Annual Variation in Loon Yodels
Advisor(s)
Jay Mager
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
24-4-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
24-4-2026 12:50 PM
Abstract
Common Loons (Gavia immer) are long-lived, seasonally-monogamous migratory waterbirds for which male loons produce a territorial threat vocalization called the yodel. Yodels appear to communicate information about the identity, condition-dependent ability, and motivational intent of each male. Acoustically, yodels have two parts: an introductory phrase consisting of 3 or 4 pure tones that increase in frequency, which is then followed by a number of 2-syllable repeat phrases. We investigated how different frequency, duration, and latency parameters of a male’s yodel may vary over its lifetime. We recorded 5-15 yodels (at an acoustic sampling rate of 44.1 kHz) from two banded, individual, loons that defended breeding territories in Northern Wisconsin over a 6-year period (2001-2007, excluding 2005). We then used RavenPro (v. 1.6, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) to analyze 15 different frequency, duration, and latency components of each male's individual yodel over that period. We then performed a multivariate statistical analysis to examine how these parameters varied over time (year). Here, we present the results of this analysis, highlighting potential changes in the yodels, such as the dominant frequencies produced (which may represent corresponding changes in their physical/physiological condition), over a male loon’s lifetime.
Recommended Citation
Brady, Declan and Bricker, Carly, "Annual Variation in Loon Yodels" (2026). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 68.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2026/Posters/68
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Annual Variation in Loon Yodels
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Common Loons (Gavia immer) are long-lived, seasonally-monogamous migratory waterbirds for which male loons produce a territorial threat vocalization called the yodel. Yodels appear to communicate information about the identity, condition-dependent ability, and motivational intent of each male. Acoustically, yodels have two parts: an introductory phrase consisting of 3 or 4 pure tones that increase in frequency, which is then followed by a number of 2-syllable repeat phrases. We investigated how different frequency, duration, and latency parameters of a male’s yodel may vary over its lifetime. We recorded 5-15 yodels (at an acoustic sampling rate of 44.1 kHz) from two banded, individual, loons that defended breeding territories in Northern Wisconsin over a 6-year period (2001-2007, excluding 2005). We then used RavenPro (v. 1.6, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) to analyze 15 different frequency, duration, and latency components of each male's individual yodel over that period. We then performed a multivariate statistical analysis to examine how these parameters varied over time (year). Here, we present the results of this analysis, highlighting potential changes in the yodels, such as the dominant frequencies produced (which may represent corresponding changes in their physical/physiological condition), over a male loon’s lifetime.