Sunday, April 29, 2012 5:24am CDT

40 degrees F   Cloudy   Wind Calm

It is a quiet but chilly morning for our loons.

Or maybe it is only chilly for us humans.  The loons seem to have more than adequate protection against the cold air and the cold water.  Right now the water is about 10 degrees warmer than the air.

Today the forecast is for temperatures to get to 66 degrees, much closer to normal.  And by the middle of the week, the temperatures should be back into the mid to upper 70s.

Both loons float calmly not too far from the nest, to the back side of the camera.  That seems to be their preferred position in the early pre-dawn for the last few mornings.  Close to the nest but not on it.

After midnight I heard one set of yodels and tremolos and other faithful watchers reported a couple other times during the night.  From the calls I heard you could tell that they were near the nest, maybe even in the same position they are now.  They seem to be staying near the nest in the dark to protect it.  However, I did not hear an answering call from other loons.

So maybe they were just putting out a 'general alarm' that we are here, this is our nest, stay away from it.

Or maybe the muskrat or beaver decided to come too close.

Once daylight actually comes so that they can visually see where danger is, they have tended to swim away from the nest and out into the lake.  And then they seem to come back a little bit later to once again check out the nest.

But for now, they keep guard near the nest.

One of these mornings, hopefully soon, all of that will change.

With the arrival of an egg, they will be nest bound for the next four weeks.

Then almost anytime you check the LoonCam you will see one of the loons on the nest.  Right now they are making the most of their freedom and spending most of the day out in the lake fishing and relaxing.  Although they never truly 'relax'.  They are always watchful and always mindful of potential danger to their nest or danger from other intruding loons.

Some people have asked about putting other nesting platforms for the other loons on the lake to use.

This has been discussed at length with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) experts and others.  The general agreement has been not to do it unless you are on a lake that has bays or places where the loons can nest out of site of each other.  If they can see each other, they will probably fight.

We are all too familiar with that.

So we wait for the arrival of the first egg.

There is no telling what time of day.  I have seen eggs laid in the  early morning.  I have seen late at night.  And just about everything in between.  Maybe if I get a chance I will go back through some of the records and data from the last several years and see if there is a pattern or preference that is obvious.  But rest assured, it is not as if they always lay the egg early in the morning.  Or always lay the egg late at night.  They seem to be equal opportunity egg layers!

So today, let's hope for a quiet and uneventful day for our loons.

And let's hope that they are able to settle into their egg-laying routine without disruptions.  When will it be?

All we can say for certain is that we are one day closer to the blessed event.

Comments or Questions?  LoonCam(at)yahoo(dot)com

Copyright 2012  Larry Backlund

Saturday, April 28, 2012 5:31am CDT

46 degrees   Cloudy   Wind  6mph NNE  Sunrise  6:05am    Sunset  8:16am

In the early morning twilight, two loons sit vigil near the nest.

Both of them have their beaks tucked under their wings, sleeping.

But for a loon it is never a very deep sleep.  Danger does not allow that.  At any moment they need to be wide awake and ready for anything that comes.

But for now, they are able to relax and get some sleep as they float on the small waves.

The temperature did not get as low as was forecast and so there has been no snow overnight so far.  "But wait 5 minutes!"

The forecast for today is for a chilly spring day with rain and a high of 48 degrees, just about where it is now.  So maybe there is hope that the temperature will be higher than forecast today also.

For now we have to be satisfied with the occasional time that they actually visit the nest to be able to see them.  Those times will gradually increase until the day that the first egg is laid.  From that time forward, almost anytime you look at the nest you will see one of the loons.  For the next four weeks they will be nest bound until the most exciting day of all.  The day we get our first glimpse of a little chick peeking out from under mama or papa loon.

I know that there are some who wish that we had a wider view of the lake and surroundings.  But this is as far back as this camera can be pulled.  It is what it is.  The important part is to not miss anything on the nest.   For what it is worth, at least 75% of the time when you do not see a loon around the nest, they are actually no where to be seen.  Most of the other 25%, they are either out of range of the camera or on the 'back side' of the camera.  I know that may be small consolation but hopefully it is some consolation.  It is not as if they are 'just up off the edge of the camera if only we could see more'.

But I sure understand your desire to see more.

I would invite you over but I am sorry that I do not have room for everybody!

I want to thank so many of you who are so wonderfully concerned about the security of the loon nest.

It is not that it is some big secret.  But since the LoonCam has become so well known world wide and watched by so many thousands upon thousands of people, we have chosen not to openly publicize its location.  All it takes is one goofball to decide they want to do something.  Fortunately goofballs usually are pretty lazy and if information is not put right in front of their face they will not take the effort to find information.

So thank you for your concern.  It is very much appreciated.  The loons have enough to worry about with one more thing.

Let me say a quick word about the different calls that a loon makes since we have not explained them yet.  We have talked about different calls but have not explained what they mean.

As the audience grows when the eggs are laid, I will try to remember to repeat this information for everyone.  But now you can become the expert before your friends know about it.

Loons make 4 basic calls:

1.  The WAIL.  This is a long undulating call that simply says to another loon, "I am here.  Where are you?"

2.  The TREMOLO.  This is a call of concern.  Something has caught the loon's attention and it either does not like it or it is concerned about it.

3.  The YODEL.  This call is the highest stress call that a loon makes.  It is made only by the male loon.  Much of the time when it is used, it is a territorial call and warning to other loons to stay away.

4.  The HOOT.  This call is a very quiet call and is used when loons are sitting close to each other or when adults are with their chicks.

LInks to recordings of all 4 calls can be found on the MNBound.com homepage in the "Loon Cam FAQS" page.  There you can hear actual recordings of all 4 calls so that you know what they sound like.

There is a lot more to be said about calls but let that basic information cover it for now.

One of the biggest questions everyone has is 'Have the eggs been laid yet.'  The answer to that is no.

The next biggest question is 'When will the eggs be laid?'  The answer to that is I don't know.

All we can say for certainty is that we are one day closer than we were yesterday.

We are well within the 'normal range' of dates for egg laying.  So there is no need for concern yet.  I have gotten some reports of some loons that are already nesting.  But then loons further north may not nest for another month yet.

So all we can do is be patient.

Nothing we do or say can speed things up for the loons.

We are simply spectators in this great drama of nature.  This watching the Miracle of Life.

The loons are the ones who are in control.

So get another cup of coffee.  Or tea.  Or hot chocolate.  Or popcorn.  Or whatever you like.

And sit back and enjoy one of nature's most beautiful and enigmatic birds.

And enjoy the drama.

Questions or Comments?  LoonCam(at)yahoo(dot)com

Copyright  2012  Larry Backlund

Friday, April 27, 2012 6:24am CDT

 

32 degrees F    Partly Cloudy    Calm

Sunrise  6:06am CDT    Sunset  8:15pm

 

 

There are scattered areas of frost on a cool, crisp Minnesota morning.

 

A couple loons have flown over this morning and then landed.

 

Our loons?  "Intruder" loons?

 

Who knows?  I have totally lost track of who is who.

 

A couple people in the chat room who have been closely and faithfully observing have said they think that two or maybe three different females have tried to use the nest.  I don't know what to tell you.  If that is true, it is the first time I have ever seen it on this nest although I am sure it has happened and does happen in the wild at times.

 

There was also an observation a couple nights ago by one of the viewers of a loon being attacked by another loon as it was halfway on the nest.  If that was accurate, and I have no reason to believe it wasn't, that must have been an "intruder" loon trying to get on the nest.

 

I have said it several times before - most of the time I cannot distinguish one loon from another.

 

About all I can say for sure is that we DO have more than two loons on the lake.  I have seen at least one other pair and maybe even an additional single loon.  But the single loon is a 'maybe'.

  

A pair of loons swam around the nest a little while ago but did not get up on the nest that I saw.

 

Obviously the big question on everyone's mind is when there will be eggs and when the first egg will be laid and is it too late and a thousand and one other questions.

 

Only God and the loons know for sure and neither one has told me the answer yet.

 

But let me put your minds at ease as much as I can.  I looked back over the last few years to see when the eggs were laid.  I didn't look at all the years that we have done this particular nest but here are the last four years:

2008  Egg #1  May 10     Egg #2  May 12

2009  Egg #1  April 30     Egg #2  May 2

2010  Egg #1  May  5    Egg #2  May 7

2011  Egg #1  May 4       Egg #2  May 6

 

So we are well within the "normal" time frame and limits for this nest, whatever they are.

 

This particular nest has usually been about a month earlier than loons nesting up along the Canadian border or in Canada or even most loons in New England.  I have no explanation of why.  Yet one more of the mysteries.

  

So as of yet, there is no need for concern about the timing of them laying the eggs or that it is too late.  It definitely is not too late.

 

The most important part is that they settle the territorial boundaries so that all of the loons can settle down and get on with their nesting activity.

 

Having said that, let me give you a few hints of what to watch for when it actually is time for the loon to lay its first egg.

 

Typically they will start to spend more and more time around and on the nest.  There will be more intense nest building activity while they are on the nest.

 

Then one of the times she is on the nest you will see small twitches and an "uncomfortable" look.  Gradually she will crawl up on the side of the nest bowl.  She may spread her wings and even her feet a little, as if to brace herself.

 

You will see "pulsations" of the body.  It must be as the egg is being moved down through the egg canal.

 

The actual laying of the egg will usually happen very quickly - it will almost just pop out.  If you turn your head for a second, you may miss it.  It happens that fast most of the time.

 

If you are fortunate enough to see it, you will have the privilege of seeing something that researchers of the past could only dream about seeing.  A number of years ago we were actual to catch the laying of the egg on tape and as far as any of us know, that was the first time that an actual laying of a wild loon egg had ever been captured on tape.

 

In the past, researchers could only guess the approximate time or date that eggs were laid.  Now with the Loon Cam and with such faithful observers, we usually know the exact minute it was laid.

 

Loons usually lay two eggs.  Sometimes they lay only one and rarely they will lay three eggs.

 

Then a new clock starts ticking. 

 

It takes about four weeks for the eggs to hatch.

 

So the vigil continues in the maternity room.

 

Today the forecast is for the wind to pick up and then maybe some rain later this evening.

  

But more than the rain.  Overnight it is supposed to be cold enough tonight that there will be SNOW mixed in with the rain tonight and tomorrow morning.  They are not forecasting any accumulation of snow but most of the forecasts are talking about snow.  Then tomorrow is forecast to be very chilly and get only into the 40s!

 

The watch and the wait continue.

 

 

 

Comments or Questions?  LoonCam(at)yahoo(dot)com

 

Copyright 2012  Larry Backlund

Thursday, April 26, 2012 5:39 am CDT

45 degrees F   Partly Cloudy   WInd  10 mph N

Sunrise 6:06am CDT   Sunset 8:13pm CDT

The fierce wind that you heard late last night has brought in a new weather system with it.

A colder weather system.

After a high of 80 degrees F for the last couple days, temperatures are not forecast to reach more than the mid 50s for the next several days.

There are waves on the lake this morning.  Not huge.  But enough to bounce a boat around.  What we Minnesotans call "walleye chop".  This morning a heavy walley chop.  And enough to bounce the nest around.

Off to one side, not too far away, sits one of the loons in the first light of day.  Ever vigilant.  Ever watching.  Ever ready to defend its hard won territory from all intruders, foreign and domestic.  Whether it be a goose or a muskrat or a beaver or even another loon.

Bouncing on the waves is nothing new for them.  They are used to water and waves and wind.

Last night after dark, there were more yodels and tremolos.

But as far as I could tell, there were no actual confrontations between the loons.

It was one loon hollering across  the lake, "This is MY territory!  You stay away."  And then another loon across the lake answering, "Oh yeah?  Well this is MY territory over here and you just stay where you are."

Hopefully the territorial issue is starting to get resolved and the loons can get down to the business at hand.

That of laying eggs.

From the signs I have seen so far, I don't think an egg is imminent but that could change at a moment's notice.

Before the territorial fights started almost a week ago, I had thought that we were very close to egg laying by all the signs.  But that has changed somewhat over the last week.  But at this stage things could change very quickly.  It is impossible to tell what is going on inside that loons body.  There are probably egg(s) being readied.  But how far along are they?  That is an unanswerable but amazing question.

A loon egg is very large.

Probably equivalent in volume to three chicken eggs.

The USDA classifies a chicken egg as "large" if it is about 57 grams.

The loon eggs that I retrieved off the nest two years ago that were not viable weighed 140 grams and 150 grams.  They both floated so they were lighter than a normal egg would have been.  This was after sitting out for over a month so they  probably lost some of their original weight.

So the next time you make your three egg omelet for breakfast, stop to think that that is about how much egg a loon must produce.  Twice.

It is those eggs we wait to see.

Questions or Comments?   LoonCam(at)yahoo(dot)com

Copyright 2012  Larry Backlund

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 11:05pm CDT

 

56 degrees F   Partly Cloudy  Wind 20 mph NNE

 

 

 

All of a sudden the wind has picked up as a front is apparently coming through.  What had been a lake as still as a mirror not more than a few minutes ago is now rolling with white caps.

 

The nest is rocking and rolling in the waves.

 

Today has seen its share of technical challenges.

For those of you who sympathized with the computer problems I am having right now, I thank you.  I am not sure if this is related to this morning's problems [which continue tonight], but about 5 pm I found out that a virus was sending out emails from my account.  Tracing things back, it turns out I got the virus from a very trusted person  whose name you would recognize if I said it.  But it certainly is NOT their fault.  They are a victim as well.

 

And then there have been the technical problems with the site.  [btw, the problems with my computer are totally unrealted to some of the other glitches .... it is not in that loop at all.]

 

But I trust that you can see some of the improvements in sight and sound that have come from experimenting and tweaking.  Nothing is ever as easy as it seems sometimes.

 

The good people at Broadband have been so great to work with.  Where else would you get the president of the company personally working at this time of night to give you the best experience possible?!

 

The loons have been on the nest at least a couple times today and they continue to show definite ownership of the nest.  Including defending it from other loons and from a goose who was unceremoniously ushered off the nest by a loon.

 

There have been several instances of territorial calls (yodels and tremolos) but no chases that I have seen or heard of (but I was gone for most of the day.

 

Even though we get impatient that the loons have not laid an egg yet (yes, include me in that), we are still within the normal range for egg laying on this particular nest.  In far northern Minnesota, New England and Canada, many loons do not nest until the first of June.  The norm here has been for them to nest the last part of April or the first part of May.

 

So there is absolutely no need to get concerned yet.

 

I would like to see less territorial battles.  But even that is normal for loons.  You are having the privilege of being a part of something that happens with loons all across "the great north country".  You may not be able to see the actual chases and battles as they happen, but through other videos and just being a part of this hopefully it brings a whole new understanding and appreciation of what loons go through to raise one or two little chicks.  

 

And to hear the calls .... the yodels and tremolos and wails.

 

What excitement will tonight bring?

 

Muskrats?

 

Beavers?

 

Geese?

 

Intruding loons?

 

Thank you for watching.  And thank you for your wonderful patience as some of the unforeseen glitches are worked out.

 

 

 

Comments or Questions?  LoonCam(at)yahoo(dot)com