58 degrees Cloudy Wind Calm
Well, I guess that 'working adventure' went reasonably well!
At least you have 'some' sound now, but I realize that you are still not getting good sound. They will continue to work on it. You are getting a small glimpse behind the scenes of all that the wonderful technicians at Broadband Minnesota go through to bring you this experience.
Some of you were able to hear a little bit of what I said when I was working by the nest. Let me recap some of it for you.
I waited until I did not see the loons anywhere around. Then I went out with the swimming raft and some buoys that I use to try to keep boats from coming too close to the nest.
I brought out some other things to do on the nest as well.
There is already at least one spider that has found the camera and has spun a web. I have not had much luck in the past in foiling the spiders. I have tried a little of everything including insecticides on the camera. But they apparently wash off in the rain.
This year I am trying a 'flea and tick collar' that I have wrapped around the camera. Will it work? I have no idea. But it is worth a try!
I also put up some willow branches to try to keep the eagles from sweeping directly down on the nest.
While I was doing that, I could see the loons coming from way across the lake. How they could see me and the fact that they immediately came over to investigate always amazes me.
What was gratifying to me was that they did not seem overly concerned or alarmed. There not only were no alarm calls, there were no calls at all. They swam nearby and just wanted to make sure they approved of whatever I was doing. The most that they did to show any concern is what is called "splash diving" a few times. Loons normally slip underwater silently. In a "splash dive", they purposely make a splash just to let you know they are there.
So I hurried to put the bouys out, put the swimming raft in place and then headed for shore.
They followed me partway in to shore and then calmly swam off. Apparently content that this 'intruder' was really of no danger and of no concern to them.
Even as I type this, there have been a few yodels and tremolos from out on the lake. So there apparently is another pair of loons out there or at least one other loon that necessitates a territorial stand.
It is a beautiful sound as it echos across the lake in the stillness of a northern night.
It doesn't get much better than this.