the warbler tour then visit the MLPA table

August 6 MICHIGAN LOON PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING

Hosted by Ross and RoseAnn Powers, Lake Meauwataka, Boon MI Save the date!!

If you would like to volunteer for any of these events, please contact

Arlene Westhoven [email protected]

Loons remain mostly close to the shoreline/coastal areas, not venturing farther out than a mile or two at the most, and then for only a brief time if so. They stay near where the food supply is, and where it is easy to catch. This is reasonable, and has been well documented over the years, by Dr. Judith McIntyre and others. We would like to hear of other loons seen in their wintering waters. If you have observed them, please let us know at [email protected] or michiganloons.org. Thank you!

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MICHIGAN LOON PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Arlene Westhoven, President Joseph Juno, Vice President

Luanne Jaruzel, Secretary RoseAnn Powers,Treasurer

Vivienne Hubbell Jeff Lange Doris Lidell

Ross Powers Jerry Purdy Joe Rogers

Adriana Tison Flint Tison

Jerry Weinrich Elizabeth Abood-Carroll, Interim President MAS,

Ex Officio State Coordinator MLPA & MLW: Joanne Williams

********************* CONTACTS

Loonwatch: Joanne Williams <[email protected]>

Newsletter: Arlene Westhoven <[email protected]>

Joanne Willliams [email protected]

Membership: Luanne Jaruzel <[email protected]>

If you wish to receive e-mail alerts about loons, please send e-mail address to Luanne <[email protected]

www.michiganloonwatch.blogspot.com

www.michiganloons.org

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Sweet was the hour, when Nature gave Her loveliest treasures birth, And sent these artless choristers To bless the smiling earth.

Cynthia Taggart,“The Happy Birds”

Board News Our MLPA Board of Directors is comprised of members from all over the state. They oversee the activities of our group. New Board members are always welcome as we share our vision for the future of our organization and of the continued protection of Michigan’s loons. We have recently welcomed two new Directors: Adriana and Flint Tison, who also have signed on as Area Coordinators in our Michigan Loonwatch Program and will cover several counties. We are also pleased to welcome Leslie Pattullo, a long time Loon Ranger, as our new Area Coordinator for Ogemaw County. Our organization, both in the governing arm (MLPA) and the field and research arm (MLW) continues to grow, with membership as well as the number of Loon Rangers coming on board increasing steadily. We are grateful for the support and caring that so many have shown for our work and especially for the wonderful loons and their precious habitat here in our Michigan, our own natural treasure.

*************************************** Our Membership

Springtime is our annual membership renewal season and we hope you will

continue to share your support and your love for the loons as we move ahead. Perhaps you may consider giving a gift membership to family and

friends as well. It seems that more and more people with whom we talk are telling us how much they have always liked loons and thrill to their beautiful sounds across the water on a still morning or evening. Truly, this is one of

nature’s most beautiful songs!

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Your MLPA membership helps to protect and preserve Michigan’s beautiful loons!

****** MLPA Membership Form

Please indicate if this is a gift membership and include the giver’s information Mail to: Luanne Jaruzel, MLPA 10181 Sheridan Rd. Millington MI 48746

Yes, I would like to initiate/continue my membership in MI Loon Preservation Association and have indicated my membership category below:

___ $10 Introductory/Individual ___ $15 Family/Student/Senior MLPA Contacts: ___ $20 Supporting Individual Luanne: 989-871-4819 ___ $25 Contributing Joanne: 989-828-6019 ___ $50 Sustaining/ Organization/ Business Arlene: 231-796-6153 ___ $100 Award MI Charitable Trust #: ___ $500 Benefactor/Life MICS1782 ______________________________________________________________________________ Name (or Organization) (Date) ______________________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________ Amount Enclosed ____________ City State Zip

******** Have a Lovely Spring, Everyone!

From Loon Echoes, Michigan Loon Preservation Association and Michigan Loonwatch!