by Bob Moe, Co-chair, Loon Committee

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: All the loon platforms are in place. Three of the platforms are being used as nesting sites by loon pairs: one on either side of the causeway, and the one in Flower Pot Bay. As far as I can tell, the others, located in Kenfield Bay, Long Bay, and the Boy River outlet area, are not being used. One additional loon pair is nesting in the Long Bay/Boy River area but it is not clear precisely where the nest is. Last year we had six nesting pairs, so the count is down some, but we may just not have located all the nesting birds.

MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER LOON WATCH: This organization collects loon statistics from all over the State of Minnesota. Kim Moe reports our counts. They have announced the results from 2002, including the following information:

Four counties with the highest loon chick counts:

Cass County Lakes with the highest loon chick counts: