R. Field et al., NESTING ACTIVITY OF YELLOW-BILLED LOONS ON THE COLVILLE RIVER DELTA, ALASKA, AFTER THE EXXON-VALDEZ OIL-SPILL, The Wilson bulletin, 105(2), 1993, pp. 325-332
During the summer after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William S
ound in March 1989, we surveyed Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii) on
lakes in the Colville River delta in northern Alaska. A study in 1983
-1984 documenting nesting activity in the same area provided a baselin
e for comparisons of possible effects of the spill on nesting activity
. Density of adult loons in 1989 was similar to densities in 1983-1984
. We located 26 pairs of Yellow-billed Loons in 29 nesting territories
. However, only 42% of the loon pairs nested in 1989, compared to 76%
nesting pairs in 1983 and 79% in 1984.