Friday, April 23, 2010 6:15am

36 degrees   Clear  Calm

I was awakened at 5:30 this morning to the call of a loon over the loudspeaker!

When I got up to look, the loons were near the nest and slowly swimming away.  Now a few minutes later they are back again and just floating ever so peacefully on a lake like glass.  Just relaxing and floating near the nest.

The scene is spectacular.

The sun has just poked its head over the horizon a minute ago, there is hardly a ripple on the lake, a myriad of birds are in full song .... and our two beautiful loons quietly float within feet of the nest unconcerned.  Today promises to be another spectacular day.   Can it get much better than this?!

So far, neither one of them seems to be in any hurry to get up on the nest.

But the fact that they are floating right next to the nest shows that they are definitely beginning to call this 'home' again and taking ownership of it.  It is a very encouraging sign.

After the call early this morning, there was a little of the quiet calling that I mentioned yesterday .... a call that would not have been heard without the new microphone.  It will be interesting to see how much of this we hear in the days ahead and whether this adds new information to the body of knowledge about loons.

Even as I am writing this, one of the loons gives a short 'tremolo' type call [very short and not a typical alarm call], and the two of them begin to swim peacefully and slowly out into the lake.

I hope your day is as spectacular as the one that our loons are enjoying right now!

PS   Just after I finished writing this, I heard a splash and looked at the tv.  Unbelievably there was a muskrat getting up on the nest!  And he was starting to eat some of the iris and daylily roots of plants growing on the nest!!  A stone thrown in his direction to create a splash in the water and a clap of the hands sent him on his way....where he belongs!

Thursday, April 22, 2010 12:29pm

62 degrees   Sunny  Calm

I think you are going to love the new microphone on the nest.

A few minutes ago while I was in the house for lunch, I was startled to hear a loon call on the speaker.

I looked at the tv and there were no loons in the picture.  But when I went out with the binoculars, there were both loons swimming quite a ways away from the nest.  But their call came over clearly with the new microphone.

It is amazing the sounds you will hear.  SO many birds singing, boats out on the lake, airplanes flying over and train sounds from miles away.

I am so hoping that they will be able to get all the technical problems worked out soon so that you can see and hear what I am seeing and hearing.  The gnomes are working so hard .... it unbelievable all that it takes to make this happen and bring it to you.

But hopefully soon.....

You are going to love it.

Today is a wonderful blue-sky day that is picture perfect!  A patented Minnesota day.  These are the days that dreams are made of.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 11:23pm

38 degrees  Clear   Wind E 2mph

 

Sometimes when you least expect it, you learn something completely new that you could have never predicted.

 

This evening about 5 pm I was working down by the lake when I saw an eagle fly over.

 

As it passed over the nest, I wondered if it saw the nest and realized what it was.  Then it turned and came back over the nest as if to check it out more closely.  It never swooped down on the nest but just passed over it.  And then it kept flying back in the direction it had come.

 

I had no sooner thought "I wonder if the loons saw the eagle fly over the nest" than somewhere out in the lake came the call of a loon.  I stood and watched for a minute and sure enough - both loons were headed in toward the nest.  Had the seen the eagle?  Were they coming to defend their home?

 

I headed up to the house so that I would not disturb them if they came in.

 

As I got into the house, I took the binoculars to see where they were.  Sure enough, they were both swimming around the nest.  Between the binoculars and the picture on the tv, I watched them as they swam around.  But neither one of them tried to get up on the nest.

 

But what amazed me was something I was not at all expecting!

 

As they swam by the nest, the new microphone picked up a call from one of the loons.  It is a call that I have never heard before!  I was fascinated, dumbfounded and amazed all at the same time.

  

For about 10 minutes one of the loons made this call.  Without the microphone, I would never have heard it.  It was sort of like the "hoot" but it wasn't the hoot [we will talk about calls at some point....loons make 4 basic calls, one of which is the hoot].  It was a very quiet and gentle call.  It is hard to even describe it but it was sort of like an "oh-oooo.....oo-oo....oh-oooo".  That doesn't do it justice but that is the closest I can come to describing it.

 

I stood there transfixed, listening to the microphone and not believing my ears.

 

I have never read any detailed definitive information about this call.  It seems to me somewhere I have read about loons 'mewing' but there was never a description that was given.  Could this be 'mewing'?  And why has it never been classified or described in any of the loon calls.  Who knows, maybe when we are finally live with the cam and the new sound, you may also be able to hear this call.  And maybe someone knows what it is.  Or it is possible that through the LoonCam we will once again add to the body of knowledge about loons.

 

After swimming near the nest for about 10 minutes, they swam back out into the lake.

 

But 10 minutes later, they were swimming back in toward the nest.

 

This time one of them got up on the nest! 

 

There was no attempt by the other loon to get up on the nest nor was there any mating.  But the loon on the nest showed the first signs of nest building.  Using her feet to gradually begin to fashion a bowl in the nesting material.  This went on for about 5 or 10 minutes and then (s)he got off the nest and the two of them swam back out into the lake.

 

This is the first time this year that I have witnessed any 'nest building' behavior.  But that is a very encouraging sign that they are taking ownership of the nest and that we may have another year of watching our loons.  I also took the call when the eagle was flying over and the two loons immediately heading to the nest as a very promising territorial sign....'this is our nest, eagle!  Don't be flying over it like that!'

 

Who knows.  In all likelihood there is an egg developing deep inside the body of the female.  And she is feeling that deep urge which will determine all she does for the next several months.

 

The technical gnomes were here for several hours again tonight working on all kinds of things necessary to bring all of this to you.  All of us are so anxious to once again be online live so that you can witness all that is happening.

 

Here are some things to look for when the LoonCam is finally live.  You will see periodic visits to the nest with long periods in between of the loons no where in sight.  Then one day the loons will be back and one of them will be on the nest and much more serious about nest building.  Once we reach that stage, usually the laying of the first egg happens within short order.

 

It is as if there is some "internal urgency" to get that nest built!  Like building the baby's new room at home so that it is ready when the baby comes home from the hospital.

 

So on any number of fronts, we are getting close.  Now is the time to let all your friends and neighbors know about the LoonCam and to encourage them to watch. 

 

 

Monday, April 19, 2010 7:35 pm

(for some reason this did not post earlier)

61 degrees   Clear   Calm

 

Sometimes the smallest of things can cause such great concern.

 

Other times, great happiness.  And yet at other times, they just put your mind at ease.

 

I have seen so very little of the loons the last week or two.

 

I know that they are around.  I have heard them calling a couple times late at night.  Other people around they lake have seen them.  But I have seen very little of them.

 

As I have told you, at this stage in waiting for the loons to nest, I turn into this paranoid person.  Full of concern that maybe the loons may not use the nest this year.  That maybe we will get your hopes up and then there will be nothing to see.  That I will disappoint you if you are not  able to watch the loons on the nest.  In my worst, but humorous, nightmare I envision a mob of people from around the world with torches and pitchforks coming down the road if the camera goes down or if the loons do not use the nest so that we can see them.

 

These feelings are not new.  I have them every year about this time.  And it is born out of wanting to give you the best experience possible and letting you see things that you would not be able to see in any other way.

 

But until the loons actually build a nest and lay that first egg, there are NO guarantees.

 

It is the time when I realize anew that what happens is totally up to them and out of our control.  It is what it is.  A live look into nature.  The real thing.  Not some pre-ordained, scripted show.  Not some that we can control....not that we would want to even if we could.

 

And that is what creates the suspense and the  drama of this LoonCam.  This reality is what makes it so special.  So uncertain.  So unpredictable.

 

I mentioned that last Wednesday there was good news that the loons had not only been up on the nest [for the first time as far as I knew] but that  they had mated!

 

Them being on the nest was encouraging.  But them mating on the nest was a very strong sign of taking ownership.  And those two acts dialed the "paranoia meter" down a notch!  But then I have seen almost nothing of them since last Wednesday.  If they have been around or on  the nest, I have not seen it.  Up goes the paranoia meter.

 

But there is good news tonight!

 

Just a few minutes ago, both loons swam in toward the nest and immediately one of them got up on the nest.  (S)he sat there for two minutes while the other loon swam nearby.

 

After 2 minutes (s)he got off the nest and swam toward its mate.

 

Within a minute she swam back to the nest and immediately got up on it.  The male followed her up on the nest and they mated.  The mating took no more than 15 seconds and he got back in the water.  After another minute or so, the female also got off the nest and the two of them swam out into the lake.  The entire episode from coming to the nest until they left was no more than a total of 4 minutes.

 

And now as darkness falls, they are swimming somewhere out there.  I hear them calling. 

 

So these are 'small' events that are very profound and very encouraging!!

 

The 'paranoia meter' has gone down several notches.  And that is fine with me.  Let's hope that it stays down.

 

The fact that the loons have returned to the nest after several days, is very encouraging.  The fact that they mated for the second time [that I know of] is even more encouraging and hopeful that they will use the nest again this year.

 

All of this is not all that unusual.  Something similar happens each year.  But you can never be sure of the outcome.  I think this is the first year that I have been able to blog for you at this stage and to let you know what is happening.

 

Today the technical gnomes brought out some more equipment that is necessary to bring all of this to you live.  They are working so very hard and hopefully very soon you will be able to watch it up close and personal.

 

But catch up on your sleep!!

 

You thought you could not take your eyes off the camera in previous years?

 

Just remember that this year we are hoping to bring you night vision as well.  So you will be able to watch it 24 hours a day!

 

And for those of you watching on the other side of the world, you will not have to wait until the sun rises in Minnesota.  And you will not have to stop watching at the time of a spectacular Minnesota sunset.  Hopefully you will be able to watch at whatever time you log on!

 

So now with more encouraging signs, we wait.  We pray.  And we hope.

 

Who knows what lies ahead and what these beautiful loons have in store for us this year.  But that is all part of what has made this the #1 Webcam in the World!

 

And you are a part of it!

 

Now is the time for you to tell your family and your kids and grandkids and their teachers and their schools and their Scout Troops and your friends .... to get ready!  So that they can catch all the action right from the very beginning!!

Friday, April 16, 2010 5:07pm

58 degrees   Sunny    Windy  NNW 20mph with gusts to 30mph

Today has been a bright sunny day with bright blue skies but with wind and a little chilly.

When you are out of the wind, it is wonderfully nice and warm.  But with the wind coming off the cold water of the lake, there is a definite chill in the air.  

I have not seen the loons at all today, but that does not surprise me.  There have been big whitecaps all day long.  The nesting platform has been taking a beating all day long and bouncing up and down.  But so far it seems to be holding together well.  It needs to.  The loons haven't even started nesting yet.  So it has a ways to go.  And this will not be the last day of wind and waves.

One of the neighbors on the 'calm side' of the lake called and said that both loons were over there in the quiet water diving and fishing.  So even though I do not see them, they are still here and doing well

I think we have been spoiled with the warm spring that we have had.  Our normal high for this day is 53 degrees.

Just to give you an idea of how much earlier things are this spring, you will remember that I said the ice went out of the lake on March 30th.  Normally it is more about mid-April (this time of the month) before the ice goes out.  Last year it went out on April 5th and the year before it was April 21st.

But it is this time of year that is probably the most difficult for me.  For about 2 weeks before the loons actually nest, I turn into this paranoid person who keeps wondering "What if they don't use the platform this year.  What if we go to all the work of putting the camera up and there is nothing to see?  What if we get everyone all excited about watching the loons again this year only to disappoint people if the loons do not use the nest?"

I can build the nesting platform.  I can put it where I think they will use it.  I can put all the nesting material one it.  I can do all sorts of things I have learned through the years that I think will encourage them to use the nest.

But I can't MAKE them nest!  I can't make them use the platform.  I can do all kinds of things.  But it is up to THEM whether they use it or not.  You realize how little control you really have over what happens.

These and a thousand and one questions go through my mind until the day that the loons actually build the nest and lay that first egg.  Once there is an egg, we can be assured that we will be able to watch our loons.

But right now it is that "paranoid" period!

i was GREATLY encouraged on Wednesday morning that they were actually up on the platform and that they mated.  That is a STRONG signal that they will probably once again use the platform this year.  But that is the only time I have seen them up there....they may have been up there other times but that is the only time I have seen them up there.

But the fact that they were up on the platform and that they mated on the platform is a very strong signal that they are once again taking ownership of the nest.

Now we wait.

And we hope.  And we pray.

There is no way we can even guess what will happen this year.  Or the drama that will unfold before our eyes.

All we know for sure is that the wonder of life is something magnificent to behold!