Common Loon
In Montana, the loon breeding range is
primarily restricted to low elevation glacial
lakes in the northwest corner of the state.
Successful nesting requires both nesting sites
and nursery areas. Conservation concerns
include: disturbances to loon nesting and
foraging lakes by human activities such
as boating or angling; loss of connectivity
within Montana’s populations as well as
with other western populations; and loss of
nesting habitat due to development, water
level alterations and recreation. Conservation
strategies include: implementing a territorial
ranking system to identify priority nesting
lakes; connecting population demographics
and trend information for breeding sites and
migratory routes; maintaining the suitability
of currently used nesting territories; and
creating site-specifi c management plans.
