If you’ve spent a summer morning near a Wisconsin lake, you might have heard it – the call of the common loon. It’s a haunting, remarkable Wisconsin sound, and it’s a call some Wisconsinites work to perfect themselves – can they pull it off? Find out how you can be the judge below. Here’s what you need to know about this beloved Wisconsin bird and the people who do their best to speak its loony language.

Wisconsin boasts a significant population of loons, particularly in the northern region that's home to numerous lakes and wetlands.
Facebook / Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce
These iconic birds are a familiar sight and sound in the state's Northwoods during the spring and summer months.
Facebook / Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce
During the breeding season, which typically spans from late April to early September, Common Loons establish territories on freshwater lakes and ponds throughout northern Wisconsin. They are particularly abundant in areas with large, clear-water lakes that provide suitable nesting habitat and abundant fish populations for feeding.
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Common loons are known to return to the same breeding territories year after year, sometimes forming long-term bonds with their mates and raising their young in the same area. They are prevalent around the Iron County community of Mercer, which refers to itself as the "Loon Capital of the World.”
Facebook / Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce
Mercer is home to a large Loon statue called Claire d' Loon. It’s the third-largest loon in the world. It weighs over 2,000 pounds and is over 16 feet tall.
Facebook / Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce
The community holds an annual festival called “Loon Day.” It takes place on a designated day in mid to late August, coinciding with the peak of summer in northern Wisconsin.
Facebook / Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce
One of the highlights of Loon Day is the annual Loon Calling Contest, where participants of all ages gather to showcase their best loon calls. Some of the callers might need a little more practice, but the best would make any Wisconsin loon proud!
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Loons are incredible birds and one of the things that make summers in Wisconsin unforgettable. Is there anything better than hearing this distinctive Wisconsin sound echo across a still lake? The Wisconsin loon population does face some serious threats; you can learn more about how you can help protect these special birds on the Loon Project website. Make your Wisconsin travel plans up to Wisconsin’s loon country on Booking.com; and here’s where to find even more things that make Wisconsin one of a kind.

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Mercer, WI 54547, USA