Wednesday, May 9, 2012 6:22am CDT

Travis Frank May 9, 2012

44 degrees Clear Wind 4mph N

Sunrise 5:49am Sunset 8:30am

Today promises to be a beautiful day for our loons.

Blue skies, mild temperatures, light winds and a break from the rain that we have had so much of.

A few weeks ago, the lake was on the normal to low side. Now it is high. In a couple weeks it has come up at least 8 to 10 inches from all the rain we have had.

This is the type of condition that washes many loon nests away.

They will build them at a safe distance above the water and then the water rises and inundates them. This is the cause of failure of many loon nests. But it is one of the reasons that a floating nest platform like this helps loons nest successfully. When the water rises, the nest rises along with the rising water. And when the water falls, the nest falls with the lowering water.

This morning we still have only one egg on the nest.

Over the last 6 years, the shortest time between eggs on this nest has been 34 hours and the longest time has been 70 hours. We are now at 35 hours since this first egg was laid. So I would expect that we will see the second egg within the next day. But there is no way to predict that for sure.

Loons sometimes will lay only one egg. And rarely they will lay 3 eggs.

Biologists feel that the number of eggs and chicks sometimes is controlled by the amount of food available to the loons. More food, more eggs. Food lacking, less eggs.

In this case, that should not be a problem for these loons. There is plenty of food available for them. The lake has an abundance of small fish and minnows. The loons love minnows, small sunfish and perch.

A loon's diet is made up almost exclusively of fish, with a few water insects, crayfish and leeches thrown in as appetizers.

If a lake does not have a good food supply (in addition to other factors), loons will not nest there.

If we are going to have a second egg (and I have no reason to think we will not), it should happen in the next day-and-a-half. We have had two eggs on this particular nest every year. We have never had only one egg nor have we had three eggs.

The loons have been off the nest more than I would like to see. But they know better what they are doing than I ever could.

The weather has been mild and so there has been no danger from very cold weather.

You will remember that a couple years ago the loons were drawn off the nest on a very cold and frosty morning for over half an hour. That year neither egg hatched and when we x-rayed and examined the eggs it is very probably that they were lost that morning.

The average last frost date for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul is May 10th, tomorrow.

But further north here at the lake, the average date of the last frost for the year is May 20th. So even though the forecast for the next several days is for very nice and mild weather, we could still get some frost yet this spring. I don't expect it but it is very possible.

The territorial battles among loons on the lake is still not over.

You will occasionally hear yodels which is the call made by the male as he stakes out his territory.

I have seen a couple chases and confrontations between loons over the last few days. But for the most part, the yodel calls are simply the male broadcasting to anyone within earshot that this is his territory.

Another resident on the lake told me last week that he had seen another loon building a nest in the same general area where a pair built a nest last year. Last year was the first year in my memory when two pairs of loons had built nests on this lake and both of them had two chicks and successfully raised them to adulthood.

This other pair of loons (and maybe a single loon or two) probably explains the territorial battles that we have seen and explains some of the tremolos and yodels that you have heard.

I guess that we can be thankful that there has been an abundance of loons here. Most states do not have any loons at all. And they are the poorer for the lack of this beautiful bird with its unique haunting calls.

So today we once again wait for an egg. The next egg.

You now know the signs to watch for to know that an egg laying is imminent.

Will it be today?

Once again, we can only watch and wait. We are merely spectators in this great drama.

The loons are the actors. The loons are the ones on stage. The loons are the stars.

Comments or Questions?

LoonCam(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 5:12am CDT

Travis Frank May 8, 2012

50 degrees Cloudy Wind 1mph SW

Sunrise 5:50am Sunset 8:28pm

Yes, WE HAVE AN EGG!

It was laid last night sometime after 7pm.

I was not home so I did not see it actually being laid, but I was able to get access to a computer and logged in about 10 minutes after it was apparently laid.

Of those who were watching, they said she was facing the camera so they could not be sure when it was actually laid. But according to them, it was laid at 7:09pm at the earliest or 7:29pm at the latest. From the descriptions, it sounds like 7:29pm may be the most likely.

But whatever time, we know we have an egg. The first egg of this year.

Apparently she has not been on it since people last sighted her at 9:31pm last night.

In the early morning pre-dawn twilight, I can barely make out shapes. But I think I see at least one of the loons floating not too far from the nest. They both may be there but with the binoculars, I am having trouble distinguishing between loons and one of the buoys. But I am almost sure I see at least one of the loons.

Yes, I am a little surprised that she is not on the nest this morning.

But this has been a year of surprises, hasn't it?

I do not think there is any danger to the egg by not having a loon on it overnight. The temperatures have been fairly mild during the night. The main danger of an unprotected egg would have been from predators. With the nest floating about 150 feet from shore, it is safe from the greatest shoreline predators like raccoon and skunks and mink.

But today, if it is unprotected it will be vulnerable to predators like eagles or seagulls.

So it would be good if the loon comes back to the egg soon.

Most eggs from all birds are left uncovered for long periods of time when they are first laid. With little danger of damage. Then when the final eggs are laid (the second egg in the case of a loon), they will be more careful to not let them cool off. But this early, there is not much concern that the loon is not on the egg all the time.

This is the first time that I can remember an egg being left that long after it was laid. I would expect that as daylight comes the loons will remember that they have an egg on the nest and will return to it.

With some of the other behaviors we have seen this year, I keep wondering if this is a young and inexperienced pair of loons. They do not seem to have the smooth surety that we have seen in the past from more experienced loons. But only time will tell. I have great difficulty telling one loon from another with any certainty.

I would expect to see the second egg laid within the next two to two-and-one-half days. But with everything else this year, I will not go out on a limb with a firm prediction. This seems to be a different year.

I had really expected with the mild spring and the early arrival of the loons that we would have seen an early laying of the eggs. Instead we are seeing about the latest times that we have ever seen on this nest.

I am sure the numerous and repeated territorial battles earlier this spring may have had something to do with that.

Those battles may not be totally over.

Early yesterday morning I was surprised to see three loons swimming together not too far away from the nest. The previous evening I had seen what looked like a small loon in the area as what I thought was our pair swam on the other side of the lake.

But yesterday morning, there were definitely three loons swimming together. There was excited splash diving and circling. But no calls and no chases. After several minutes of that excited diving, one of the three loons took off and flew away. The other two then calmly swam together.

Then after midnight last night, I heard repeated yodels and tremolos. When I went down to the lake to see if I could tell where they were coming from, it seemed that two of the calls came from a point straight out from the nest. And an answering yodel from another male loon came from not too far away. In the deep darkness, I could not see anything more than what my ears were telling me.

That says that the territorial battles may not be completely resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

But once again, we can only watch and wait.

Let me say a profound thank you to so many of you who faithfully document what you are seeing on the nest and also recording it with videos and still pictures. It is very much appreciated and it is so helpful to fill in some of the details for everyone else when they are not able to be here. Including me last night.

On one of the videos I watched last night that was made by one of our faithful viewers shortly after the first egg was laid, the loon left the nest and the egg in a great hurry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q-DLDePJZ8

If you look at the video, it is probable that she was scared off the nest by an eagle flying over. Once again, I was not home so I cannot confirm that for sure but all the signs are there.

If you watch the video, watch for these signs. The male has gotten up on the nest and is sitting there calmly, but then he leaves the nest suddenly.

You can see the female, as she sits on the egg, tilt her head a couple times and look up into the sky. Then she lets out a little wail and very quickly leaves the nest. That is very consistent with the behavior you would expect when a loon sees their mortal enemy, an eagle.

I mentioned that you should watch for the "X" that a loons wingtips form over the top of their tail. That is the normal position of a loons wingtips.

Now when you see the loon sitting on the eggs on the nest, you will see something different.

When she finally gets settled on the eggs, you will see her lower her wings and place the tips under her tail. But doing so, she forms a nice insulated barrier that protects the eggs from any cold drafts all the way around. Then after she has lowered her wings and placed the wingtips under her tail, she lowers the tail on top of them and locks everything in place. A nice, secure and warm cocoon around the eggs.

Yet one more of the small but amazing things about loons that we see when we take the time to watch carefully.

Now we will wait to see if they come back to the egg and start to take care of it.

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

Monday, May 7, 2012 7:48pm CDT

Travis Frank May 7, 2012

WE HAVE AN EGG!!!

At 7:29pm.

Monday, May 7, 2012 4:59pm CDT

Travis Frank May 7, 2012

Are we getting close?

We could very well be!

The loons have been on the nest 10 times this afternoon. And one of the loons is on the nest right now.

There have been times of almost frantic nest building.

The yellow pansy just ended up in the nest. I think she pulled the whole plant out. It had been surviving up until now but now it may be gone.

I am not sure if the clump of irises on the left are going to survive either. First they excavated around the clump. Then they pulled it out by the roots. And they have been pulling every bit of mulch and dirt from between the roots. And they have pulled the clump up to the left edge of the nest. They continue to peck at it and pull at it. What had been a substantial clump now appears to be quite light when they tug at it.

You can see how long the roots are and how deep they were. But the loons have pulled them out completely.

So I think it is just a matter of time before the roots dry out and the plant dies.

I have never seen a pair of loons this intent on digging up everything in sight. So you learn something new every year.

But with all the activity this afternoon we are either getting very close to the laying of the first egg - or they are getting as frustrated as we are waiting!

Keep an eye on them.

I cannot be home tonight so I might miss the actual laying if it happens tonight.

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

Monday, May 7, 2012 5:35am CDT

Travis Frank May 7, 2012

49 degrees F Clear Calm

Sunrise 5:52am Sunset 8:27pm

Today promises that we will have a little bit of a break from the rain that has brought so much moisture over the last few days.

A clear sky and just a few ripples on the lake greet our loons this morning as the sun is about to rise.

Last night shortly before dark, I saw a single loon not too far from the nest as what was apparently 'our loons' swam together across the lake.

The single loon looked decidedly smaller but it was hard to tell for sure without them being close to each other.

It is unusual to see another loon in the territory without a response from the pair of loons. So the questions continue.

And the wait for the loons to decide if it is time to lay an egg continues.

The loons were on the nest a number of times yesterday. And the amount of time spent on the nest each time seems to be increasing along with increased nest building activity. I am not sure when they did it but I just noticed yesterday that one small clump of iris is completely gone from the right side of the nest. I have never seen a pair of loons do as much "excavating" as this pair are doing.

But so far, a lot of activity but no eggs.

So we wait.

While we wait, will you allow me the privilege of sharing something completely unrelated?

A few of you have commented on a small bird that has visited the nest several times. Some have wondered if it is a sandpiper. I do not know my other birds well enough to say definitively but that sounds as good as any other guess.

But hearing of and seeing that sandpiper on the nest, reminded me of a story I had heard many years ago but had not thought about for sometime.

It is called "The Sandpiper " and it summarizes so well what is really important in the 'busyness' of our lives. I have seen it variously attributed to Robert Peterson or Ruth Peterson. I hope you enjoy it but you may wish to have some tissues handy.

THE SANDPIPER

by Robert Peterson

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.

I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world
begins to close in on me. She was building a sand castle or something
and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.

“Hello,” she said.

I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.

“I’m building,” she said.

“I see that. What is it?” I asked, not really caring.

“Oh, I don’t know, I just like the feel of sand.”

That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.

A sandpiper glided by.

“That’s a joy,” the child said.

“It’s a what?”

“It’s a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy.”

The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to
myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life
seemed completely out of balance.

“What’s your name?” She wouldn’t give up.

“Robert,” I answered. “I’m Robert Peterson.”

“Mine’s Wendy… I’m six.”

“Hi, Wendy.”

She giggled. “You’re funny,” she said.

In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.
Her musical giggle followed me.

“Come again, Mr. P,” she called. “We’ll have another happy day..”

The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings,
and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out
of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat.

The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was
chilly but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.

“Hello, Mr. P,” she said. “Do you want to play?”

“What did you have in mind?” I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.

“I don’t know. You say.”

“How about charades?” I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. “I don’t know what that is.”

“Then let’s just walk.”

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.

“Where do you live?” I asked.

“Over there.” She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter.

“Where do you go to school?”

“I don’t go to school.. Mommy says we’re on vacation”

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was
on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day.
Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.

Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic I was in no
mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt
like demanding she keep her child at home.

“Look, if you don’t mind,” I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, “I’d
rather be alone today.” She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.

“Why?” she asked.

I turned to her and shouted, “Because my mother died!” and thought,

My God, why was I saying this to a little child?

“Oh,” she said quietly, “then this is a bad day.”

“Yes,” I said, “and yesterday and the day before and….. oh, go away!”

“Did it hurt?” she inquired.

“Did what hurt?” I was exasperated with her, with myself.

“When she died?”

“Of course it hurt!” I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself. I strode off.

A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn’t there.

Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up
to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking
young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.

“Hello,” I said, “I’m Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today
and wondered where she was.”

“Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much.
I’m afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance,
please, accept my apologies.”

“Not at all! she’s a delightful child.” I said, suddenly realizing
that I meant what I had just said.

“Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia
Maybe she didn’t tell you.”

Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.

“She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn’t say no.
She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days.
But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly…” Her voice faltered, “She left
something for you, if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I
look?”

I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young
woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with “MR. P” printed in bold
childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues, a yellow beach,
a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed:

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love
opened wide.. I took Wendy’s mother in my arms. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,
I’m so sorry,” I uttered over and over, and we wept together The precious little
picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words — one for each year
of her life — that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.

A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand,
who taught me the gift of love.

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NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened over 20 years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other. The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less. Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas can make us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis. This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means, take a moment... even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and smell the roses. This comes from someone's heart, and is read by many and now I share it with you... May God Bless everyone who receives this! There are NO coincidences! Everything that happens to us happens for a reason. Never brush aside anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can teach us?

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Today, as we wait for the loons, I wish you A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

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

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