Publications

Hoover, B. and W. H. Piper. 2023. Honest signalling of age in a territorial breeder. Animal Behaviour. Accepted for publication 8 November 2023.

Piper, W. H., Dahl, K., Kebeh, M., and A. J. Piper. 2023. Site familiarity makes an enduring impact on breeding success. Animal Behaviour. Link to article

Piper, W. H., K. R. Lee, and B. Hoover. 2022. Territory holders are more aggressive towards older, more dangerous floaters. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 76: 1-11. Link to article

Piper, W. H. and L. M. Grenzer. 2021. Reckless parenting with a purpose. (Ecopic). Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 19: 418. Link to article

Saunders, S.P., W. Piper, M.T. Farr, B.L. Bateman, N.L. Michel, H. Westerkam, and C. Wilsey. 2021. Interrelated impacts of climate and land-use change on a widespread waterbird. Journal of Animal Ecology. 90:1165-1176. Link to article

Hoover, B.A., Brunk, K., Jukkala, G., Banfield, N., Rypel, A.L., and Piper, W. 2021. Early evidence of natal-habitat preference: Juvenile loons feed on natal-like lakes after fledging. Ecology and Evolution. 11:1310-1319. Link to article

Piper, W.H., Grear, J., Hoover, B., Lomery, E., and Grenzer, L.M. 2020. Plunging floater survival causes cryptic population decline in the Common Loon. The Condor: Ornithological Applications 122: 1-10. Link to article

Piper, W.H., Brunk, K.B. Jukkala, G. L., Andrews, E.A., Yund, S.R., and Gould, N.G. 2018. Aging male loons make a terminal investment in territory defense. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 72: 95-106. Link to article

Piper, W.H., Tischler, K.B., and Reinke, A. 2018. Common Loons respond adaptively to a black fly that reduces nesting success. Auk 135:788-797. Link to article

Spool, J., Riters, L., and Piper, W.H. 2017. Investment in territorial defence relates to recent reproductive success in common loons (Gavia immer). Journal of Avian Biology. 48:1281-1286. Link to article

Piper, W.H., Brunk, K. M., Meyer, M. W. and Flory, J. A. 2017. The long shadow of senescence: age impacts survival and territory defense in loons. Journal of Avian Biology 48:1062-1070. doi:10.1111/jav.01393. Link to article

Jukkala, G. and Piper, W. H. 2015.  Common loon parents defend chicks according to both value and vulnerability. Journal of Avian Biology 46: 1-8. Link to article

Piper, W. H., Mager, J. N., Walcott, C., Furey, L., Banfield, N., Reinke, A., Spilker, F. and Flory, J. A. 2015. Territory settlement in common loons: no footholds but age and assessment are important.  Animal Behaviour 104: 155-163. Link to article

Piper, W. H., Palmer, M. W., Banfield, N., Meyer, M. W. 2013. Can settlement in natal-like habitat explain maladaptive habitat selection? Proc. Royal Soc. B. 280: 20130979. Link to article

Piper, W. H. Grear, J. S. and Meyer, M. W. 2012. Juvenile survival in common loons: Effects of natal lake size and pH. J. Avian Biol. 43: 280-288. Link to article

Piper, W. H., J. N. Mager, & C. Walcott. 2011. Marking loons, making progress. American Scientist  99: 220-227.   Link to article

Mager, J. N., Walcott, C. and Piper, W. H. 2011. Male common loons signal greater aggressive motivation by lengthening territorial yodels. Wilson Journal of Ornithol. 124:73-80. Link to article

Piper, W. H. 2011. Troubled Waters: Loons’ territorial fights are no laughing matter. Natural History, 119: 22-26. Link to article

Mager, J. N., Walcott, C. and Piper, W. H. 2010. Common loons (Gavia immer) can differentiate between yodels of territorial neighbors and non-neighbors. J. Field Ornithol., 81: 392-401. Link to article

Grear, J. S., Meyer, M. W., Cooley Jr., J. H., Kuhn, A., Piper, W. H., Mitro, M. G., Vogel, H. S., Taylor, K. M., Kenow, K. P., Craig, S. M., Nacci, D. E. 2009. Population growth and demography of common loons in the northern United States. Journal of Wildlife Management 73: 1108-1115. Link to article

Piper, W. H., Walcott, C.  Mager, J. N. & Spilker, F.  2008. Fatal battles in common loons: a preliminary analysis. Animal Behaviour 75: 1109-1115. Link to article

Piper, W. H., Walcott, C.  Mager, J. N. & Spilker, F.  2008. Nestsite selection by male loons leads to sex-biased site-familiarity. Journal of Animal Ecology 77: 205-210.   Link to article

Mitro, M. G., D. C. Evers, M. W. Meyer & W. H. Piper. 2008. Common loon survival rates and mercury in New England and Wisconsin. Journal of Wildlife Management 72:665-673. Link to article

Mager, J. N., C. Walcott & W. H. Piper. 2008. Nest platforms increase aggressive behavior in common loons (Gavia immer). Naturwissenschaften 95: 141-147.     Link to article

Mager, J. N., C. Walcott and W. H. Piper. 2007. Male common loons (Gavia immer) communicate body mass and condition through dominant frequencies of territorial yodels. Animal Behaviour 73:683-690. Link to article

Piper, W. H., C. Walcott, J. Mager, M. Perala, K B. Tischler, Erin Harrington, A. J. Turcotte, M. Schwabenlander and N. Banfield, 2006. Prospecting in a solitary breeder: chick production elicits territorial intrusions in common loons. Behavioral Ecology 17:881-888. Link to article

Walcott, C., J. N. Mager and W. H. Piper, 2006. Changing territories, changing tunes: male loons, Gavia immer, change their vocalizations when they change territories. Animal Behaviour 71: 673-683. Link to article

Piper, W. H., M. W. Meyer, M. Klich, K. B. Tischler and A. Dolsen. 2002. Floating platforms increase reproductive success of common loons. Biological Conservation 104:199-203. Link to article

Piper, W. H., Tischler, K. B., Dolsen, A. 2001. Mother-son breeding pairs form in common loons. Wilson Bulletin 113: 441-444. Link to article

Piper, W. H., K. B. Tischler and M. Klich. 2000. Territory acquisition in loons: the importance of take-over. Animal Behaviour 59:385-394. Link to article

Piper, W. H., D. C. Evers, M. W. Meyer, K. B. Tischler and M. Klich. 2000. Do common loons mate for life?: scientific investigation of a widespread myth. Pp. 43-49 in: Loons: old history and new findings. North American Loon Fund: Meredith, New Hampshire. (Article available upon request.)

Piper, W. H., J. Paruk, D. C. Evers, M. W. Meyer, K. B. Tischler, M. Klich & J. J. Hartigan. 1997. Local movements of color-marked common loons. Journal of Wildlife Management. 61:1253-1261.  Link to article          

Piper, W. H., D. C. Evers, M. W. Meyer, K. B. Tischler, J. Kaplan & R. C. Fleischer. 1997. Genetic monogamy in the common loon Gavia immer. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 41:25-31. Link to article


Photo by Linda Grenzer