Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Loons spend the spring and summer fiercely protecting their chicks and their territories on lakes. But in late fall, their behavior shifts, and loons start to become social birds.
Tracy Hart, a conservation biologist with Maine Audubon (@maineaudubon), says in late summer and early fall loons start to join rafting groups, or groups of loons gathering together. Even loons like a good party! :sparkles:
“They are socializing,” says Hart. “You'll see them right around each other. They'll be diving sometimes together. They'll be feeding together, and they just stay close to each other. You don't see them doing those kind of aggressive splash dives. And it's all just calm.”
Hart says she’s not exactly sure what causes this brain switch in loons. Soon after, they begin their annual migration to the ocean, which is also when they change their look. Their distinctive black and white plumage turns a dull grey brown and their striking red eyes also switch to a muted brown color.
:microphone: Hosted by Peter McGuire • @mainepublic
:clapper: Produced by Tulley Hescock • @mainepublic
:clapper: Edited by Raquel C. Zaldívar • @raqzal @ournewengland
:video_camera: Additional visuals from Rebecca Conley • @mainepublic; Jesse Costa • @WBUR; Elena Eberwein • @NHPublicRadio; BlackBoxGuild; John Rockwood; and Debra Labbe & Bruce Small • @maineaudubon
Loons spend the spring and summer fiercely protecting their chicks and their territories on lakes. But in late fall, their behavior shifts, and loons start to become social birds.
Tracy Hart, a conservation biologist with Maine Audubon (@maineaudubon), says in late summer and early fall loons start to join rafting groups, or groups of loons gathering together. Even loons like a good party! :sparkles:
“They are socializing,” says Hart. “You'll see them right around each other. They'll be diving sometimes together. They'll be feeding together, and they just stay close to each other. You don't see them doing those kind of aggressive splash dives. And it's all just calm.”
Hart says she’s not exactly sure what causes this brain switch in loons. Soon after, they begin their annual migration to the ocean, which is also when they change their look. Their distinctive black and white plumage turns a dull grey brown and their striking red eyes also switch to a muted brown color.
:microphone: Hosted by Peter McGuire • @mainepublic
:clapper: Produced by Tulley Hescock • @mainepublic
:clapper: Edited by Raquel C. Zaldívar • @raqzal @ournewengland
:video_camera: Additional visuals from Rebecca Conley • @mainepublic; Jesse Costa • @WBUR; Elena Eberwein • @NHPublicRadio; BlackBoxGuild; John Rockwood; and Debra Labbe & Bruce Small • @maineaudubon
