Why Canada’s common loon is in danger

The most alarming thing is the extent of this decline. We're seeing productivity declining by a total of 40% on average over the course of several decades in practically all of the regions that we've studied. I consider the results that they are presenting here as being alarming. Over just a 30-year period or so, they're citing declines in productivity of 74% across the range, which is shocking. And in the prairie provinces, a decline in productivity of about 65%, which is frankly still also a concern, even though the number is pouring across the whole range. We know there are some threats that are related to loons, such as human development and the development of shorelines. The environmental contaminants from climate change is another threat that we're experiencing as climate change influences weather patterns. The rain, which is acidic, it makes the lakes more acidic and thus reducing the amount of fish that are available for those loons. The thing with the climate change threats is we suspect that some of those threats are widespread. When it rains more, it contributes to more runoff and more turbidity in the water, which makes it harder to see for the loons. And therefore, it makes it harder for them to hunt. So it's this domino effect of climate change, basically down to water clarity. And that's something we're currently testing now to see if that's occurring across the entire continent. The everyday person can take several actions to help steward loons in the lakes that they rely on. Boaters can reduce wakes and keep distance from common loons and shorelines. Anglers should not use lead tackle. It's one of the primary causes of mortality in adult loons. And property owners can reduce shoreline erosion when possible, refrain from building structures near nesting common loons. So there's lots of ways that people can kind of take care of the lake for the loons.