Loons pair for life though they think females will sometimes stray with nest failures.The male often arrives first staking out it's territory, frequently the same spot he and his mate held the previous breeding season. After they both arrive at the lake, they will call softly to one another circling in the water, and holding their bill to the side dipping the point in the water which is a sigh of non aggression. Their behaviors of courtship help to reestablish their bonds Eventually she will lead him to land and awkwardly they will leave the water for a shoreline to mate. Loons are essentially a water bird and for the most part only come to land to mate or sit on the nest which is usually on a point of land close to the water for easy access to the water. Mated pairs are known to use the same nest as a previous year.