Nest Platforms Deployed as Loons Arrive at Lake Vermilion

As soon as the ice turns to open water, male loons arrive to claim their territory. This year, two new floating nest platforms were positioned by lake association volunteers in areas with low boat traffic where natural nest locations were inadequate.

Both platforms were placed close to shore in shallow water and will soon be surrounded by lily pads and emergent vegetation. Common loons generally build nests at the water’s edge, making those nests vulnerable to wave action and changes in water level.

Vermilion Lake Association volunteers have been counting common loons lake-wide for 34 years. In 2016, volunteers documented 262 loons during the annual mid-July count.