Courtesy of Mark Wilson
Loon Nesting Signs and Float Lines
A well-hidden loon nest is often safe from detection and disturbance; however, in cases where nests are threatened because of their visibility or proximity to shoreline developments or water traffic, LPC staff and volunteers may place signs and float lines around nesting loons. These measures help to give loons the space they need to incubate their eggs without being disturbed by humans. Once chicks have hatched, LPC will often float “Caution: Loon Chicks” signs in chick nursery areas to indicate that boats should slow down.
While loon nesting signs protect loon nests in highly trafficked areas, they may do more harm than good if they are placed near a well-hidden nest. In such cases, the presence of a sign may attract the attention of curious lake goers and make the area more prone to human intrusion. To ensure this does not happen, LPC works closely with volunteers on our lakes to assess whether or not the placement of a sign is likely to help the loon nest succeed.
