Birds of a Feather: Gaviidae – Loons
There are around 10,000 bird species on this planet, and this series will introduce you to some of the families that make up the class of birds known as Aves. We will review each family’s evolutionary history, distribution, natural history, fun facts, and look at conservation concerns for the family as a whole. This series is intended for birders who are looking for a deeper understanding of avian taxonomy and biology. This class is part of a series (more classes soon!). Each class is standalone and must be purchased separately.
Birds of a Feather: Gaviidae – Loons Discover the beauty and natural history of the Great Divers! There are only five species in the family Gaviidae: Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Arctic Loon, and Yellow-billed Loon. We are lucky in the Pacific Northwest that we can see four out of these five species!
We will discuss the latest theories on how loons fit into the avian evolutionary tree. Then we will examine their ranges, breeding behavior, foraging habits, and other general characteristics of Gaviidae. We will look closely at how they evolved to be such excellent swimmers and more specifically at the many vocalizations of the Common Loon. Erin will share some of her videos from her work on a Common Loon research team in Wisconsin and on Red-throated Loons in Alaska.
