Tuesday, May 9, 2017 6:31 am CDT

Guest User May 9, 2017

48 degrees CDT Cloudy Wind 1 mph NE

Sunrise 5:50 am CDT Sunset 8:29 pm CDT

WE HAVE A SECOND EGG!

When did it arrive? I am not sure.

At 6:15 am CDT I looked down and the loon was on the nest, head held high. The other loon was swimming nearby.

Then I became aware that the cam had gone down. So I restarted it at 6:19 am CDT

At that time the loon was on the nest.

At 6:22 am CDT, the loon let out a single wail and left the nest. The crows were also calling so I assume an eagle was in the area but I did not go out to look.

When the loon left the nest there were two eggs!

A couple chatters said there was only one egg before the cam went down.

IF that is true, in a 'coincidence of bad luck' for all of us, the loon decided to lay the second egg right in that 20 minute time frame when the cam was down and when I first looked at 6:15!

Either that or the egg was laid earlier during the night.

I just know that I did not see it being laid.

But the good news is, WE HAVE A SECOND EGG!

Let the fun begin!!

Monday, May 8, 2017 11:28 pm CDT

Guest User May 8, 2017

52 degrees F Scattered Rain Wind 2 mph N

Sunrise 5:52 am CDT Sunset 8:28 pm CDT

We expectantly await the arrival of the second egg.

I would think that the egg would be laid in the next couple days if it is going to be laid. Loons usually lay 2 eggs. Sometimes only one egg. And rarely 3 eggs.

So we will know soon how many this female loon will lay.

Then incubation will begin in earnest.

Based on the laying of the first egg, I would expect it to hatch between June 1st and June 5th. But they have been off the nest more than what I have seen in the past so I may need to adjust those times later.

In fact, the female has just returned to the nest 34 minutes after the male left the nest. I would much prefer to see where they change shifts on a much more timely basis. Especially since there are scattered light rain showers in the area.

But each pair of loons is different so we will see how this pair develops their nesting behavior.

Always so much to learn.

And when we 'think we know it all', they teach us something new.

But for now, let's look forward to what we hope will be the laying of a second egg.

Sunday, May 7, 2017 10:24 am CDT

Guest User May 7, 2017

62 degrees F Partly Cloudy Wind 2 mph NE

Sunrise 5:53 am CDT Sunset 8:27 pm CDT

It was wonderful to see the first egg arrive about 7 pm CDT last night.

But then after staying on the egg for over half an hour after she layed it, she left the nest and did not return.

In fact, the egg lay uncovered all night long.

But the temperatures did not go lower than the lows 40s. And since the egg has not started developing yet, it should still be ok.

This morning the loons returned to the nest just before sunrise.

And 5:46 am CDT, the female got on the nest. She saw the egg, turned it and settled down on it.

Right now the male is securely on the nest.

Everything is back to being right with the world.

Saturday, May 6, 2017 11:11 pm CDT

Guest User May 6, 2017

7:01 pm CDT WE HAVE AN EGG!

Barely an hour and a half after I had posted that the arrival of the first egg seemed imminent, the loons laid their FIRST EGG!

It all happened very fast. Only about 5 or 6 minutes from the first signs that she was pushing an egg until there was actually a brand new egg laying in the nest.

But she never left the nest.

She sat on the nest for over a half hour.

But then a pontoon stopped outside the buoys which was ok. But I think it was the fact that they stopped and stayed there that may have concerned her. And she left the nest.

She joined the male as they positioned themselves between the pontoon and the nest. They did not seem overly concerned. They just calmly sat there to make sure it didn't come any closer.

I expected that when the pontoon left, one of the loons would return to the nest. But they didn't. They just stayed slightly outside the buoys.

Then shortly before dark, they swam out into the lake. And the egg stayed right where it was. All alone. On the nest. And now at 11 pm they still have not come back to the nest.

This is the first time I have ever seen this kind of behavior.

I would be MUCH more comfortable if one of them did come back and sit on the egg. But at this point I am not overly concerned ... unless it would get down to freezing tonight. But it should not get that low, the forecast is for the low 40s.

Since this egg has not actually started to be incubated and the chick developing, it should be ok.

But, having said that, I would still be MUCH more comfortable if a loon was sitting on the egg.

;-)

Saturday, May 6, 2017 5:20 pm CDT

Guest User May 6, 2017

68 degrees degrees F Sunny and Clear Wind NE 5mph

Sunrise 5:54 am CDT Sunset 8:26 pm CDT

It is another beautiful. if somewhat breezy day, here on Loon Lake.

It seems like we have had more than our share of wind for the last week or more. Although we have not had the flooding rains that people back east are having to deal with.

Yesterday afternoon there were gale force winds that really bounced and battered the loon nest platform. I am always concerned when waves hit the nest that hard. But it seems to have held together quite well. Which is a good omen for when we actually have eggs and loons on the nest.

I won't bore you with details, but through the years I have had to experiment with different ways of placing the nesting material on the platform. In the early days, a lot of the material washed away. But with experience and experimentation, we have been able to improve each year to the point where now even in the high wind and waves very little of the nesting material is being washed away..

Nesting activity by the loons has been picking up with each passing day.

Yesterday the male loon spent 25 minutes of non-stop nest building. Digging, turning, pulling material, digging some more, turning some more.

And today both loons have been on the nest numerous times. Each time they do some more nest building. Digging, pulling turning, digging again.

All of these are classic and very hopeful signs that we are getting closer and closer to the actual laying of the first egg.

One of these times when the female is up on the nest, you will just sense something is different. Finally she will actually climb up on the wall of the nest bowl. And you will be able to see her pushing and contracting.

And then an egg just suddenly pops and makes it grand entrance into the nest and the world.

Sometimes it happens pretty quick. But I have also seen it take up to 20 minutes before the egg actually is laid.

Exciting times indeed.

And you don't want to miss a minute of it.

Now is the time to tell your family and friends that we are getting close. Show it to your kids and your grandkids. Tell their teachers about the wonder of the LoonCam. Call the neighbors. text your friends across the country. Email your friends around the world.

It is LOON TIME!

Minnesota Bound

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