Thursday, April 23, 2009 7:07pm

85 degrees   Windy  South 18mph

As I write this, the loons are swimming around the nest.

Hopefully some of you have caught a glimpse of them since the camera is now LIVE!

They have not been up on the nest yet in this "trip in" but I would not be surprised if one of them gets up on the nest to "check it out" for a few minutes.

They are not ready to nest yet but they are more frequently coming to the nest.

One of them just got up on the nest!  I hope that some of you are watching it.

This behaviour means that they are more and more taking ownership of the nest.  With the increased activity, it means that they will almost certainly use the nesting platform again this year.  Right now she is pushing material around to make the "nest bowl" and rearranging other material.  And now she just got off the nest....all of that in about 3 minutes.   Oooops!!  She is back up on the nest again!

The more of this behavour that there is, the closer we are getting to actual nesting and egg laying.

When it happens it tends to happen very quickly. 

Watch for serious nest building and then very soon after that, the first egg is laid.  When we reach that point, they will then be nest bound for the next 28 days.

After only one minute on the nest, she got off and the pair is now swimming out into the lake.

But you can notice the start of the formation of the nest depression or bowl.

But apparently she felt that that is enough housework for now and off they go.

Check back later and often as this wonderful story unfolds before your eyes!  And have your kids and grandkids watch and learn!

Enjoy!!!

Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:25am

Partly Cloudy  56degrees  Windy S24mph

Today promises to be the first day that will really feel like summer.  It is supposed to reach into the lower 80's today.  That will be the first time we have had those temperatures since early last fall.  There is a possibility of thunderstorms over the next few days.  So summer is making its way north.  And that is also affecting the loons.

Each day that goes by, brings the loons closer and closer to nesting. 

They definitely are showing increased interest in the nest and taking ownership of it.  They still do not spend much time on the nest, but they increasingly come in to visit it and swim around it for a couple minutes before they once again swim away.

Early this morning right at sunrise, they were up on the nest for a couple minutes.  And just now they have once again been on the nest twice within the last hour.

So barring some sort of disaster, it is hopeful that we can count on them to use the nest once again this year.  That is always the big question - will they use the nest?  It is totally THEIR choice and there is nothing that anyone can do to make them nest on the platform.  But it looks very hopeful that once again this year they will grace us with their presence.  And give us the opportunity to watch close-up and personal this miracle of nature with these beautiful birds!

Join us for the adventure! 

And let your kids and family and friends and coworkers and school join you as well.

Saturday, April 18, 2009 6:20pm

60 degrees  NE Wind 13mph

After several spectacular sunny warm days, today is a little cooler with a wind from the northeast.  There is a forecast of rain in the next couple days.  Rain which we badly need.

After not being seen much over the last couple days, the loons just spent about half an hour swimming around the nest and once again actually getting up on the nest for a few minutes.  All of which is a very good sign that they are not only interested in the nest, but gradually taking ownership of it once again.

So, as always, hope springs eternal!

Is there a chance that they will once again use the nesting platform this year?  Maintaining an unbroken string in using the platform every year for the last 7 years?  We are so fortunate to have had such a consistent string of years of use.  So many platforms or other nests have not had such a record of success.    A record that we cannot take for granted.  It is still up to the loons to decide whether they will use it again this year.  We can only hope.  And wait.  And watch.

But for now, the signs are promising.

Today, the technical wizards have been here working on all the technical issues necessary to actually bring a live picture to you.  We are still hoping that we will be able to do that in the next few days.

So stay tuned.  And tell your friends and neighbors to join you in watching the loon cam!  Until the camera is live, they can participate in the blog and the chatroom.   And when it is live, share the camera with kids in your neighborhood and awaken in them the sense of wonder of nature.  You can possibly change their lives and their outlook on nature and wildlife.  And especially loons.

Comments or questions?  Post them here or send to LoonCam@yahoo.com

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:50pm

Total darkness has just fallen over the lake.  Somewhere out there, our loons are swimming.

Today has been an eventful .... and a good ... day here for those of you who are waiting for the loons.

The loons came up and swam near the nest three times today.  Then about 8pm tonight, they came back a fourth time and one of them actually got up on the nest for about five minutes.  That is a very strong sign of taking ownership of the nest.

This evening I checked the entire lake and I could not see the loons.  So I decided it was a good time to put some finishing touches on the nest and the area.  i added some willow branches which give the loons some eagle protection ... it keeps the eagles from swooping down directly on the nest.

And I added some floating buoys which helps to keep boats from "swooping down on the nest"!  Although that is the harder thing to prevent.

It was shortly after I had done these things that they suddenly appeared.  Where they had been, I don't know.  Had they been watching?  were they concerned and/or interested in what I had been doing with the nest?

 They came in and checked out the new buoys and when they were apparently satisfied that they posed no danger, they swam back out into the lake.  And then it was just before dark that they came back and got up on the nest.

I would guess that we are still a week or two away from nest building and egg laying.  But it is very encouraging that they seem to be taking interest in the nest and ownership of the nest.

Stay tuned!!