Nest Platforms for Loons in Bush Arm and Staubert Lake
Common Loon (Gavia immer) populations have been facing increasing threats due to habitat loss. This project enhances loon habitat through providing floating nest platforms that will help to increase nest success. Artificial nest platforms are known to improve nesting success in lakes and reservoirs. Three artificial floating nest platforms, one in each of these small lakes: Staubert (Hwy 31), Blackwater (north of Donald, by Kinbasket Lake), and an unnamed lake at the east end of Bush Arm on Kinbasket Lake, will be installed. Monitoring throughout the summer will document growth of plants on the platforms and nesting success of loons. Floating nest platforms are often used within two years of installation, leading to immediate benefits in terms of greater reproductive success and earlier hatch dates than are seen at shore nests. Floating structures also offer resting or nesting places for other wildlife.
Final Report: Executive Summary
Common loon (Gavia immer) populations have likely been impacted in the Columbia region, and across British Columbia, due to reservoir creation and habitat loss. As loons face increasing threats to population stability, enhancing loon habitat through providing floating nest platforms may help compensate for past habitat losses and lead to increased nesting success. The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program’s Small Lakes Action Plan (FWCP 2012) has highlighted the need to create habitat elements for focal wildlife species such as Common Loons. Artificial nest platforms are known to improve nesting success for Loons in lakes and reservoirs. We monitored Common Loon use of lakes and their nesting success, to determine where to install platforms, and then installed three artificial floating nest platforms, one in each of three small natural lakes in the Columbia Mountains. The primary goals were to increase the number of lakes suitable for nesting (e.g. where poor nest sites might be limiting usage) and to increase safe nesting options at lakes where nesting success may have been poor.
Click the provincial database link below to read the full final report for this project.