Saturday, May 25, 2013 11:32pm CDT

Travis Frank May 25, 2013

56 degrees Cloudy Wind 8mph SE

Sunrise 5:32am CDT Sunset 8:47pm CDT

Memorial Day weekend has started.

If the sun comes out and it warms up at all, the lake will be abuzz with speedboats and waterskiiers and jet skis.

But the chilly, rainy, cloudy weather has kept the traffic on the lake down except for the intrepid fishermen who prefer this type of fishing weather to hot and humid.

There have been a number of fireworks going off tonight as well.

So the increased activity of the summer season has started.

A pair of loons passed by the nest a couple times today. I have not seen our single female from last year. Could it be that she has found a mate? Could it be that her mate from last year has made a VERY belated appearance? Could it be another pair of loons? There are at least two other pair of loons on the lake in addition to our single female.

I was not able to see if either loon had bands on their legs so I could not identify if these were loons that we banded last year or if it was other loons.

As they swam by the nest, they showed no inclination of getting up on the nest. And then they swam over toward the other side of the lake. So I am not sure who these loons are or if they are even interested in nesting this year.

Without seeing bands, it is impossible to tell if this is our female from last year with a new mate, or her old mate or if, more likely it is an entirely new pair of loons. As always, there are more questions than answers.

Not the least of which is why her mate has not been here or if it is him, where has be been? And why would they mate so late especially when other loons are already on eggs on the nest.

We are rapidly approaching the time to make a decision about pulling in the nest or not.

Even if a pair of loons got up on the nest tomorrow, it usually takes about two weeks before mating and nest building and laying the first egg take place. That would put us into the middle of June before a nest is established. And then about a month before the first chick hatches, we are already into the middle of July. That is a full month and a half later than what we normally see.

This is not totally out of the range of dates for loons, especially on wilderness lakes.

But this is a very developed and very heavily used lake. So it is not a good scenario for loons here to be nesting that late. Not to mention being fair to neighbors who have been so supportive and understanding through the years. This nest and LoonCam could not exist without the help and support of understanding neighbors.

But it is becoming very obvious that this year is going to be the first year that loons have not used this particular nesting platform.

I will give it another day or two for you to listen to the sounds of the lake and hopefully sounds of the loons. Or to see that all too rare sighting of a loon.

But I think it is what needs to be done.

I am filled with conflicting emotions. We all wanted to see our beautiful loons on the nest. We all wanted to see two adorable loon chicks. So many things that we wanted. But so many things that this year are apparently not to be.

Who would have ever thought that we had such a long cold spring with feet of snow! Who would have thought that ice-out would be the latest that it has been in over 30 years?

Life is wonderfully complex. And just when we think that we are starting to understand it, we realize that we still know so very little. There are so many things that are still beyond our understanding.

But that is part of what makes life so wonderful and so interesting.

So we will continue to watch and listen and learn.

Friday, May 24, 2013 9:10pm CDT

Travis Frank May 24, 2013

58 degrees Rain Wind Calm

Sunrise 5:33am CDT Sunset 8:46pm CDT

A gentle rain falls on a northern lake as darkness falls.

There are only gentle ripples on the surface from the faintest breeze.

Far out in the lake two loons call. Probably a pair, since one is yodeling and therefore must be a male and the other one is tremoloing and could be either a male or a female. But I do not hear an answering call from elsewhere on the lake.

The male that was yodeling is obviously telling anyone within earshot of him, "This is my territory. Stay away." The two calls are too close together for it to be two males. I think it must be the male and female of one pair.

I have not updated you much because there has not been much to update you on.

The single loon, presumably our female from last year, still comes to the area of the nest but only rarely. I have seen no attempt to approach the nest let alone get up on it. I have not seen another loon with her. Regretably it is beginning to look more and more like something may have happened to the male from last year.

It was always thought that loons mated for life.

Thinking on that has undergone minor changes over the last few years. While it seems that most loons do indeed mate for life, the bond to a specific territory may also play a role in determining the mate. Or if one of the loon pair dies, the remaining loon may find a new mate.

But whatever the reason, our female from last year seems to be without a mate this year.

I have talked to a number of people who have observed loons that are already nesting. Some of them on eggs for well over a week already. Some loons in lakes further north than our loons have already mated and are apparently sitting on eggs.

Even some loons out in New England who normally nest a month later than our loons have already established nests.

I know that this is news that none of us really want to hear. But the possibility of 'our loons' not nesting on the platform this year may now be approaching more of a probability. If that is the case, this will be the first time in ten years that loons have not used this particular nesting platform.

But as with all things, we must keep things in perspective.

Many nesting platforms are never used. I have been very fortunate to have had the nesting success we have had for so many years. This year may be the year that breaks the pattern of success.

It is a great reminder of all that we take for granted. We take for granted that a pair of loons will use the nest. We take for granted that all the technical equipment needed to bring the pictures to you will work without a hitch and that nothing will fail. We take for granted that there will be two eggs. We take for granted that out of those two eggs we will see two beautiful loon chicks burst forth. We take for granted that those little chicks will grow into healthy, strong adult loons.

But nature isn't quite that predictable or kind.

The challenges to raise one loon chick to adulthood are immense. And it is probably good once in a while that we are reminded of how difficult it is. Even to the point of possibly losing the adult male of a breeding pair.

So even in difficult circumstances we learn.

I will keep you up to date as we decide what to do over the next few days.

Once again, let me tell you how wonderful you all have been and are. You are so grateful and you take many opportunities to expresss that gratitude. That is so much appreciated and it makes it all worthwhile. Even as we consider what to do this year, you have been so understanding and supportive in the midst of difficult choices.

I understand your concerns. I have the same concerns. We all want to see a pair of loons nesting and two beautiful little black downy loon chicks. But I also appreciate your understanding of how wonderful the neighbors have been in their support of this 'project' for so many years and have willingly limited their activities while the loons are nesting. But we need to be fair to them as well so that the support will be there in the future.

For now, we listen to the gentle pitter patter of the rain. The beautiful calls echoing across the lake as the loons call back and forth. And the very rare sighting of an actual loon this year.

For those of you here in the United States, may you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend with family and friends as we remember those who have given so much that we may have the freedoms that we enjoy but too often take for granted.

Monday, May 20, 2013 10:05pm CDT

Travis Frank May 20, 2013

64 degrees F Scattered Thunderstorms Wind Calm

Sunrise 5:37am CDT Sunset 8:42pm CDT

This year has been such an unusual year on so many different levels.

First and foremost is the amount of snow late this spring and the unusually cold weather which in turn led to a historically late 'ice-out date' for so many lakes in Minnesota.

The late ice-out date then led to a late arrival date for our loons, although they were on the lake even a day before the ice went out. And then formation of ice again which prevented putting out the nesting platform. But even with all that, the nesting platform was in the water within a day and a half of the ice finally being gone. Well within time frames for the loons to use the nest.

But for some reason they never came anywhere near the nest.

Then part of the reason for that became apparent when I was able to identify a single loon who came into the area of the nest but didn't not get up on the nest. That single loon was the female from last year's LoonCam nest, as proven by the bands that we placed on her legs last summer.

It was good to see that she had returned to the lake AND to the area of the nest. But puzzling and of concern that her male mate apparently is not with her. As I mentioned to you, loon researcher Kevin Kenow of the USGS said that this last winter had been a very difficult one for loons with many of them dying.

Did her mate die? We will never know unless someone recovers the leg bands from the male which will confirm that something happened to him.

But it would explain why she is alone and has not tried to get up on the nest. If there is no mate with her, there is no reason to build a nest.

A few nights ago, I sat down by the lake and watched her as she peacefully floated in the area but not near the nest itself. We sat and watched each other. She seemed calm and at peace and at home. She was so beautiful. So healthy and strong. In fact she was so healthy that I thought it might be the male by the size and strength of her neck. So it was a surprise when we were able to confirm that it was the female.

And her new coat of black and white was stunning in its beauty.

No artist, no picture, no designer could do a more beautiful job of creating such a perfect picture of beauty and strength.

I have been gone during so much of the last couple days that I cannot add a lot of information on some of what you have seen and heard. But so far there is no sign that the male has arrived on the lake.

I apologize for the 'poor' infrared picture during the night this year.

As some of you saw, it worked fine the first few days that we had the camera live.

But then as with so many things this year, problems developed. Apparently the IR light source has actually burned out. That 'never' happens. Except it did.

Last Friday I spent hours tracing through everything to see if the problem was somewhere else other than the light itself. But everything else seemed to check out ok. We had power all the way down to the lake. I tried several things but to no avail as far as getting the IR light to work.

Once again on Saturday night I worked on it until well after midnight. But nothing.

So unless we are able to get a new IR light and get it installed, we are going to have a very dark picture at night.

What has amazed me is how much we can actually see with no light on the nest. What you are seeing is residual heat from the day. As the nest cools off or we have rain, you will see the picture get darker and darker as the heat dissipates. But even the near full moon will give us an added hint of light if the rain ever stops.

I told someone the other day that I am not superstitious. But with all the things happening this year - cold, late ice-out, the male not returning, problems with the picture getting to you even though the camera has never stopped transmitting, the IR light going out, etc etc - I keep thinking "2013". Two thousand THIRTEEN! And I can't help but laugh to myself. Superstitious or not.

So we will have to continue to do what we can. You all are so wonderful and supportive. Thank you for that!

One of the very real things that I have been thinking about and struggling with is at what point to we have to pull the nest in. I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers about that.

The neighbors have been so wonderfully supportive and helpful for so many years with the LoonCam. Without their understanding and support, I could not bring you the LoonCam. They voluntarily restrict their own activities and usage of the lake as long as the loons are there.

But at some point it is not fair to them to not be able to use the lake for their own enjoyment as well.

So we take it a day at a time.

I will try to keep you up to date on what is happening and everything that we are thinking.

Once again I so very much appreciate your support and words of encouragement through the years. It means a lot to me!

Sunday, May 19, 2013 7:32 am CDT

Travis Frank May 19, 2013

64 degrees F Rain Calm

Sunrise 5:39am CDT Sunset 8:40pm CDT

The next few days promise to be stormy with potentially severe thunderstorms tonight.

We need the rain. But let us hope that we do not get anything really severe.

Yesterday the single loon came to the general area of the nest but did not approach the nest, let alone try to get up on it. As I mentioned to you yesterday, we have now verified that the loon in the area was one of the ones we banded last year. And it is the female from last year's LoonCam. So far it seems that she is alone. I have not seen another loon with her.

If that is true it raises questions about if she will nest this year.

As Kevin Kenow said in the email that I showed you yesterday, it is possible that she lost her mate over the winter. There is no way to know for sure unless and until the bands and geolocater tag are recovered. Until that time, there is always hope that he is still around.

Like Kevin said, it was a difficult fall, winter and spring for loons. And it is a good reminder of the difficulties and challenges they face that we never see nor think about. Botulism, eagles, natural toxins, ice, snapping turtles, raccoon, mink ... the list of dangers goes on and on. So every loon we see is very special. In the North Country we take them for granted. Most of the country never has the privilege of seeing and hearing these magnificent birds.

Some of you have asked for a reminder of what the meaning is of the different calls of the loons.

There are four basic calls that a loon makes. I usually refer to them as two 'good' calls and two 'bad' calls. Now there is no such thing as a bad call but you will see why I call it that in a minute.

The four calls are

1. The wail

2. The hoot

3. The tremolo and

4. The yodel

The two 'good' calls are the wail and the hoot.

A loon will give a long mournful call that is called the wail. It is simply one loon saying to another "I am here. Where are you?" They use it to keep track of where their mate is.

A hoot is a very quiet call that loons make when they are close to their mate or to their chicks. It is an intimate, quiet form of communication.

Both of these calls usually indicate that a loon is calm and at ease and they are simply talking to other loons.

The two 'bad' calls are the tremolo and the yodel.

I call them the bad calls because they both indicate that a loon is upset and is under stress.

A tremolo is often called the laughing call. And when you hear it, you can see why. A tremolo call means that something has upset the loon. It may be an eagle flying overhead. It may be an intruder loon in the area. Or it may be a boat or canoe or someone or something getting too close to the loon and it is showing its concern.

The yodel is the most extreme of the calls. It is made ONLY by the male. All the other calls are made by both the male and female.

The yodel often indicates that a male is staking out is territory. He is saying "This is MY territory and you come over here at your own risk." Often when you hear a yodel, you will hear an answering yodel from another male across the lake. He is answering back "And this is MY territory over here."

Here is a website from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that has some good recordings of all the different loon calls. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_loon/sounds

Now you know how to "speak loon" and when you hear them from now on, they will have a whole new meaning for you. You will know if they are calm or upset. You will know if it is a male that is making that yodel call. And you can be the new 'loon expert' and explain the calls to your family and friends when you hear them.

So enjoy that occasional calls that you may hear since we have not had much action on the nest. We will soon have to come to a decision about what to do with the nest this year. But for now we can enjoy the calls, the sound of the water lapping at the nest and an occasional small bird stopping on the nest.

And then our heart beats faster when we actually see a loon swim into sight!

Enjoy it all while you can.

Saturday, May 18, 2013 10:52m CDT

Travis Frank May 18, 2013

56 degrees CDT Rain 5mph SE

Sunrise 5:39am CDT Sunset 8:40pm CDT

Today is a perfect day for loons.

Cool. Rain. Just a breeze instead of gale force winds. And no hot sun beating down on black plumage.

So loons are happy campers in this type of weather.

I have not seen the single loon near the nest this morning. There have been some calls from other parts of the lake but not near the nest.

The loon I saw in the general area of the nest that I saw yesterday looked very good and very healthy.

I had thought that it must be the male from last year since he looked so healthy and large and strong.

But I was wrong.

It is the female from last year!

It has been a hard winter and spring for loons all over. As you already know, we apparently lost the single chick from the LoonCam last year, probably to an eagle. Plus we lost one of the chicks from the other pair on the lake due to entanglement in fishing line on a lake in St Paul last fall.

Here is the note that I got from Kevin Kenow from the US Geological Service (USGS) that I got this morning. Kevin is the lead scientist and researcher on loons for the USGS. He has done a phenomenal amount of work and research with loons. Kevin is the person who I worked with 3 years ago when we surgically implanted satellite transmitters in some loons. And Kevin is the one who led the team last summer that banded 'our loons' and put geolocater tags on them.

Kevin and his team do such a great job in their research on loons. They add so much to the knowledge of these wonderful birds about which so little is known.

"Hi Larry,

It appears that you observed the Loon Cam female (Right= Y/S; Left=Sgeo/R). It is odd that the male is not with her by now. Perhaps he was one of the unlucky ones that didn't survive the many challenges faced by wintering and migrating loons this year....avian botulism, sharks, Red Tide, emaciation syndrome, or icing during spring migration. Type-E botulism was particularly hard on common loons during fall 2012, with an estimated 1,570 carcasses recovered along Lake Michigan beaches. I received a higher than expected recovery of geotagged loons from the Gulf of Mexico, apparently the result of exposure to brevetoxin (from harmful algal blooms) and shark attack. A geotagged loon was also part of a late-winter common loon die off along the Virginia coast.

If these weren't enough obstacles, loons were caught up in at least two icing events over Wisconsin during spring migration. Common loon adult average annual survivorship rate typically rungs at about 92%. It will be interesting to see if researchers note a drop in return rates to the breeding grounds this year.

Best regards.

Kevin"

We have talked before about the many challenges faced by loons (and other wildlife). It isn't easy for them.

If we needed any more proof of that, this letter from Kevin is a perfect example of what they have to go through. Things that we never even think about because we are not there to see it.

In many ways, all of us are like that - if we don't see it or hear about it, it didn't happen.

There is so much that goes on around us every day that we are totally unaware of.

We will see what the next few days bring.

The fact that so far she is apparently here alone is of some concern. Normally the male arrives first or as I have seen, they arrive almost simultaneously.

We will see what the next few days bring.

But for now, we will enjoy what we have. The beauty of a loon peacefully swimming on a northern lake. The haunting calls echoing across a quiet lake at dusk.

Life is good.

Minnesota Bound

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