Wednesday, May 23, 2012 5:35am CDT

Travis Frank May 23, 2012

66 degrees Cloudy Wind 4mph S

Sunrise 5:34am Sunset 8:45pm

It has been a quiet night for the loons.

But today and tomorrow, rain returns with potentially heavy thunderstorms tonight and flash flood watches later today.

Rain is okay. But hail and wind are not needed. They already had to sit through repeated storms of small hail over the weekend. But the loon never flinched nor moved off the eggs.

Rain doesn't normally bother the loons. Unless it raises the water level in the lake too high. On this floating nest that is not an issue [unless the rise in level is so great that we run out of anchor rope length]. If the water rises, the floating nest rises along with it. That is one of many advantages of this kind of a nest.

The lake has already risen about 8 to 10 inches over the last several weeks. With the predicted heavy rain it could easily rise another couple inches tonight and tomorrow.

Rising water levels are a concern for 'natural' nests. There are many, many instances of natural nests just washed completely away when the water rises too high or too fast. So for many natural nests, heavy rain in addition to what has been a very wet month of May is a concern.

I am anxious to check out the natural nest of another nest that has been reported on this lake to see how it is faring in the higher water.

So today rain is ok.

Too much rain or hail or heavy storms are not welcome.

The last couple days has been a much quieter one in the territorial battles for the loons as well. And the perceived 'conflict' between our loons had also quieted down. Until last night.

There had been several uneventful, even normal, nest exchanges throughout the day.

About 8pm, the mate had been quietly swimming in the area for almost an hour. At 8:30pm, the loon on the nest went out to meet the mate and they swam peacefully together - for about 10 or 15 minutes.

Then there were yodels. And tremolos. And a chase.

But it was short lived and within a few minutes one of the loons returned to the nest and settled on the eggs.

But this seeming conflict among a nesting pair of loons is something that I have never seen before. Nor have I seen it described in the literature.

Does it happen in nature? Obviously yes. It is happening with this pair.

Does it happen often? That is a question that is impossible to answer since probably 99% of loons nesting takes place out of the view of humans. So we can only observe and learn from what we see. But the bigger questions may forever be unanswered.

This weekend in the northern states of America brings the first heavy human pressure on loons as Americans observe Memorial Day - the first big holiday of the summer. And people in 'lake country' head to their beloved lakes by the millions. Boaters and waterskiers and jet skis and fishermen will abound if the weather is nice.

Here at this loon nest that increased human activity will come near the end of their nesting cycle. In areas further north and in New England, it will come at the beginning of the nesting cycle for the majority of loons who nest up to a month or more later than the loons you are watching.

If you will be on the lakes or know someone who will be, encourage them to be on the lookout for nesting loons or especially loons with chicks that may have already hatched in some areas.

I usually tell people that if you stay 300 feet away from a nest, the loons will be fine and you will place very little stress on them. But if you come closer, you may actually scare them off the nest. Even that is not enough to do damage.

But what does the damage is if you scare them off the nest and then a little later someone else scares them off the nest. And then someone else. And then someone else. And then someone else. The effect is cumulative.

You will think 'we didn't bother them because they got right back up on the nest'.

But if they get scared off too many times by too many people, they may just abandon the nest. Or the more they are off the nest, the more vulnerable the eggs are to predators.

So if you are going to be on the lake, play nice and share it with the loons. Bring your binoculars with and enjoy them from a distance.

If you are a fisherman, consider replacing your lead tackle and sinkers with non-lead alternatives. One lost lead sinker picked up off the bottom of the lake by a loon is enough to kill the loon. I have not replaced all of my fishing tackle with non-lead alternatives yet either. But it is something that I am aware of and working on. Several states have campaigns called "Get The Lead Out" to protect our beloved loons and eagles who are at the top of the food chain.

So remind your fishermen friends of that. Don't nag. Just a gentle reminder is enough. And think about replacing some of your own lead fishing tackle.

That way we can help ensure that we will hear the 'call of the north woods' for generations to come. Our beloved loons.

Now is also the time to tell your family and friends and facebook friends to watch the LoonCam. We only have a couple more weeks before the chicks should hatch and that time will go so very fast. And unlike eagles, once the chicks are born the time we see them is so brief and fleeting and so special.

The chicks will leave the nest within about 24 hours of their hatching. And then they will be birds of the water that seldom if ever return to the nest.

They grace us with their presence for just a blink of the eye.

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

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 5:42am CDT

Travis Frank May 22, 2012

56 degrees F Partly Cloudy Wind 3mph S

Sunrise 5:35am Sunset 8:44pm

It is a quiet morning for the loons.

As the sun is coming up, right now there are no eagles, no intruder loons and no wind and waves for them to deal with.

The forecast for today is for a high of about 80 degrees and blue sky. But the wind could pick up and affect the loons on the nest later this afternoon.

Some people have commented and worried about the nest and the amount of material that has washed off during the wind and waves this year.

There is more that has washed away than what I would like to see. And the loons have been very active this year in doing a lot of adjusting the landscape. They have even removed some of the 'structural' material of cattail 'sticks' from the front edge of the nest. And as many of you watched them do it, they dug out and uprooted a whole big clump of iris on the left and pulled it up toward the nest bowl and they completely got rid of one other small clump of daylilies on the right side of the nest.

All of this "landscaping" has in turn has allowed some of the other material to wash away.

But so far there is no reason to worry about the safety of the nest.

It is, however, something to keep an eye on. If the erosion would get worse, we would be faced with a very difficult decision of whether to step in or to interfere. Or even if anything could be done that would help. But at this point, I am not too worried about the safety of the nest unless we get some very strong storms.

On the front and back sides, you can see the platform itself which forms the base that the nesting material and the nest itself rest on.

It is sometimes difficult to get a true perspective on the cam. Or to realize how big loons really are.

As you look at the nest on the camera, keep in mind that from the front edge of the nest to the back edge is a little over 5 feet. And the same distance from the left hand side to the right hand side. So that might give you a little better feel for how large it really is.

One of the other things that does not show up well on the webcam is the thickness of the nesting material. The loons have built up a fairly good mound of material that forms the nest bowl....even if they have had to rob other parts of the nesting platform for material.

Loons are not elaborate nest builders. They will use whatever is available nearby. So they will not bring material on to this nesting platform. They will just use whatever is here.

They do the same wherever they nest. Sometimes a loon nest consists only of a small depression in the sand along the shore if they cannot find anything better.

One nest I saw in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area many years ago was a small concave area of a rock out in the middle of the lake with only the smallest amount of moss growing on it. Nothing else. Just rock.

So this nest is quite lush compared to many loon nests.

You are starting to see the growth of some small green plants around the nest bowl. These are weeds that sprout naturally out of the material on the platform. There is no 'dirt' on the nest. It is all weeds and other material that naturally washes up on a lakeshore. Think of it as compost out of your compost pile - vegetation in varying degrees of decomposition.

The heavy rain over the weekend thoroughly soaked the material on the nest, which had gotten very dry, and so I would expect that you will really see growth of that greenery over the next few days. The roots from those weeds will help to stabilize some of the material as well and help to hold it in place. And it will give the loons something to peck at and pull at rather than the now defunct pansies.

If we can make it through the next couple weeks, we are home free. Once the eggs hatch, the new little loon chicks will leave the nest within about 24 hours. And then they will be at home in their 'true home' - the water.

Yesterday was a fairly quiet day for the loons especially with everything else that has happened this year. No eagles dive bombing the nest or the loons. No major territorial battles. No wind, rain or hail. Just a very nice, calm 'Minnesota Day'.

Let's hope the same for our loons today.

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

Monday, May 21, 2012 6:51am CDT

Travis Frank May 21, 2012

46 degrees Clear Calm

Sunrise 5:36am Sunset 8:43pm

Today promises to be a much quieter day for the loons than they have had the last couple days with the wind and rain and even hail.

Little wisps of fog rise off the water in the cool morning air and quickly scurry away in the bright morning sun.

Tonight marks the two-week milestone since the first egg was laid.

Two weeks down, two weeks to go.

Or maybe a little less. One can only imagine what is going on inside that egg. The very miracle of life itself. So much out of nothing. When you really stop and think about it, the wonder of what happens inside that egg is almost overwhelming. Beyond explanation. So far beyond what we are ourselves are able to do.

The normal expected date for hatching of the first egg would be about June 4th. But I would expect that it may be a day or two earlier than that if they are going to hatch. And I would not start worrying about hatching unless they still have not hatched by June 10th. The only reason that would give me much concern about hatching is the amount of time the loons have been off the nest in their territorial battles.

But that is too much to think about and worry about on a beautiful day like today.

Today we look forward to the hatching of two eggs in a couple eggs.

The contrast in the weather between today and the last couple days is spectacular.

Gone are the wind and rain and hail and thunderstorms. Replaced by bright sunshine and blue skies and a lake like a mirror. The high temperature today is forecast to be a perfect 76 degrees with clear skies and little wind all day long. The loons deserve the break after getting pounded with hail.

Yesterday afternoon about 4:30pm, an eagle drew the loon off the nest and then dove directly on both loons as they swam just beyond the buoys. Both loons dove and the eagle flew off to continue looking for fish. After several swoops into the water, it looked like the eagle was able to grab a fish and flew off to wherever it has its nest.

It only took the loon a couple minutes to come back to the nest and cover the eggs.

Loons will often leave the nest if an eagle is near. I don't think it is so much that they fear for their own safety as that they are trying to draw attention away from the eggs. They will quickly leave the nest, swim some distance away and then start to call calls of alarm. It is as if they are purposely trying to draw the eagles attention to themselves and away from the nest and the eggs. Putting themselves at risk in order to remove some of the risk and danger from the eggs.

A few minutes later the loon left the nest again as an eagle was back in the area fishing but this time it did not seem to be interested in our loons. Only fish. And the loon was back on the nest in a few minutes.

Then last night shortly after 8pm we had another incident of territorial conflict.

I heard what I thought were flying tremolos.

When I went to look, I did not see a flying loon but a loon rapidly rowing and flapping across the surface of the lake and calling. It was the first time I realized how the call of a loon that is flapping across the water is so similar to the tremolo of a flying loon. But then I don't think I have ever had the opportunity to hear as many 'chase' tremolos as I have heard this year in the battles for territory.

The loon would quickly row across the surface of the water. When it would stop, another loon would surface right next to it and it would rapidly take off once again. Calling all the time. All of this to be repeated several times. At least until it was far enough away for the chasing loon to decide that it was far enough.

The commotion was enough for the loon on the nest to leave and swim out to the chasing loon.

The two of them swam and watched to make sure the other loon did not return. Both of them with heads held high and looking in the direction of the loon who was now well away from the area.

But after a few minutes, I heard a loud splash and looked in time to see both loons that I thought were 'our loons' in full confrontation. Complete with penguin dance and yodels from one of the loons..

And then one of the loons took off rowing rapidly across the surface with the other loon in pursuit under water.

I once again stood amazed.

It looked as if this was a confrontation between our own pair!

I still do not want to believe it and I continue to look for any other explanation. But I do not have any easy alternative explanation.

After a total of 11 minutes off the nest, the loon returns, turns the eggs and settles down on the nest.

Such unusual behavior this year continues to raise all kinds of questions in my mind.

I have even been thinking crazy thoughts! Since I have trouble distinguishing one loon from another, what if a loon had some kind of 'dyslexia' where IT could not tell one loon from another? What if it could not recognize its own mate? But such thoughts are crazy thoughts. Or are they?

I have no logical explanation for some of the behavior we have seen this year. Nor have I read descriptions of it in some of the scientific literature and studies.

I do know that I have gotten reports from a number of places this year that have seen increased territorial conflicts with loons on their lakes.

So once again today, we can only watch. And observe. And learn.

Learn about these beautiful and mystical birds that stir something so very deep within us.

And marvel at the beauty that we have in our lives.

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

Sunday, May 20, 2012 4:28pm CDT

Travis Frank May 20, 2012

An eagle just drove the loon off the nest and then targeted both loons who were swimming together just out beyond the buoys.

Both loons dove for cover under the water and the eagle flew away.

One more attempt by an eagle on our loons and one more escape by our loons.

For a loon, disaster can strike out of no where with no warning.

Even the smallest 'letting down of your guard' can prove disastrous.

But this one ends well for our loons.

Sunday, May 20, 2012 5:30am CDT

Travis Frank May 20, 2012

57 degrees F Cloudy Wind 3mph NNE

Sunrise 5:37 Sunset 8:42pm

Cooler temperatures have returned with the movement of thunderstorms through the area.

Today's forecast is only for high temperatures in the upper 60s with thunderstorms still moving through the state and then partly cloudy later today.

Last night you saw what a loon must endure as it faithfully sits on its nest and protects its precious eggs.

Torrential downpours of rain. Wind. Lightning. Thunder.

But above all, hail!

Hail pummeled the loon as it spread its body over the eggs. But it never moved. It never flinched. It would have been so much easier for the loon to leave the nest and be in the water where it could dive to get away from the hail. But something deep within told it that it must not let the eggs be exposed to the hail and the elements.

And so it stayed on the nest!

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/22710208

Tomorrow night will be the two-week mark since the first egg was laid. Two down and two to go. One can only imagine the miracle that is happening right now inside those eggs. The miracle of new life itself.

But we can't rush it.

We must wait. And hopefully in a couple more weeks we will see two new little loon chicks.

But for now the loons have day to day things to worry about.

In the early morning light, the mate swims around the nest. But the loon on the nest appears in no hurry to leave. There have been so many unusual things happening this year on the nest, one can only wonder what today will bring. We can only hope for a quiet day. If not for the loons, just for ourselves. I am not sure if it is harder for the loons or for those of us who watch.

They seem to take it in stride. It is those of us watching that have a hard time trying to understand all that we are seeing.

So we just have to take it for what it is. Understand what we can. Simply watch the rest. And marvel at it all.

Let me diverge to something more mundane. But something which will help you understand loons better.

Several have mentioned about how the loon seems to have difficulty getting up on the nest and moving over onto the eggs.

Some have even wondered if the loon is injured because of the way it moves.

No, this is normal loon movement.

Loons are very powerful swimmers and are so graceful in the water. Loons are also powerful flyers.

But on land they are almost helpless.

In fact many believe that may be the origins of the name "loon". There is a word in Swedish that means clumsy. That word is "lom". And some researchers think this may be the origin of the name 'loon' for this bird that we hold in such awe.

And when you see a loon move on land, you see how truly the description 'clumsy' fits. It may come from a Swedish description. The two pansies that used to be on the nest before they were so unceremoniously uprooted by the loons were meant to be related to that as well. One was a bright yellow. And the other was a blue/purple. The colors of the Swedish flag are yellow and a bright clear blue.

But these loons apparently are not Swedish. Or at least they did not want the pansies where they had been planted.

But back to the clumsiness of loons on land.

I want you to do something with me that will help you understand why loons are so clumsy on land. Stretch out your arm in front of you. Go ahead. No one is looking!

Now stretch out your fingers and move them around.

Pretend that your hand and fingers are the foot of a chicken. And that your arm is the chicken's leg. Your forearm is the lower part of the chickens leg. Your upper arm and biceps are the drumstick of the chicken. Your elbow is the chickens knee.

Go ahead. Move your 'leg' and your 'foot' as if you were a chicken walking. It is easy to do, isn't it? You can move your arms and you can see how a chicken is able to easily walk around.

But now hold your upper arm and biceps closely against your body. Don't let it move. Pretend you have a towel tied around your upper arm that binds it to your body.

Now try to 'walk' like you did before.

It is a totally different feeling, isn't it? It isn't nearly as easy to move, is it? It isn't nearly as easy to 'walk'.

For you see, a loon cannot move its whole leg like a chicken can. The loon's 'drumstick' is totally encased within the skin of its body. And its leg exits the body at the knee joint. The movable part of a loon's leg exits the body at the very back of a loon.

And that is why a loon has such difficulty moving on land.

It is why a loon rarely leaves the water except to build a nest and lay eggs. And it is why the nest is always within just a few feet of the water's edge.

If a loon lands on dry land, he is helpless. He cannot walk. He cannot take off. He will die unless he is helped or rescued. Maybe in one of the upcoming blogs I will share a couple stories about loons being rescued.

But for today, watch to see how a loon moves as it is on the nest. Look to see how a loon's legs are placed so far back on its body. You can especially see it on a clear day when one of the loons swims next to the nest. You can see where the legs are at the very back of the loon's body.

But the same thing that makes loons so clumsy on land, also makes them very powerful swimmers. Swimmers that can outmaneuver even the fastest fish.

This is just one more of the many amazing things about loons that makes them so special.

And now you know why they are so clumsy on land. And you know where they may have gotten the name 'loon'.

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

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