Big Birch Lake Association

Big Birch Lake Association The Big Birch Lake Association's purpose is to protect the water quality of the lake.

08/29/2026

LOON NEWS
"We would see 40 percent of the birds we banded as chicks back as adults in the 1990s and the early 2000s. Now we see about 10% or even fewer,” Piper said. “That’s disturbing. We’re trying to figure out why." --Outdoor News, Aug. 7, 2026

08/28/2026

LOON NEWS
"Piper has speculated on other issues contributing to chick mortality and factors that limit their success later in life, but will need to further study those effects. One theory is how people recreate on lakes. Wakes caused by boats, increased boat strikes and getting caught in fishing lines contribute to chick mortality." --Outdoor News, Aug. 7, 2026.

This photo from 1989 shows Gertrude Hird in her Larson Falls Flyer which she took out for a spin every summer she reside...
08/27/2026

This photo from 1989 shows Gertrude Hird in her Larson Falls Flyer which she took out for a spin every summer she resided on the North Shore of BBL. The children are not identified. The Falls Flyer was made in Little Falls by the Larson Boat Works. The Flyer had a unique fiberglass body popularized in the 1950s.

08/26/2026

LOON NEWS
Walter Piper’s research monitors 110 loon territories in Wisconsin and about 140 in Minnesota. In total, about 400 loons are banded. Through both populations, Piper has a few theories why young adult numbers are dropping. However, one stands out more than others.
Looking at 30 years of data, Piper found water quality on a lake in July is strongly correlated with loon chick weight. Loons are visual predators. If they can’t see, they cannot hunt. Without good water quality, the loon chick suffers because adults aren’t able to gather as much food.

08/25/2026

LOON NEWS
In recent years, Minnesota and Wisconsin have seen a decline in young loons returning as breeding adults.
Though adults are doing well, researchers are alarmed by what the data shows for young adults. Across the Upper Midwest, loon survivability from when they are chicks to adults has dropped significantly. --Outdoor News, Aug. 7, 2026

08/24/2026

Craig and Mary Lou Tweedale completed the August loon survey. It appears many of the loons may have left already or are visiting other lakes. We verified with others on the lake where loons have been spotted before, rechecked a number of spots a couple more times. The consensus with these people is they are starting to leave. We counted 11 adults and 11 juveniles.

Ned Domm and Jeremy Fruedenrich were elected to the board of the Big Birch Lake Association last Saturday at the annual ...
08/21/2026

Ned Domm and Jeremy Fruedenrich were elected to the board of the Big Birch Lake Association last Saturday at the annual meeting. John Grutsch was also elected but was unable to be at the meeting. Each of these men will serve a three-year term. Board members can be elected to four consecutive three-year terms.

This 1923 photo is how ancestors of the Hird family arrived at Big Birch Lake.
08/20/2026

This 1923 photo is how ancestors of the Hird family arrived at Big Birch Lake.

Approximately 60 attended the BBLA Annual Meeting last Saturday, and heard Kevin Farnum explain the issues with the inva...
08/19/2026

Approximately 60 attended the BBLA Annual Meeting last Saturday, and heard Kevin Farnum explain the issues with the invasive algae starry stonewort. Over 30 Minnesota lake now have the unwelcome invasive.

Kevin Farnum, from the Lake Koronis Lake Association was the guest speaker at the BBLA Annual Meeting last Saturday, at ...
08/18/2026

Kevin Farnum, from the Lake Koronis Lake Association was the guest speaker at the BBLA Annual Meeting last Saturday, at St. Joseph Church in Grey Eagle. Farnum is an expert on starry stonewort, an invasive algae that was discovered in Lake Koronis several years ago. He told the audience how to identify the algae and what to do when it is discovered.

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Grey Eagle, MN
56336

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