Loon Nesting Updates
July 1: Our loon nesting season is almost a wrap. One new baby this week with the sibling expected any day. That's 32 chicks this year. We only have 2 nests out and 3 cameras. We'll send one final update for the year.
We can't thank you enough for your support! The camera subscription is nearly $500 a month during peak months. If interested you can now easily make contributions on our new association website - bigmantraplake.org.
One final word of caution. We are approaching the busiest weekend of the year on the lake. Please watch out for the loons and advise your guests to do the same. Babies can't dive and parents often won't to protect them. Being struck by watercraft is the #1 way they perish. Thank you!
June 25: Our loon nesting program is almost done for 2026. Our 40 eggs have produced 31 chicks. There are 4 eggs left with 2 probably infertile. The Loon volunteers did a survey June 22 and counted 66 adults and 16 chicks on the lake. Minnesota DNR and USGS had a film crew on the lake June 24 documenting what we do.
Please watch for loons as you are out boating and remember to give loon families plenty of room. Loon chicks can’t dive to get out of the way of boats. With Fourth of July approaching, lake activities will pick up. Remind guests to watch for our loons
June 18: Twenty-seven loon chicks have hatched from 40 eggs on Big Mantrap Lake as of June 18. Last year we had 45 eggs but 6 were from renesting after predation. We've lost 5 chicks so far. The loons are sitting on 8 more eggs. The loon volunteers began pulling rafts off the lake this week.
June 10: There are baby chicks everywhere! Last week there were 8. This week 26 and more to come. There have been 40 eggs laid this year. We found one dead chick on the Hoist Bay raft and video showed it was actually killed by the sibling. Unusual but part of nature. On the same nest we found a lure stuck to the top of the canopy and 25 yards of line dangling outside the nest. What is wrong with people! Unfortunately the camera was facing the other way. The great news is that not one egg has been lost to predators.
May 28: Your weekly loon update has us at 37 eggs. Two first-time raft users in the River and Steamboat Bay. They look like they're ready for their first egg in Porcupine Bay and Upper Deadhead. Our first egg was laid in Heron Bay on May 6. It takes 28 days on average for incubation so we might get our first chick in the next week.
May 12: We currently have 32 eggs laid on 17 nests — 5 natural and 12 rafts. We have hopes for more nests in Porcupine, the River, Upper Deadhead and Steamboat Bay. The otters are everywhere. They have not disturbed a nest so far. And no predation! We hate to say it because it will happen.
The east side loon survey crew - Arlis McGinnis, Bill Mills, Cindy Condiff, Kate Pierson and captain Tish Laske. (Not pictured, Mark Condiff.)