75 degrees F Sunny Wind 3 mph NE
Sunrise 5:26 am CDT Sunset 8:57 pm CDT
I have been away for a couple days.
I have been at the Forest History Center and the Judy Garland Home and Museum in Grand Rapids, MN.
I just got home a little while ago.
The first thing I did was to look at the nest. And there is no loon on the nest.
I do not see any of the loons anywhere in the immediate area. Which caused me some measure of concern.
However, as I scanned the lake with binoculars I spotted one loon far away. Even with the binoculars I had a hard time discerning any detail since they were so far away.
But I kept telling myself that there was a bump on the loon's back that could be a chick. I hoped. But I could not tell for sure.
Then I saw another loon surface and swim toward the first loon.
Then I could see a more pronounced "bump" and movement on the back.
It HAS to be our loon with OUR little loon chick on its back!!
I breathed a sigh of relief.
The second loon swam over and apparently fed the "bump", our chick, a minnow or something.
So that all is VERY good news this afternoon.
The bad news is that the LoonCam is still not live.
I don't have any messages from Broadband Minnesota. But the fact that it is not live is not encouraging.
Until I talk to them, I have to assume that the problems are serious enough that they cannot be fixed remotely. I know that they have been working hard to restore the cam. And the fact that it is still not up does not bode well that we will be able to view it again this year.
I don't want to go out to the nest to check on the egg until I am more sure of how the loons are reacting.
But the fact that the loons are now so far away from the nest tells me that they may have also given up on the remaining egg - which I cannot say with certainty that it is still there until I am able to actually go out to the nest.
Without the cam, I cannot see into the nest itself even with binoculars or telescope.
So I am with you as far as not knowing.
The only advantage I have over you is that I can look and see that the nesting platform is still there and apparently intact. And that there is no loon on the nest or around the nest right now.
I know that you are wanting to see our loons and to know what is going on with them. I am, too! I apologize that the LoonCam has gone down. If any of you have any magic way to prevent lightning from damaging delicate electronics, I am all ears!
At this point it is just one more reminder of the myriad of things that must work together perfectly in order to bring you the magic of the LoonCam.
As I learn more, I will be sure to update you.
Copyright 2015 Larry R Backlund