Date: 12/7/25 5:49 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: LAKE NO LOONS (BEAVER) LIVES UP TO ITS REP … BUT OTHERWISE GENEROUS
Beaver Lake in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas City supports a modest Common Loon presence during migrations of spring and fall, but no so much … at mid-winter. Less than 100 miles away, but also in the Ozarks, Tenkiller Lake in northeast Oklahoma supports a robust Common Loon presence during migration and also throughout winter.
In terms of the birding experience, if I see 2 or 3 Common Loons in winter at Beaver – it’s a good day. A similar trip, to Tenkiller Lake, easily results in seeing 75 Common Loons or upwards (occasionally 200!).
Yesterday (December 6) we birded several access points on Beaver’s north shore. Lake No Loons lived up to its reputation. No loons even on a day of flat water allowing observation of big open waters. But we did see many other interesting birds at Beaver (Horned Grebes, Common Goldeneyes, Bald Eagles, a Red-breasted Merganser, and heard a Spotted Towhee). Here’s are links to what I submitted to eBird:
Slate Gap at Old Glade: https://ebird.org/checklist/S287629299 Indian Creek: https://ebird.org/checklist/S287628970 Beaver Lake dam site: https://ebird.org/checklist/S287626858 Hopefully some enterprising graduate student with an interest in both birds and fisheries will look into differences between Beaver and Tenkiller that may explain differences in wintering loon populations. However, I suspect the fact that Tenkiller has many White Pelicans, several species of gulls, and scores of Common Loons (and other loon species) suggests it’s all about fish. Tenkiller has them, Beaver doesn’t, at least not in quantities that can support populations of fish-eating birds.
