Loon Nesting Platforms at Highland Lake

Last spring, a long time resident of Highland Lake approached me and asked “Why don’t we have loon nesting platforms on Highland Lake? “ I had no idea what she was talking about. She invited me to meet Lucas Savoy, Waterfowl Program / Loon Program Director at the Biodiversity Research Institute in Portland. While I certainly was one of those for whom the most exciting treats around Highland Lake is listening to the loons, I knew nothing about the loons nesting habits. I decided that I would open this opportunity to the HLA Board and Tim Hawkins volunteered to further pursue the idea of locating a loon nesting platform (or two) in the South Basin of Highland Lake. We are fortunate to have loons every summer, on Highland Lake; however, it’s not clear that our loons are raising chicks very successfully. Human activity and nest predation can interfere with loon breeding. Scientists have learned that the success of loons nesting with these types of platforms had a 50% higher likelihood of survival of the young. Given that Highland Lake is located near the southern limit of the loons breeding range, global warming may make it even harder for them to successfully raise chicks in the future.

Based on Tim’s recommendation, in April, the HLA Board of Directors decided to set aside the funding necessary to build and install two nesting rafts in the southern part of the lake.