Fe and ABJ, The Oldest Known Common Loons

For nearly three decades, the tranquil waters of Seney National Wildlife Refuge hosted one of the most heartwarming—and now, heart-wrenching—stories in the bird world. Meet Fe and ABJ, the oldest known common loons on Earth, and once the power couple of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

  • They are icons.
  • They are legends.
  • They were… monogamish?

A Legacy Written in Feathers and Fish

ABJ, banded in 1987 as a chick, and Fe (pronounced “Fay”), banded in 1990 as a successful adult mom, began their partnership in 1997. For 25 consecutive summers, they returned to the same pool in Seney’s 95,000-acre refuge, raised 32 chicks, and gave bird watchers across the Great Lakes a reason to swoon.

They weren’t just loyal—they were productive. Their average of 1.4 fledged chicks per year more than doubled the local average. They had it all: good genes, prime territory, and excellent parenting instincts (ABJ even gave bullhead-prep lessons, complete with barbel removal demonstrations).

But in 2022… everything changed.

The Great Loon Breakup

After an unusually unproductive run (just one chick in four years), things looked shaky. That spring, watchers anticipated their record-setting 26th breeding season together. But then, drama unfolded: a new pair had taken over their territory.

By the time feathers settled, Fe had paired with a younger, unbanded male, successfully hatching her 40th chick. ABJ? He spent the summer solo. The birding world gasped.

In 2023, they reunited—briefly. But by the next day, Fe was back with her new flame, and ABJ had vanished. Later that season, ABJ showed up with a younger female named Aye-Aye, believed to be the “other loon” who may have triggered the split. Scandalous.

ABJ’s love life didn’t improve. A broken beak (likely from a territorial fight) sidelined him for the season. Meanwhile, Fe kept calm and carried on, adding two more chicks to her legacy—though only one survived.

Love, Loss, and Lakeside Longing

As of spring 2025, both loons have returned to Seney—but to different pools.

Fe, now at least 39 years old, settled back into her I Pool territory. ABJ, 38, returned to H Pool with Aye-Aye. Neither territory has a history of successful chick-rearing. Will these aging icons go out with a final flourish? Or is the golden age of Fe & ABJ truly over?

Experts say there’s still hope. Loons sometimes reunite years after a split. And these two have a knack for defying the odds—after all, no other loons have lived so long, loved so well, or raised so many fluffballs.

So we wait. We watch. We whisper encouragement into the misty morning air.

Because if two old birds can find their way back to each other across the waters of Seney, maybe love really does conquer all—even in webbed feet and wailing cries.

Will They or Won’t They?

Stay tuned as we continue to follow this avian epic, unfolding each spring in the wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Whether you’re here for the science, the soap opera, or the sheer magic of loons on the water, ABJ and Fe’s story proves that love—even loon love—is never simple.

Friends of Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Looking for ways to volunteer or help not only the loons but all the wildlife at the refuge? Visit the Friends of Seney National Wildlife Refuge who for the last three decades have provided financial and volunteer support for the activities and projects on the refuge.

The Friends of Seney National Wildlife Refuge is a volunteer powered 501(c)(3) organization and a proud partner of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Their fundamental mission is to support refuge activities that protect and preserve habitat and wildlife, and connect people to the resources of the refuge.