68 degrees degrees F Sunny and Clear Wind NE 5mph
Sunrise 5:54 am CDT Sunset 8:26 pm CDT
It is another beautiful. if somewhat breezy day, here on Loon Lake.
It seems like we have had more than our share of wind for the last week or more. Although we have not had the flooding rains that people back east are having to deal with.
Yesterday afternoon there were gale force winds that really bounced and battered the loon nest platform. I am always concerned when waves hit the nest that hard. But it seems to have held together quite well. Which is a good omen for when we actually have eggs and loons on the nest.
I won't bore you with details, but through the years I have had to experiment with different ways of placing the nesting material on the platform. In the early days, a lot of the material washed away. But with experience and experimentation, we have been able to improve each year to the point where now even in the high wind and waves very little of the nesting material is being washed away..
Nesting activity by the loons has been picking up with each passing day.
Yesterday the male loon spent 25 minutes of non-stop nest building. Digging, turning, pulling material, digging some more, turning some more.
And today both loons have been on the nest numerous times. Each time they do some more nest building. Digging, pulling turning, digging again.
All of these are classic and very hopeful signs that we are getting closer and closer to the actual laying of the first egg.
One of these times when the female is up on the nest, you will just sense something is different. Finally she will actually climb up on the wall of the nest bowl. And you will be able to see her pushing and contracting.
And then an egg just suddenly pops and makes it grand entrance into the nest and the world.
Sometimes it happens pretty quick. But I have also seen it take up to 20 minutes before the egg actually is laid.
Exciting times indeed.
And you don't want to miss a minute of it.
Now is the time to tell your family and friends that we are getting close. Show it to your kids and your grandkids. Tell their teachers about the wonder of the LoonCam. Call the neighbors. text your friends across the country. Email your friends around the world.
It is LOON TIME!
Copyright 2017 Larry R Backlund