Sunday, May 23, 2010 6:36am CDT

71 degrees  Cloudy   Calm

 

 

There is something oddly reassuring about the scene of the loon faithfully sitting on the nest again this morning.  

 

After having to once again adjust the camera last night because of it having been blown loose on its mounting as the storm moved through yesterday, it is good to see that the loons have taken that interruption in stride as well as all the other natural challenges that they face.  After the camera moving for the second time in a wind storm, I realized that what may be causing the problem is that one of the willow branches on the nest was blowing and hitting the camera and knocking its new mount out of alignment.

 

So after a 'haircut' of the offending willow branch and a few other remedial measures in the pitch blackness, hopefully the camera is securely aimed at the nest for the rest of the saga of our loons nesting for the year.  And that all they and we will have to worry about are eagles and fish and muskrats and "intruding" loons and wind and hail and baking sun and boats and jet skis and a thousand and one other challenges our loons face as they struggle to raise a new generation of loons.

 

All of these challenges are things that loons all over have to face on a daily basis.

 

But because they are out of our sight, they are also out of our minds.  What we do not see, we do not worry about.

 

But because we have seen these loons close-up, we feel like we have come to know them.  No longer are they some nebulous technical description in a birding book or a background player in a novel.  They are "our" loons.  They are our friends.  And we have come to care deeply about them.  To care deeply about what happens to them.  To live their challenges with them.  To understand in a whole new way what really goes on all around us every day in nature's realm.

 

And that is one of the beauties of the LoonCam.

 

To see things that in a million years we would never have the opportunity to see in any other way.  To understand in a whole new way.  And to care about like we have never cared about before.

 

And so the silhouette of a loon sitting on a pair of eggs on a nest on a northern lake in the northernmost state of the 48 states, is somehow "oddly reassuring" this morning.

 

On a Sunday morning with all its own implications of new life and a new start to a new week, the fact that the loon is still there .... faithful .... still dedicated to nurturing the new life that is developing in the eggs beneath it .... is an inspiration and a sermon of its own.  That in spite of all the challenges that each one of us face every day, the promise of new life is there.  That we can make it.  That with all of the evil in the world there is also overwhelming goodness and beauty.

 

May your Sunday be one of mind-blowing, overwhelming goodness and beauty.  Take some time today to stop and see it.  Take some time today to stop and be a part of "causing" some of that goodness and beauty for someone else.

 

That may be the true 'lesson of the loons' this morning.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 12:06pm CDT

58 degrees   Raining   Windy

I just got home from the studio so I will take some time to catch up on what has been going on this morning.

Just now I heard several wails and a couple tremolo calls from out on the lake.

I cannot see anything that is of concern.  The loon on the nest seems to be doing fine.  I cannot see the other loon out on the lake that was calling.

I will take some time to get caught up on what has been happening this morning and maybe post later today.  Thank you to all of you for your faithfulness in posting what you see and keeping everyone up to date on what is happening.

Right now we are getting some much needed rain.  For the loon, that is no problem to be wet.  But there is some lightening and thunder around, too.  I don't think that they are predicting anything severe but this time of year it can develop quickly.

It is windy but once again the sensitivity of the microphone on the nest makes it sound much worse than it is.  Thankfully the whitecaps are on the other side of the lake and not hitting the loons or the nest here.

I will update you later.

Friday, May 21, 2010 6:43am CDT

56 degrees   Cloudy   Calm

 

 

A few drops of rain have just started falling.

 

Even the daylilies on the floating loon nest are beginning to show their need for water.  They have begun to droop and turn noticeably yellow.  Even though there is water all around, the whole nest remains safely above the water.  And the lilies especially could use some rain.

 

This fact alone illustrates one of the strengths of a nesting platform like this.

 

A loon nest is sort of on that 'knife edge' of what it needs and what it can tolerate.  There needs to be enough water....but not too much.  It needs to be very near the water....but being very near the water also means that it can be washed away.

 

Many natural loon nests are lost when waves wash over them and may actually wash the eggs right out of the nest.  They can be natural waves from the wind.  Or they might be waves from boats passing by.  And the boater would have absolutely no idea of the damage that his boat wake had done to the hidden loon nest as he passed by.  But an artificial nesting platform like this allows the nest to ride "on" the waves rather than being washed away by them.

 

The other danger to a loon nest is too little water or rain. 

 

If the lake or body of water that the nest is on experiences significant changes in the level of the lake, it can affect the loons.  If the lake rises significantly, the nest may be submerged under water and the eggs lost.  Or if the lake drops too much, the nest may become inaccessible to the loons since they have such great difficulty getting around on land and they may just abandon the nest.  In that case, predators would quickly move in and eat the eggs.

 

And that brings up yet another advantage of a floating nest like this....protection from predators.

 

Loons tend to prefer islands to nest on when they have a choice of a lake with islands.  The isolation from the mainland means that there is some protection from predators who would normally roam the shores of the lake.  Predators like raccoon and skunks and mink and others.  Not to speak of domestic dogs and cats who would frighten the loons off a nest on shore or even attack it.

 

So the price of a few wilting daylilies is a price that the loons will happily pay and scarcely notice!

 

Today is the two week anniversary for the laying of the second night.

 

Two weeks ago tonight the loons laid their second egg in the midst of a SNOW and rain.  What a difference a couple weeks can make.  Yesterday temperatures were in the 80's and today there is a chance of scattered showers throughout the day with high temperatures in the 70's.  That should make for an ideal day for the loons.

 

Many have commented and asked about the loon having its beak open while on the nest.  In years past when we did not have sound on the webcam, some were even convinced that they were missing the loons calling every time they had their beaks open.  As you can see and hear, they are not calling.  They are simply panting [like a dog does] to get rid of excess body heat.  A loons normal environment is in the water....cool water or even cold water.  

 

They are not built to sit in the hot sun out of the water.  But sit they must.  And so the way for them to get rid of excess body heat is to pant.

 

But today should be an ideal day for them with cloudy skies, a little bit of rain and just enough of a breeze to help keep some of the black flies away from their head.

 

We are now halfway through the incubation period for the eggs.  Twenty eight days will be up for the first egg on June 2nd and for the second egg on June 4th.

 

If I had to guess when they will hatch, and please understand that this is only a guess, I would guess that the eggs will hatch BEFORE June 2nd.  I will maybe talk a little more about that sometime and why I think they may hatch before their 'due date'.  If they go significantly beyond June 2nd, then there may be cause for concern.

 

But for today, we look forward with great anticipation to the next two weeks.  

 

There will be many challenges to the loons during that time.  Challenges that we cannot even begin to predict now.

 

But if all goes well, we should see two new baby chicks in a couple weeks!!!

 

How much better does it get than that?!?!

 

 

[Just a quick reminder, I will be on the KARE Saturday show with Belinda Jensen on KARE11 TV tomorrow [Saturday] morning here in the Twin Cities to talk about the LoonCam.  It is scheduled for 9:44am CDT.  But if you know television, that can change at a moment's notice.  I hope that you can tune in.]

Thursday, May 20, 2010 3:51 pm CDT

85 degrees  Sun with High Clouds   Breezy

I have just returned home from being gone most of the day.

I had to laugh when I read some of your comments about hearing people talking and wishing the birds would be quiet so you could hear.  From what I understand, some of the neighbors part way around the lake were putting in a dock.  I will have to warn them to be careful of what they say!!

I think I told you before that the NBC affiliate in the Twin Cities has asked me to be on a couple of their shows to talk about the LoonCam.  I have now found out that one appearance will be this coming Saturday morning, May 22 and the other is a mid-morning show called 'Showcase' on Friday, May 28.  They told me yesterday that the Saturday appearance is scheduled for 9:44am CDT.  But if you know anything about tv, that can change at a moment's notice.

So if you are in the Twin Cities you may get a chance to tune in and see it.  I am not sure if they will be streaming the shows or if they will be archived on the KARE11.com website for those of you around the country and around the world.

But the main thing I wanted to tell you is that I have just returned from the DNR Headquarters in St Paul.

They have graciously loaned me the mounts of an adult loon and a loon chick ]that I would guess was about 4 weeks old] for use on the upcoming television programs!

As I was on the freeway driving home, I had to laugh as I thought to myself, "How many other cars all around me have a LOON sitting on the front seat of their car?!?!!?!"

So my profound thanks to Lori, Diane, Pam Perry and especially Carrol Henderson [Senior Supervisor for all of the Non-Game Programs in the state] for trusting me enough to loan me the use of these unique taxidermy mounts to teach people even more about our amazing loons.  Their help from day one of the loon nest has been invaluable.

I just wanted to give you a quick update.

Thursday, May 20, 2010 7:48am CDT

 

53 degrees  Clear  Calm

 

 

Once again it is a spectacular day for the loons.

 

The lake is like a mirror that reflects a blue sky with a few high wispy clouds.

 

The loon on the nest already has its beak open panting.  The other loon sits in its own reflection not too far away.  The mayfly hatch is now in full swing as more and more mayflies fill the air in their own mating dance.  Pieces of "cotton" float on the still surface of the lake from trees that are also involved in their own circle of life.

 

The next few days are forecast to be warm and sunny and calm.  Days that we love but that can be a little too warm for a loon sitting on a nest.  The black of its plumage absorbs a lot of that sunshine.  You can expect to see the loons 'panting' more as they sit in the warmth of the bright sunshine and possibly also take a cool dip in the lake once in a while.  They would probably prefer cooler weather but this is certainly something that they are used to and have contended with for eons.

 

With the bright sunshine, this is a perfect time to watch for something else.

 

We know the loons as these birds with the striking black-and-white plumage.  That is true but not totally true.  The black is indeed black.  But not just black.  Plain old black would be too mundane for these amazing birds.

 

When the sun hits them just the right way, you may see two additional colors...almost illusory but very real.

 

The black of the head has a deep green sheen to it.  Almost an iridescent green sheen in certain light.  And the black color around the neck actually turns a turquoise green when the light strikes it just the right way.  The first time you see it you think your eyes are playing tricks on you.  Wasn't that collar on the loon black?  Now it is the brightest turquoise green color.

 

So watch for that today.

 

There is another thing to watch for with the calm water today.  It is the perfect time to see it.

 

As a loon swims by the nest, try to get a view of the loons legs as it swims.  You will see that they are way at the back of the loons body and sort of splay off to the sides.  It is not what we think of when we think of a swimming duck or goose.

 

If you see it, you are also seeing why a loon is so clumsy on land.  You have watched that 'clumsiness' each time the loon has gotten up on the nest.

 

A loon is almost helpless on land and finds it very difficult to get around.  They are unlike a goose or a duck or a swan or chicken who can easily walk around on land.  Why is that?

 

Do something for me as I explain why.  Follow along with the motions I describe.

Hold your arm out and look at it.  Spread your fingers.

 

Let me use a chicken as an example since most people are familiar with seeing a chicken.  Your hand  would be equivalent to the feet of a chicken and your fingers the toes.  

 

Now look at your forearm.  That is the same as the lower part of a chickens leg.  And your biceps of your upper arm would be the same as the 'drumstick' on a chicken.

 

Now move your hand and arm like a chicken walking.  As you can see, you can move it in almost any direction and a chicken has no difficulty walking because it can do the same thing.

 

Now do something else.

 

Hold your upper arm tightly against your body - pretend that it is taped there or is caught inside your shirt or your blouse.  Don't let it move away from your body.

 

Now try to 'walk' like you did before when you were a 'chicken'!

 

It is a whole different feeling, isn't it?  You do not have near the mobility or flexibility or control that you did before.  Wave your lower arm and your hand around while you continue to hold your upper arm tightly against your body.

 

You have just illustrated to yourself why a loon is so clumsy on land [and you have also probably just illustrated it to all your co-workers and family who are around right now.  They probably are looking at you and wondering what you are doing.  It is a perfect time to illustrate and explain it to them!  Just tell them that you have gone 'loony'!].

 

Unlike other birds, the 'drumstick' of a loon is totally enclosed in body skin.  It is not free to move like a chicken can do.  It is wrapped tightly inside the loon's 'shirt'.  They cannot move it freely.

 

So that is why a loon walks on land with such great difficulty.  They are almost helpless on land.  And the name 'loon' is thought to come from the Scandinavian word 'lum' which means clumsy.

 

And it is also the reason that its legs come out of the body at the very end of its body instead of in the middle.  When you see them swimming like I suggested that you watch for today, you will see the legs are WAY back on the body rather than under the middle of the body like a duck.

 

Just one more of the amazing things about our amazing loons on an amazing spring day.

 

May today be amazing for you in every way!