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Divers / Loons

Red-throated Diver
Gavia stellata

Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica

Great Northern Diver
Gavia immer

Other species

Pacific Diver
Gavia pacifica

White-billed Diver
Gavia adamsii

Our Love of Loons

Stan Tekiela

2014

"Stunningly beautiful and very unique, loons have captured our hearts. We await their spring return and delight in hearing their calls across our northern lakes. Acclaimed naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela shares his up-close-and-personal images as he recounts the season of the loons, from their arrival to raising their chicks to departing in the fall. Northland dwellers and visitors will treasure this celebration of the amazing loon.

Loons

Susan Vande Griek and Karen Reczuch

2011

" This gorgeously illustrated prose poem follows two baby chicks .... We witness their birth, and how they learn to swim, find food and avoid predators such as snapping turtles and big bass, and the possible danger of boaters. In the fall they imitate their parents as they learn to fly and are eventually large and strong enough to make their own migration to the coast."

Fascinating Loons: Amazing Images & Behaviors

Stan Tekiela

2006

" Stan Tekiela has studied and photographed Common Loons for years and this resulting collection of images and information reveals some surprising observations which he shares in outstanding photos and text."

Wintering Seaducks, Divers and Grebes in the UK Inshore Areas: Aerial Surveys and Shore Based Counts 2004/5

L.J. Wilson, B.J. Dean, A. Webb, C.A. McSorley and J.B. Reid

2006

A 106 page report summarising the results of aerial surveys of wintering aggregations of seaducks, divers and grebes undertaken by the JNCC in December 2004, February 2005 and March 2005. The aim of the surveys was to collect data on the wintering numbers and distribution of inshore waterbirds in areas of the UK known to be important for this group of species.

Loons

Aubrey Lang and Wayne Lynch

2000

"This informative text covers the full range of loon species, from common loons to red-throated loons to the loons of the Arctic and Pacific, with over 120 full color photos."

Voices of the Waters: A Day in the Life of a Loon

Tom Klein

Northwood

1999

A coffee table book with many colour photographs and a narrative that examines a day in the life of the loon.

Loons

Roberth Busch

1999

" Striking photos and illuminating text gives readers the opportunity get close to these birds as they go about their daily routine of swimming, eating, flapping wings and tending their young."

Just Loons: A Wildlife Watchers' Guide

Alan Hutchinson

1998

A detailed study of the life, habits and habitats of loons in North America, covering such topics as mating, territory, offspring, migration, and what their haunting calls may mean. Includes 80 colour photographs by Bill Silliker.

Call of the Loon

Paul Strong

1998

An authoritative book on loons based on personal experience and research..

Loons: Song of the Wild

Editor: Michael Dregni

1996

"This book features essays on loons by such acclaimed naturalists as Sigurd F Olson and John James Audubon, along with contemporary writings, Native American perspectives, folklore, myths, and legends from around the world. More than 60 colour photographs from premier nature photographers capture loons in all their splendour, while engravings and artefacts reflect the bird's appeal in art and culture."

Annotated Bibliography of the Loons, Gaviidae

JW McIntyre and NG Cutler

1995

An annotated bibliography of over 1,650 citations of popular and technical books, journals, reports, and filmed information on loons.

Divers

Roy Dennis

1993

In depth study of the Great Northern Diver, Red throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Pacific Diver and White-billed Diver. Includes many colour photographs.

Breeding Black-Throated Divers in Scotland in 1990 and 1991

GP Mudge, RW Summers and CH Crooke

1992

A 19 page report.

Great Northern Diver: The Loon

Barbara Juster Esbensen

Little, Brown and Company

1990

Introduces the Great Northern Diver in the US covering migrations, plumage, calls, territory, flight, breeding, and feeding patterns. The accompanying watercolours depict the bird in its northern landscape.

The Common Loon: Spirit of Northern Lakes

Judith W. McIntyre

1988

Describes the characteristics and behaviour of the loon, discusses their health, communication, and anatomy, and assesses human impact on the loon ecosystem. Judy McIntyre is one of the world's authorities on loons.

Diving Birds of North America

Paul A. Johnsgard

1987

A comparative study that examines the anatomy, ecology, and behaviour of three groups of diving birds; 4 loons, 6 grebes, and 21 auks, of North America. The species accounts are accompanied by 32 colour plates, 28 maps and other drawings and illustrations. Appendices include identification keys, head profile drawings of all species, lists of major auk colonies in North America, and lists of the status of grebes at major US refuges. An extensive bibliography is also included.

On Wing and Wild Water: New Encounters In A Last Wild Place

Mike Tomkies

1987

".... Mike Tomkies undertook the most punishing yet most rewarding venture of his twenty years in the wilds. Recalling his years as a journalist in the international film world, he decided to buy his own movie camera and record single-handed the secret lives of three of the rarest and most spectacular birds in Britain. He had already discovered forty eyries of the elusive golden eagle in 300 square miles of trackless mountains surrounding his lochside home.

Even more rare among the protected birds over which he kept watch were the black-throated divers that return each year to raise their young in seclusion on an islet in the loch.

The peregrine falcons were more difficult to observe at close quarters; but no amount of patience and perseverance could compare with the tenacious determination it took to embark on the 'killer trek' to the farthest, most precipitous eagle eyrie with 50 lbs of filming equipment and a cumbersome hide on his back." (from the dust jacket)

The Loon: Voice of the Wilderness

Joan Dunning

1985

Describes a typical year in the life of a loon, traces the history of loons, one of the oldest birds on earth, and looks at loon characteristics and behavior.

The Land Of The Loon

George Kirby Yeates

1951

An account of the experiences of a bird-photographer on two visits to Iceland in search of the Great Northern Diver. Includes many black and white photographs.

Haunts of British Divers

Niall Rankin

1947

A study of the breeding places and habits of three British species; the Great Crested Grebe, the Black-throated Diver and the Red-throated Diver. Includes 82 black and white photographs, 11 pen and ink drawings and colour frontispiece by Margaret Myddleton.

Catalogue Of The Plataleae, Herodiones, Steganopodes, Pygopodes, Alcae and Impennes In The Collection Of The British Museum

Plataleae and Herodiones: R. Bowdler Sharpe

Steganopodes, Pygopodes, Alcae, Impennes: W.R. Ogilvie-Grant

Printed By Order Of The Trustees

Sold by: Longman & Co.; B. Quaritch; Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.; and at the British Museum (Natural History)

1898

From the preface:

"The present volume, though not numerically the last, has been, owing to various delays in its production, the last to appear. Its publication completes the series, as originally projected by Dr. Gunther more than twenty-five years ago. The whole work consists of twenty-seven volumes, and it may fairly claim to be one of the most important aids to the study of Systematic Ornithology which has ever been produced. The first volume appeared in June 1874. The others have followed at intervals averaging rather less than a year. The publication of the work has therefore been very nearly coincident with Dr. Gunther's administration of the Zoological Department of the Museum. It is to him that the general arrangement and supervision of the work is due, although each contributor has been allowed a considerable latitude in following his own views as to the details of classification and nomenclature."