Saturday, May 16, 2009 5:57am CDT

37 degrees Partly Cloudy Wind West 17 mph

On a very chilly and windy morning, our loons have just made their nest exchange.

The wind has been blowing all night long. As it whistled one could only imagine the loons bouncing up and down on the nest in the dark hour after hour. But they did it and once again the nest and the eggs have made it safely through the night.

So many things about loons are so much different than other birds and are so interesting.

Loons are very heavy compared to most other birds. Most birds have hollow bones. This helps them fly by making them lighter if there bones were more solid and therefore heavier.

However, a loon's bones are nearly solid. This is both good and bad for the loon.

It is good because it helps them to dive easier and deeper. With hollow bones, they would act just like a cork that would try to force them to the surface when they went under water. So it very much helps them as they try to catch fish, the main course on their diet. With hollow bones, they would constantly be struggling against a natural buoyancy which would force them to the surface. They would have to use a lot of energy just to struggle to stay underwater.

However, it makes it more difficult for them to fly because their bones are much heavier because they are almost solid. That is part of the reason that a loon has to have a long runway to become airborne. If they do not have that long runway of open water, they are trapped and they will probably die. They will not be able to become airborne.

So a loon will take off in to the wind if they are lucky enough to have a wind. And they will run across the surface of the water while they madly flap their wings. They make use of any and every advantage they can to get into the air.

Their wings are big. They have up to a 5 foot wingspan. But it is just enough to keep their heavy bodies in the air because an adult loon weigh up to 12 pounds.

Some researchers have said that if a loon loses even one or two or three flight feathers, it will be grounded because it cannot generate enough lift to get it airborne and keep it airborne. So they must be very careful not to damage their flight feathers.

Once they are in the air, they are powerful fliers but they can never relax! 

Whereas a lot of birds like eagles and hawks can soar for long periods of time without ever flapping their wings, loons must constantly flap their wings for all they are worth! They cannot soar or glide. They must flap their wings at 260 to 270 beats per minute. Try flapping your arms that fast. You probably can't even do it. But if you can, now do it for one minute and see how tired your arms are. But loons flap their wings like that hour after hour!

You can imagine how much energy that takes and that they must be in very good condition to make their migration trips of a thousand miles or more two times a year! And a loon is a fast flier! They have been clocked up to 70 miles per hour and it is thought that they may be able to fly as fast as 100 miles per hour.

So today, look closely at their wings when you get a chance....especially during the nest change. Or when they flap their wings near the nest.  And look at those wings that they do not use all that often.  But which are vital when they do need them.

Questions or Comments or Observations? Post them here or in the Chat Room or at LoonCam@yahoo.com

Friday, May 15, 2009 6:58am CDT

52 degrees   Partly Cloudy   Wind SE 6mph

I apologize once again!

As I was doing a spell check on this morning's blog entry, it ATE it.  I guess I need to copy before I do spell check too.

Unfortunately, I am leaving right now and won't be back until late tonight so I probably will not be able to do another update today.  I am so sorry.  I feel terrible.

Once again it was "the best blog entry that I have ever done"!!!  lol

I had talked about a loons feet and their legs.  So if I do not get back to that subject in the next few days, remind me because it gives great insight into loons and their behaviour.

Once again I profoundly apologize.  I have tried everything I can think of to recover the file and it is apparently gone.

Questions, Comments or Observations?  Post them here or in the Chat Room or send them to LoonCam@yahoo.com

Thursday, May 14, 2009 6:23am

41 degrees   Partly Cloudy   Wind  W 20mph

On a very windy and chilly morning, the nest bounces up and down on the waves but the loon stays firmly rooted to the nest.  Underneath it are its two precious eggs.  The very reason that they have given everything.  To raise the next generation of loons.

White caps roll across the lake as clouds go scudding by overhead.

This is no time to go swimming off because the loon is tired of sitting on the nest.  If it did, the eggs would rapidly cool in the chilly morning air and wind.  And the chick inside would probably die.  Or the egg might actually roll off the nest into the cold water although the loon has carefully crafted the nest into a "bowl" that cradles the eggs.  No, now is the time to "ride it out" literally.

This is what the loon has been called to do.  This is what has driven it all spring.  This is part of what it means to be a loon.  If it thinks about anything else, it doesn't show it.  It simply faithfully sits on the eggs while the wind rages around it.

We are now at the half-way mark in the development of the eggs.  One can only imagine the wonder of what is taking place inside the shells of those two spotted olive-brown eggs.  A chick developing.  Wings and feet and beak and head.  Eyes and a heart that probably is already beating.  Wonders that are almost beyond comprehension.

All across the northern part of North America, this drama is being played out by countless thousands of loons.  Although most of them are not as far along in the nesting process as "our loons".

Our loons are at almost the southern limit of the breeding range of loons.  So they are farther ahead in their nesting and laying eggs than most other loons.   Farther south, people hardly know what loons are or how special they are.  Farther north, they are only now starting to look for nesting areas.  And farther north still, in northern parts of Canada, the ice is still covering the lakes and loons are waiting for that ice to go out before they can think about nesting.

Minnesota has by far the greatest number of loons in the lower 48 states.  Out of a total of about 30,000 loons, Minnesota has about 12,000 of them.  Next is Maine with about 4,000, Wisconsin with about 3,000, Michigan with about 1500, New York with about 1000 and New Hampshire with about 500.  All the other states (but only the northern tier of states) have populations in the low hundred range or less.

Canada has the majority of the population with upwards of half-a-million loons, most of which are in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

So it is special for us to be able to watch these loons.  Most areas of the country and the world do not have the privilege to see and hear these magnificent birds.

The loon you are watching is a Common Loon.  Its official scientific name is Gavia Immer. 

There are actually five different species of loons:

- Common Loon

- Pacific Loon

- Arctic Loon

- Yellow-billed Loon

- Red-throated Loon

The Common Loon is the one most often seen by people in North America.  The Seward Peninsula of Alaska is the only area with all five species of loons.

So as you watch the loons on the nest today, realize how special they are.  And the special privilege that we have to be able to have a window into the "life of a loon".

Questions or Comments or Observations?  Post them here or in the Chat Room or send them to LoonCam@yahoo.com

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 6:20am

54 degrees    Raining    Wind  S17mph

On a rainy morning, our loons sit faithfully on a nest with 2 eggs.

They are already halfway through the incubation period.  What changes are taking place inside those eggs so faithfully tucked underneath the loon?  So carefully kept warm and protected.  Are there really two little chicks well along in their development?

One can only hope about the wonderful changes that are taking place, away from our ability to see.

And what do the next two weeks hold for our loons?  That is also unknown.  Challenges that it is probably better that we do not know.  We would worry too much.  So it is better to just take one day at a time.

Yesterday the loons had a number of guests.  Guests that they did not remember sending out invitations to have them come and visit.

First another pair of loons came to visit yesterday morning.  This caused enough concern that both loons went out to keep them at a distance from the nest.  After a lot of excited swimming and diving, the intruding loons finally left.  Fortunately there was no fight.

Then about midday, an immature bald eagle decided it was time for a visit.  He was fishing in the area and he flew directly over the nest several times.  His presence was enough for the loon to bolt off the nest, swim some distance underwater only to surface away from the nest and start calling.  That was also enough to bring the other loon in from someplace else on the lake.

Both of them called excitedly as they watched the eagle overhead.

Meanwhile, there were others that did not like the eagle flying around in their territory either.  Crows and blackbirds were bombarding the eagle as he flew looking for fish.  A crow would dive and snap at the eagle and he would wheel and dive to get away from the crow or blackbird.  And the blackbirds hated that the crow was in the area almost as much as they hated the eagle being there.  So the blackbirds were also dive bombing the crows.  And all of them calling.  Apparently all of them in different languages telling the eagle that no one invited him to be there.

The eagle was no small thing to confront, even though he was immature.  He was fully the size of an adult eagle.  He just did not have his adult plumage yet.  That striking white head and tail that immediately tells you this is a bald eagle.

It was a tale worthy of the World War II battles of Snoopy and the Bloody Red Baron!

But after a few minutes, the eagle moved on and everything returned to somewhat normal.  At least what could pass as normal on a very windy day.  The loon returned to the nest, faithfully turned the eggs and settled down for the long haul.  The crows returned to their nest.  The blackbirds to their nests.  And except for the wind, things were quiet.

But quiet is something that never seems to last for long.  At least for the loons.

Soon it was time to be off the nest again.  And calling.

This time it was an adult eagle that was flying in the area.  The crows apparently also got the call and came flying out over the lake from the surrounding woods.  Once again, Snoopy was dive bombing the Red Baron!

Then last night, just as some heavy rain showers moved across the lake about 8 pm, something once again drew the loon off the nest and brought the mate from out in the lake.  Both loons were calling excitedly.  Both were using the tremolo call, which as I told you is an alarm call.  And the male was also using his yodel call which is an extreme territorial call.  They were both facing the same direction, off to the east.  But it was raining so hard I did not want to go down to the lake to see who or what was upsetting them.

I assume from the calls and the reaction that there was another loon or loons that they saw.  But I am not sure of that.

Even as I write the blog this morning, the loon has once again left the nest to help its mate protect the nest from another intruding loon.  This time a single loon, not a pair.  And so once again, there is a lot of excited diving and swimming and some calling.  But so far, no big fight.

Ahhhh, the start of just another day in the life of our treasured loons.  Things that would be so far out of our view and understanding without the LoonCam!  But now have given us new insights and pleasure and a new sense of wonder.  And new understanding and concerns.

What will today bring?  We can only watch and wait.

Questions or Comments or Observations?  Post them here or in the Chat Room or send them to LoonCam@yahoo.com

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 5:51am CDT

52 degrees     Partly Cloudy     Wind S6mph

On a calm lake, a loon sits on its eggs. Ever watchful for any sign of danger. But for now everything seems to be ok.

If danger approached, the loon would probably leave the nest and start calling.

Loons have four basic calls that they use to communicate.

I usually refer to them as two "good calls" and two "bad calls".

The two "good calls" are the wail and the hoot. The "bad calls" are the tremolo and the yodel. Why do I call them good calls and bad calls? The wail and the hoot are calls that loons use to communicate with each other when everything is ok. However, the tremolo and the yodel are alarm calls and are used when the loons is concerned or upset.

The wail is one of the calls that many of us have heard echoing across the lake at twilight. That haunting call that echoes from one end of the lake to the other. And then is answered by a loon across the lake.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/loonwail.wav

It is the loon's way of saying to another loon, "Hi. I am here. Where are you?"

The hoot is a call that most people never hear. It is a quiet call that loons use to communicate to their chicks or to each other when they are close together.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/loonhoot.wav

The tremolo is sometimes called the crazy laughing call. It is an alarm call. It means the loon does not like something that is going on. Something has happened to upset it. There is danger in the area. The loon is saying I am not happy with what is going on right now. When one loon makes the tremolo call, another loon will many times answer from some other part of the lake. And if they are mates, the mate will usually swim towards the other loon immediately. Especially if they have eggs or chicks. The tremolo call is made by both males and females.

It is also sometimes made while the loon is flying and in that case it does not necessarily an alarm call. Some researchers feel that a loon uses that call while flying to see if another loon answers from the lake below. And if the loon is searching for territory, it knows that there is a loon on that lake and it is taken.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/loontremolo.wav

The yodel is the most extreme of the alarm calls and is made only by the male loon. It says to everyone around, "This is MY territory. Stay away. Do come near. I will fight you to defend my territory." It is used by the male under the great stress.

It is sometimes accompanied by splashing and the loon half flying and half walking on the water toward whatever has upset it. Or it may trigger a behavior called the "penguin dance" or "water walking" where the loons paddles its feet quickly and rises up out of the water. Almost standing straight up and down with its beak pressed against its breast. When it does this, it looks a lot like a penguin, hence the name "penguin dance".

People have seen this dance if they have gotten too close to a nest or loon chicks and have thought, "How cool is that! The loon came right up to us and showed off for me." No, the loon wasn't showing off for you or wanting you to feel good. It was saying, "You are really scaring me. You are way too close to my nest or my chicks. I want to show you how big and tough I am and I want you to get out of here right now!" It is usually accompanied by a lot of splashing and excited diving.

If you back away, they will quickly settle down and relax. If it is in response to another loon, it may very well be the prelude to a fight.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/loonyodel.wav

So now that you know how to speak "loon", each of the calls will have much more meaning for you when you hear them.  Without even seeing the loon, you have a very good idea of what is happening by simply hearing the call.   I have to admit I enjoyed all of the calls more before I knew what they actually meant! Especially the tremolo and the yodel. Now even though I still enjoy the calls, when they make one of the alarm calls I realize that the loon is upset about something and will look to see if I can see what is upsetting them.

But by simply knowing what these four calls are and what the loon is saying when it uses them, you will have a whole new understanding of what is going on.

I have mentioned before that some of you have thought that the loon was calling when you saw its beak open while it was on the nest. This is not the case and the open beak is simply an "air conditioning" system for the loon to cool down. Most of the time loons are very silent when the are on the nest or even close to the nest.

Even when an eagle flies over - a sure thing to upset a loon - it will usually leave the nest and only call when it comes up some distance from the nest.

So now at the office water cooler this morning, you can speak "loon" with your friends! (And lose all your other friends!!! lol)

Questions or Comments or Observations? Post them here or in the Chat Room or send them to LoonCam@yahoo.com