Since 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has partnered with the National Park Service to conduct surveys for yellow-billed loons in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument located in the northwest Arctic of Alaska. Yellow-billed loons are a species of conservation concern due to their small global population and habitat limitations, and are considered indicators of water quality and health of freshwater and marine environments.  Because yellow-billed loons are long-lived with a propensity to return to the same breeding sites each year, they are ideal candidates for long-term monitoring to determine trends in occupancy, density, distribution, and types and levels of contaminants burdens.  Though these surveys are designed for and focused on detecting yellow-billed loons, we collect data on all species of loons observed. To learn more about the different components of this collaborative survey and research effort, please visit the National Park Service website or watch these informative videos about our work.

Black and white bird and yellow bill sitting on a nest surrounded by water
Image Details
A yellow-billed loon sits on a nest in the Arctic of Alaska.

Contact Information

Species

Black and white bird and yellow bill on the water

The yellow-billed loon is a migratory bird. Solitary pairs breed on lakes in the arctic tundra of the United States, Russia, and Canada from June to September. During the remainder of the year the species winters in more southern coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Norway and North Seas...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species

Programs

A large bird with brown feathers, white head, and yellow beak flies against a pale blue sky
The Migratory Bird Program works with partners to protect, restore and conserve bird populations and their habitats for the benefit of future generations by: ensuring long-term ecological sustainability of all migratory bird populations, increasing socioeconomic benefits derived from birds,...
Program
Washington,DC

Facilities

Black and white bird with long neck and yellow bill on the water
Alaska Migratory Birds Office
Alaska is home to more than 470 species of birds. Most are migratory birds for which the Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible under international treaties and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. While some of the birds stay in Alaska year-round, most migrate to Canada, Central America, South America...
Conservation Office
Anchorage,AK

Partners