Saturday, June 12, 2010 3:04pm

Let me give you an update from rainy Minnesota.

It has been raining the last couple hours but it looks like the big "blob" should be moving past us fairly soon. 

The loon on the nest has been sleeping a lot during this rain but has now just adjusted the eggs and has gone into nest building mode again.  So far not the intense nest building that we saw a couple days ago but she is definitely picking and poking.

I do not know what has triggered the seemingly increased nest building at times.  I keep wondering if the rain triggered some need in her to raise the level of the nest.  Once again, way more questions than answers.  But every observation adds to our knowledge and our understanding of loons.

Let me ask your advice on something.

I have been given permission by the Minnesota DNR to recover the remaining egg when I feel it is the right time.  They feel that anything a week or 10 days beyond the expected hatching date means it is not going to hatch.

One piece of information that I did not know before is that even the DNR has to have a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to take a loon egg from the wild!  It is serious stuff.  And I am glad to see that everyone takes it so seriously.

So we have now gotten through all the red tape and legalities and I have permission to take the egg whenever I feel it is appropriate.

So here is my question for you....

I have pretty much decided that I want to take it at night to minimize the stress on the loons and to keep from imprinting on them that I am a threat.  

Also, since the sun does not even set here until 9pm and we have that wonderful twilight until after 10pm, my thinking is that I will take the egg somewhere around 11pm similar to the times when I had to go out and restore the camera.  And with the new night vision camera this year,  you will be able to observe the whole thing even though it is pitch dark!

But my question for you is which do you prefer, Monday or Tuesday night?

I want to give people as much notice as possible and also allow people who are traveling over the weekend to be able to see it.  Also, I want to do it relatively soon to be able to free the loons from their being tied to the nest.

So I lean toward doing it Monday night at 11pm but I am also open to Tuesday night if everyone thinks that is better.  Let me know what you think.  Someone may even want to start a separate subject with that question so that everyone sees it.

By doing it on either one of those nights, we have gone almost 2 weeks beyond the expected hatching date and should have removed any doubt in anyone's mind that the remaining egg MIGHT have hatched if we had just waited another day.

Now it is time to learn as much as we can from this year's experience.  And to let the loons get on with their lives and to be able to enjoy the rest of the summer in the element that they were created to be in.  Not tied to a nest.

So let me know what you think.  But we WILL do it either Monday night or Tuesday night at 11pm.

And let some of your family and friends  and others know about it when we set the night to do it.  It may be a once in a lifetime thing to watch.  At least I HOPE it is once in a lifetime.  I don't want to have to do it again in MY lifetime!  And I hope future years we are talking about how cute the chicks are and not about when to take the unhatched egg off the nest!

After the egg is off the nest, I would expect that the loons would return to the nest but fairly soon leave when there is nothing to keep them there.

I will plan on leaving the camera running for at least a few days after we take the egg so that you may be able to catch of glimpse of them now and then.

AND that we can learn from their behavior and see exactly how they will deal with the egg being taken.  Yet one more opportunity to learn about our amazing loons!

Saturday, June 12, 2010 5:34am CDT

53 degrees    Cloudy    Wind NE 5mph

There is a haze of fog that drifts across the lake this morning.  It is just enough to give it that "mood".  And just like any other morning, our loon still sits faithfully on the egg.

In fact, it is almost as if they have gotten better at staying on the egg and making a quick change of shifts in the last week or so.  There have been fewer extended periods of time when they have been drawn off the nest.

Unfortunately, it may be too late for that to do much good.

We are now at Day 36 and Day 38 for each of the eggs respectively.  It is impossible to know if it is "egg #1" or "egg #2" that is still on the nest.  But whichever one it is, the chances of it successfully hatching become less and less with each passing day.

In a couple days, we will probably remove the egg from the nest so that the loons can get on with their lives.  I will let you know before we take the egg so that you can watch if you want.  Now taking a loon egg is not something you just decide to do on your own.  Even the DNR needs a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to collect a loon egg.  All of that has been taken care of and we have all the permissions necessary to collect the egg when the time is right.

So we will wait for a few more days to make sure that there is absolutely NO chance that the egg is going to hatch before we remove it.

But it is unfair for us to leave the loon 'chained' to the nest if there is no chance of the egg hatching.  Since we provided the nest that was relatively safe from predators, it may be only fair to provide a "predator" to finally take the egg.....even if it turns out to be a 'human predator'!  There are no easy choices when an egg does not hatch.  Everything would have been so much easier and better all the way around if we had two new loon chicks.

But nature doesn't always make it 'easy'.

While we wait, you may be interested in a couple more interesting facts about loons.

You have seen how clumsy they are on land and that my be, in fact, how they got their name from the Swedish word 'lom' meaning 'clumsy'!

But as you have seen them get on and off the nest, you may have also gotten a glimpse of how big their feet are!  Their feet are webbed and are approximately 5 inches by 3 inches.  This is truly 'bigfoot'!

Someone has calculated that in human terms, that would be equivalent to you having a size 45RRR shoe!  Imagine yourself trying to walk with 'clown shoes' like that!

But for the loon, it is ideal.  They are birds of the water, not the land.  And a huge foot like this gives them the ability to swim very fast with such powerful 'swimming fins' at the end of their powerful legs.  As we have said before, loons have been documented diving to depths of 250 feet.  And they have been known to stay underwater for 5 minutes.  Try holding your breath that long to see how long of a time that really is.

Try holding your breath for even 30 to 45 seconds which is the average length of a dive.

Loons also have powerful wings.  But they do not use them underwater.  They keep them tucked close against their body and they are almost like a torpedo.  They are fast and they are able to maneuver there large bodies with amazing speed and they can make turns on a dime.   You only wish that you drove a race car with such maneuvering ability!

You have seen how a small minnow can dart around.  Back and forth.  Now imagine a huge 10 pound bird being able to do the same thing.  Loons can!  They can outmaneuver that minnow and catch him with their long bill.

A loon will eat up to 2 pounds of fish a day!

Some fishermen have blamed loons for poor fishing.  But then don't all of us fishermen want to blame anything other than us for poor fishing.  Even though loons eat a lot of fish, no studies have ever shown them to have a significant impact on the number of fish.  Their absolute favorite food is small perch.  A fish that fishermen complain about taking their bait anyway.  And small sunfish.

Loons have a wing span between 4 and 5 FEET!

Their wing span is much larger than most people think.  And they are very powerful flyers.  It takes a long 'runway' for them to become airborne.  But once they are in the air stand back!  Because in bird terms they are more like a jet than a slow propeller-driven airplane.

They can fly 90 to 100 miles per hour!

In flight, they flap their wings 260  to 270 times per minute!

Put your arms out and try doing that.  And see how long you can keep it up.  That is almost 5 times a second that they are flapping their wings.  A second!  Can you do that for even a few seconds? For ONE second?  Let alone for minutes and HOURS at a time?  Loons do.

These are only a few more of the things that make our amazing loons so amazing!

Continue to enjoy this close-up view of this amazing bird for the next few days.  How much richer are our lives because this beautiful and amazing bird is in our world!

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.