What are Loons and Grebes?
Loons and grebes are waterbirds that breed on freshwater lakes and ponds during the summer and spend the rest of the year on coastal marine waters. They are medium-to-large sized birds that dive underwater to feed primarily on fish but some species also eat invertebrates such as dragonfly larvae. Their legs are positioned far back on the body making these birds strong swimmers but awkward on land. They come to land only to nest, often on the shore of the same lake year after year. Who are Alaska’s Loons and Grebes? Unlike anywhere else in North America, all of the five species of loons; Red-throated, Arctic, Pacific, Common, and Yellow-billed loons, nest in Alaska. Red-necked and Horned grebes breed over a wide portion of the state. Recent information suggests that populations of many of these species are showing warning signs in parts of their range. The Yellow-billed Loon is particularly vulnerable to disturbance due to it’s extremely small population size and limited breeding range.
