The City of Traverse City has partnered with the Grand Traverse Audubon Club to support nesting loons on Boardman Lake by approving the installation of a floating nesting platform.

"The goal is to provide a safer, more secure environment for these iconic birds to breed and raise their young," according to the city's Bay Brief. "The platform, launched on April 1, is anchored in a quiet cove near the west end of Centre Street."

In recent years, female loons have repeatedly tried to nest on a sandbar toward the south end of the lake. But as summer progresses and water levels drop, "these nests become exposed to predators and the elements, leaving eggs vulnerable and unprotected," according to the Bay Brief. "The Grand Traverse Audubon Club hopes that this temporary floating dock will offer a more stable and secure alternative."

Loon nests are essential for the survival and reproduction of the species. "These birds typically seek quiet, shoreline habitats or floating vegetation to minimize the risk of predation," the Bay Brief states. "After several seasons of observing unsuccessful nesting attempts, the club is optimistic that this new platform will help give the loons a better chance at success."