Friday, June 11, 2010 5:21am CDT

58 degrees  Thunderstorms and Rain   Wind East 8mph

 

 

There she sits.

 

Our loon.  Majestic.  Regal.  Unfazed in the middle of a downpour.

 

The raindrops on her head reflect the light of the infrared camera and the first light of dawn like diamonds in her crown.

 

The heaviest part of the storm with its thunder and lightening has passed.  But the forecast is for rain to continue for most of the day.  At times heavy rain.

 

But the rain does not bother our loon.  In fact, for her it sure is better than hot sun beating down on her hour after hour.  She is in her element.  When the peak of the storm was passing through, some of the lightening strikes and the thunder got her attention.  But the rain did not bother her at all.

 

In addition to keeping her cool, it also kept the bugs away!

 

And so she continues to faithfully sit on the remaining egg.  One wonders what goes through her mind, if anything.  Does she somehow sense or know that this has now gone on at least a week beyond when the eggs should have hatched?  Does she realize that there is now only one egg where there were two before?

 

Just how much does she actually understand and how much is instinct?  How much is 'hard wired' into her?  How much is learned behavior?  And who taught her?

 

Today is day 37 for the first egg that was laid and day 35 for the second egg that was laid.

 

We are now almost certainly beyond the dates that we can expect a successful hatch from the remaining egg.  But we will wait for a few days yet to see if they continue to stay on the nest and incubate the egg .... much like it would be in nature had there been no human intervention of any form.

 

As much as all of us looked forward to seeing those unbelievably cute chicks peeking out from under a wing, it does not look like it was meant to be this year.  And, oh, a THOUSAND questions of why!

 

Is this a new pair?  Are they too old?  Are they too young?  Are they too inexperienced?  Are they too uncommitted?  Are they too careless?  Did the eggs get too cold?  Did the eggs get too hot?  Were they affected by the frost?  Were they affected by the hot sun?  Were they fertile?  Were they infertile?  Did a chick start to form?  If it did, why did it die?

 

Questions.  Questions.  Endless questions!

 

Most of them that we will never have definitive answers for, as much as we would like to have answers.

 

It is a reminder of what nature does.  Of what life means.

 

This is not a scripted reality show with a known ending.

 

This is the first time in almost ten years that we have not had at least one chick hatch.  A remarkably successful record that is hard to match.  So maybe a year like this was inevitable.

 

We have gone along for the ride with the loons.  Never knowing what the ending would be.  In fact, sometimes never knowing what surprise the next minute would bring.

 

But that is the beauty and magnificence of being able to be a part of something so wonderful as this.  Being able to watch up close and personal these beautiful birds without once disturbing them or making them change their behavior as we watched them and listened to them.

 

Can you imagine even trying to explain this to your grandparents or even your parents 20 years ago?!?!  What do you mean you are able to sit at a 'computer' and watch a loon sitting on eggs on a nest on a lake in Minnesota?!!?  Are you dreaming?  Have you lost your mind?  Are you hallucinating?  That isn't possible!

 

And yet now we take it for granted!

 

We can watch it all the way around the world!

 

How blessed we are to be able to be a part of this.

 

May I give you a suggestion?  I know many of you have loved ones and friends scattered around the world.  Some of them in the armed services and  in very difficult circumstances in Afghanistan or Iraq or countless other 'hotspots' around the world.  Away from family and friends and everything that is familiar.

 

While we still have at least a week that the LoonCam will still be on, why not forward the link to them.  In the midst of all that they have to contend with today, let them have a little taste of home and of peace.

 

You may very well help them make it through their day.

 

There is something so soothing and so calming about the sound of rain on a Minnesota lake.  Let these sounds and sights soothe your soul today.  And even marvel at the occasional strike of lightening and the thunder that shakes to the very core of your soul.

 

Enjoy today and the miracles that have been placed all around us.  If only we will stop to look for them!

 

Thursday, June 10, 2010 10:20pm CDT

I am sorry to hear that the cam has been down again.

Let me just assure you that when I came home a few minutes ago, the loon was sitting peacefully on the nest.

Right now she has just tucked her bill under her wing and is trying to get some sleep.  She is facing to the corner of the nest away from the camera as you have seen her do so many times!

So we will see what tomorrow brings.

But right now, all is well with our loon!

Thursday, June 10, 2010 4:17pm CDT

The mate of the loon on the nest is sitting not too far out in the lake from the nest.  S/he is floating and sleeping.  Getting some well-deserved rest.

 

All is calm.

 

The loon on the nest is ever alert to danger and continues to pull nesting materials up on the nest.  From what can be seen on the camera, it looks like the level of the nest has been raised significantly in the last few days.

 

But it is 'calmer' than any of us want.

 

We wish that there were the activity and excitement that would come with the arrival of a new chick.  But it is looking less and less likely that the egg on the nest will hatch.  There is still a very slim chance that it might happen but that probability is getting less and less with each passing hour.

 

All of you have been amazing in your interest and excitement and support of these loons.  It is almost as if we wish hard enough that we can get that egg to hatch.

 

But there is also a time to be realistic.

 

And I would now be more surprised if the egg hatched than if it did not hatch.

 

Some of you have wondered if we will "just suddenly shut off the LoonCam".  The answer is no, we will not suddenly shut it off.  We will try to give you some warning before we turn it off for the year.  So don't worry about it "just disappearing".

 

I have heard back from the DNR and they have been given me permission to take the second egg off the nest if it becomes necessary and when it is appropriate.  Again, I will try to let you know before I do anything.  I would not expect that I will do anything before the first part of next week.  I want to give them every chance to hatch the egg and I do not want any question in any of our minds that the egg may have hatched or that we took it too early.

 

So if they abandon the nest, then I will take the egg off the nest.

 

If they do not abandon the nest, I will have to carefully consider what is the best way to remove the egg from the nest in order to cause the least distress.  I have thought about that doing it at night might be the least stressful for the loons.  But we will see what is the best course of action.

 

I also do not want them to start to see me as a threat.  I have worked years to gain their trust and I think that has shown on numerous occasions.  But I could destroy that trust in a matter of moments and that I do not want to do.

 

So it will take a lot of thought to decide when and how will be the best to take the egg if it becomes necessary.

 

But I will try to keep you informed at every step of the process!

 

The DNR has also said that they will try to x-ray the eggs to see if they were fertile and had started to develop at all.  The DNR has been so supportive in everything that I have done with this loon nest and we have been able to educate so many thousands of people about loons and taking care of them.  I would like to especially thank Carroll Henderson and Pam Perry for their support and encouragement through the years.  Mr Henderson is the head of all the non-game wildlife programs in the state of Minnesota.  He has recently released an updated version of his book "WOODWORKING FOR WILDLIFE - Homes for Birds and Animals" published by the Minnesota DNR.  It is a wonderful resource if you are looking for information about nests or providing habitat for birds or animals.

 

Rain continues to move through the area although there has not been much more than a few light showers here so far.  Tonight however is forecast to bring heavy rain throughout the night.  

Heavy rain on a natural nest along the shores of a lake can make the nest vulnerable if the lake level rises significantly.  However, one of the advantages of a floating nesting platform like this is that if the lake level rises.  It rises.  If the lake level goes down, the nesting platform goes down with it and enables the loons to still access the nest.

 

So for now, the loon continues to carefully and faithfully sit on the remaining egg on the nest.  

 

And we continue to hope.

 

Thursday, June 10, 2010 7:09am CDT

52 degrees  Cloudy   Wind NE 3 mph

It is a cool, cloudy morning that promises rain for the loons this morning.

Then later tonight the rain may become very heavy with the chance of thunderstorms lasting into Friday morning.

While rain sends us humans running for cover, it does not really affect the loons at all.  Water?  Who said water?  That is where we live!

The only concern would be if the storms became severe tonight.  There is apparently not much chance os that happening this morning.  But if there are very high winds or especially hail, that would not be the most pleasant for the loons.

I have watched them sit through hailstorms in the past with hail bouncing off their backs and their heads.  But they never moved off the nest!  It was as if they knew that they could survive the hail but that the eggs never could survive being pelted by hail.  And so that sat on the eggs, ever faithful.  Ever vigilant.

But this morning, the big question is not the weather.

The question is if the egg on the nest will hatch.

Today is day 36 and day 34 for the two eggs.

I have to be honest with myself and with you that we are now at the point where it becomes very questionable whether or not this second egg will hatch.  It is impossible to tell whether it is the 'day 34' or the 'day 36' egg which is still on the nest.  But whichever one it is, we are now moving rapidly beyond the window of time in which we would expect it to hatch successfully.

It is not time to give up on it yet.  The loons have not given up.  But as time goes by, it becomes less and less likely as to whether or not we will see a new little loon chick this year.

Some have asked how long they will sit on the egg even if it is not viable.  There are a couple documented cases of long term sitting on eggs that did not hatch.  One was where the loons sat for 66 days and the other documented case was where the loons sat on eggs for 74 days.

These times are unusually long.  But they illustrate how long a loon will potentially sit on an egg that does not hatch.

Normally something would happen to an egg long before they sat that long.  The most likely scenario is that some predator would take the egg before the loons sat on it that long.  But they will sit for a long time trying to hatch that egg.

This fact alone argues that loons may not be able to feel or know if an egg is viable or not.  Once again, there is just so much that is not known.

The most common predator of loon eggs by far are raccoons.  But there are numerous other predators including skunks, mink, eagles, crows and ravens, seagulls and who knows what else.  The longer a loon would sit on eggs on a land-based nest, the more likely that it would be discovered by a predator.  And the predator would scare the loon off the nest and eat the eggs.

There are cases of loons attempting a second or even third  try at nesting if they lose the first nest.  But second and third attempts are usually less successful than the first attempt  And then the calendar starts to work against them at some point.  A very late nest means that the chicks do not have time to mature before it is time for them to fly south.  And they risk being caught in the approach of winter and their lake freezing over before they are able to leave to fly south.

Here is the most likely scenario of what will happen if this remaining egg does not hatch in the next few days [ there is a possibility of that happening although it is rapidly becoming a slim possibility].

At some point, in consultation with the DNR and other experts, we may remove the egg from the nest.  That will normally break the bond that the loons have with the nest and allow them to get on with their lives and to have a somewhat normal summer - albeit one without chicks.  By taking the egg, we are simply duplicating what would normally happen in the 'wild'.

The advantage of building an artificial floating platform like this for them to nest on is that it protects them from predators as well as rising or falling lake levels.  However, that is ALSO the disadvantage of a nest like this - it protects them from predators who would eventually take the egg.

By taking the egg, we are simply duplicating what normally happens in the wild.  Just a different 'predator'.  A human one.

However, having said that, NOTHING will be done without the approval of the DNR and the consensus of wildlife experts.

Some have asked whether that has ever happened before with this particular nest where an egg did not hatch.  The answer is yes.  On two occasions.

Over the course of the years, this nest has been amazingly successful in hatching and fledging loon chicks.

But the very first year that loons used this nest, they laid two eggs but neither one of the eggs hatched.  The loons continued to faithfully sit on the eggs day after day.  I would have to look back at my notes to remember for sure how long it was, but from what I remember it was well over two weeks beyond the expected hatching date.

Then something happened to the eggs and they abandoned the nest and got on with their lives.

I did not personally see what happened to the eggs so I cannot definitively say what happened.  But when I came home at the end of the day that they abandoned the nest, one of my neighbors asked me if I saw the eagle harassing the loons in the morning.  I had not.

My neighbor told me that all morning the eagle had been flying over the nest and dive bombing the loon.

So we can only assume that the eagle ultimately took the two eggs off the nest.

The second instance was the year when one of the eggs hatched but the second egg did not.

In that case, we left the egg and the loon continued to come back to the nest to sit on the egg.  And unusually, the chick also spent much of its time on the nest as well.  It was wonderful and very enlightening to watch the chick grow during the first two weeks or so after it was hatched.  But it also was not the norm and not what that chick needed.  That chick was not a creature of nest or land.  It was a creature of the water and it needed to be about learning how to survive on and in the water.

So after about two weeks, we took the egg off the nest.

That broke the bond and almost immediately the loons moved on with their lives and the important task of teaching the chick all that it needed to know to survive.

So there has been experience with eggs not hatching on this nest.  Fortunately however, almost every egg laid here has produced a chick.  But that does not look like it will be the case this year, for whatever reason.

Overall, in studies conducted in the wild, each nest successfully produces only 0.62 chicks each year!  So the success of this nest and the loons on this nest have been amazingly successful over the years.

Even though there is a relatively low production of chicks, loons are very long-lived birds so they have a longer opportunity to reproduce themselves.  No one knows for sure what the longest is that a loon can live.  But it is felt that they live at least 25 to 30 years, very long for most bird species.

Several have asked if a loon would renest if the first nest fails.  There is a possibility of that as I said before.  But second and third nests are usually less successful than first attempts at nesting in a season.  And there is the danger of a chick not being mature enough to fly south in the fall.

So once again today, we can only watch and wait and observe.  And hope for the best for our loons.

They have patiently waited.  That is the least that we can do.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 8:40am CDT

 

I had meant to give you an update on the egg that was bumped out of the nest by the loon when I posted earlier and I forgot.

 

I have not taken it in to the DNR yet.  I have let them know that I have it and we will be discussing everything in more detail.  Even after I take it in, it may be sometime before we hear back with any results.

 

But for those of you who have been so faithfully watching and documenting everything that has happened, you might be interested in knowing some details of the egg that was found floating in the water and retrieved some distance from the nest.

 

It is about 3 7/16 inches (87.3mm) Long and about 2 5/16 inches (58.7mm) in Diameter.

 

It weighed about 130 grams (that is just over 1/4 pound) and had a volume of about 145cc (cubic centimeters).

 

These figures compare favorably with some measurements given in previous studies where the length of eggs ranged from 86.5mm to 91.6mm and the diameter from 53.9mm to 57.1mm.  Volumes in the studies ranged from 124.3cc to 150.3cc.

 

The egg is a very dark olive brown with even darker olive brown spots...not black spots but close.  There is a very slight "orange peel" texture to the surface of the egg.

 

Loon eggs are dark enough and the shell thick enough that you cannot successfully "candle" them to see what is inside....although I did try candling this egg just to make sure.  I could not see any detail through the shell.

 

I have to admit that as special and humbling as it is to handle a real loon egg, I would much rather be handling shell fragments after a successful hatch!