UPDATE! 

Katie and Gary Johnson worked with Jeff in 2019 to learn the "Loon Trade" and are managing the platforms in 2020.

Putting out the Platforms and Checking the Nests

by Jeff Zernov

In the next 5 years, Jeff and Paulette would like to transition out of our current loon nesting project and teach others how to continue the effort.  Over the transition period we will work with and train others on our learned process which has proven to be one of the most successful in the State.  A couple items to consider should you want to get involved.
  1. Placing the nests early in the season is critical. We always set the nest the first weekend after ice out.  The loons will be back in the area before ice out and you will hear them fly over the nesting areas every day looking to see if the lake is open.  Often times they will land in their nesting bay even when the lake is froze.  The male returns first and stakes out the nesting territory ahead of the female.  This may include fighting off young males who try to take over a bay. If the nests are not set early, the returns pairs may move on looking for a new area.  Returning pairs can use the same nest for over 10-years.  The nests need to be vegetated before they are placed.  We usually buy a couple bales of hay and hand stuff the screen.   4 people can vegetate and place the 7 nests in about 5-hours. (You can look at the ice-out records to get a feel for timing of placing the nests).
  2. Checking the nests on a near-daily basis for the first couple weeks is essential to discourage muskrats and otters from taking over the nests as feeder houses.  This season we set nests on Saturday April 8 and then Sunday morning I flew to China for a 2-week trip.  When I got home 5 of our 7 nests we being used by Muskrats.  I’ve been cleaning the nests each day trying to discourage the rats and let the loons start nesting.  Once the loons are sitting they will be able to drive the rats away.
  3. Eggs are usually laid the first week of May and chicks hatch 25-days later.  Once the chicks are hatched they are in the water within 24-hours.  The loons and chicks never return to the nest.  We usually remove the nesting platforms a couple weeks after hatch.
  4. We currently have 7 active nest platforms.  They can last a long time but do require regular maintenance.  We usually end up making a new platform every year and they cost about $200 in materials.
If you are interested in taking over the loon nesting project, just stop by the Zernov’s this summer and we can open a conversation.