Common Loon (Gavia immer) should be Canada's officially designated bird

Photo by Christian Hagenlocher / Macauley Library

The Common Loon was adopted as the Official Bird of the Canadian Province of Ontario in 1994.   It was also designated the State Bird of Minnesota in 1961.   In my humble opinion, it should also be the 'Official Bird' of Canada.

It is found across Canada from British to Columbia to Newfoundland and north to parts of some the arctic islands in the breeding season.   It is found across the U.S.A in migration.   It is also found along the western North American coastlines from Alaska to Mexico and on the eastern North American coastlines from Labrador  to Mexico.

It is an extremely attractive and large bird - length 32' (81 cm).

If for no other reason, however, it is the call of the Common Loon that makes it my choice as Canada's national bird.   There is no other wild bird call like the Common Loon's inimitable loud yodel; the call that has mesmerized me, and countless others, on so many canoe trips in Ontario's Algonquin Park and elsewhere.

Their is no current national bird in Canada.   

In 2015, Canadian Geographic magazine announced a project to select a national bird for Canada.   Readers voted in an online poll for their favourite bird.   The top five selections were  the Common Loon and the Canada Jay, Snowy Owl, Canada Goose and Black-capped Chickadee.

The project's announced winner was the small, plain looking Canada Jay, a bird whose territory does not cover as much of Canada as the Common Loon.   Its organizers hoped for the Canadian government to formally recognize the choice, but the Department of Canadian Heritage said no new official symbol proposals were being considered at the time.   Eleven years later, there is still no officially designated Canadian national bird.

Hope springs in my heart eternally for the Common Loon!

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder