Tuesday, May 31, 2011 1:07pm CDT

 

WE HAVE A CHICK!

 

The mate has been swimming around the nest for a little bit and then got up on the nest from the back and just sat and waited.  The loon on the nest got up and left and .....

THERE WAS A CHICK!!

The egg shell was amazingly intact.  At least 2/3 of it intact.

The chick had 'zipped' it around the large end.

One down one to go!

It gets even MORE exciting!

 

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 12:16pm CDT

 

After a lot of activity with the loon raising its body over and over, she has now once again settled down quietly on the eggs.

Oh, if only we could see what is going on under there.

I assume that one of two things is happening since she is so quiet now.  Either the chick is taking a rest from trying to get out of the egg.  Or the chick has already hatched and is just laying under there all worn out and resting.  With no movement under her, there is no reason for her to continue to lift her body over and over.

But even as I type this, once again she is going into more and more body lifts.

It is almost tormenting to have to wait to see the chick that we have waited so many weeks for.

But wait we must.

The wait will be worth it.

 

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 11:44am CDT

 
We are finally there!
 
What we have all been waiting for!
 
The loon is doing many motions, especially lifting her tail and the whole lower part of her body.
 
There is definitely something going on.
 
I have not seen a chick yet.
 
But  there is something definitely happening.
 
Keep watch!  
 
It can't be long before our first glimpse of a chick!
 

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 4:52am CDT

 
70 degrees   Scattered Clouds   Wind 4mph SE
 
 
Morning light just begins to gild the eastern sky on a northern lake.
 
One can now make out the surface of the lake and the far shoreline.
 
The frogs are in full song and there is a chirping sound.  The same one I heard yesterday morning.  Is it the morning birds getting ready?  Because now there is also the sound of the morning birds as well.  Or is it 'something' else?!
 
The sun won't be up for more than half an hour yet.
 
The loon mate sits patiently about 30 feet from the nest.  Just floating.  Just relaxing.
 
One wonders what (s)he knows that he isn't telling us.  What conversations do the loons have with each other when they do their nest exchange?  How much information is exchanged?  Or is any information exchanged?
 
I have been watching for about 20 minutes and I have not seen any signs that the appearance of a chick is imminent.  Or that full-fledged hatching is under way.
 
At least not the signs I want to see to be a little more certain of what is happening.
 
There have been a few subtle tail wiggles that is not normal and might be a sign of things happening under there.  But no wing lifts or other flinching like there were a few of last night.
 
Some people in the chat room said they had seen more of that behavior over night and egg turning more often than normal.  But no clear view of the eggs.  Nor have I seen any clear view of the eggs this morning.
 
So the "egg hatching vigil" continues!
 
Just a reminder that it can take many hours from the time an egg is first 'pipped' before a chick actually hatches.  At least that is the case with chickens and many other birds.  But once again so very little is known about loons.
 
There is nothing we can do to speed it up.
 
The chicks will decide when they 'pip and zip and hatch'.
 
And the adult loon will decide when it wants to get up and give us a good view.
 
So once again, we wait.  And hope.
 
 
Questions or Comments?   LoonCam@yahoo.com