Wednesday, May 17, 2017 5:41 am CDT

59 degrees F  Cloudy Light Rain  Wind Calm

Sunrise  5:41 am CDT    Sunset  8:39 pm CDT

It is a quiet, misty, moody morning on Loon Lake this morning.

Officially the sun has just come up but we cannot see it because of the clouds and  light rain.

There had been prediction for more severe thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight.  But fortunately those storms did not hit here and all we have had are some occasional light rain showers that come and go.

Our loon has even been getting some much needed sleep as it tucked its beak under its wing.  But even then it was ever vigilant with its eyes opening regularly to be aware of what was going on around it.

But now all the other birds and nature are beginning to wake up to a new day as well.

It is hard to believe that we are already over a week into the incubation of the eggs since they were laid last week.  So much has happened in that time.

I always stand back in awe when I stop to think what might be happening inside that egg.  The miracle of LIFE from 'nothingness'.  Most of the time it is something so far beyond my comprehension and ability to understand.  A wonder to behold.

To think that in just 4 short weeks we can go from the egg yolk and egg white that we make our morning omelets with to a beautiful downy black loon chick!  How do you even begin to comprehend that?  Much less explain it.

Or even more impossible DO it?  But someone does it.  Someone so far beyond our abilities and skills.

And so we wait for the climax of that wonderful miracle.

The commonly accepted time frame for hatching of loon eggs has always been 28 days.  But the LoonCam has so greatly added to our knowledge and our ability to actually observe the loons close up.  Researchers always had to sort of guess at when the egg was actually laid and when the chick hatched.

But a number of years ago we were the first to ever capture the actual laying of a loon egg on video.  Now because of the LoonCam, watching loons lay their eggs has become almost 'old hat' to you.  It is still exciting but most of you have seen several times.

For many years, this LoonCam was the ONLY way that any of us had a chance to watch loons 'up close and personal'.  But in just the last couple years several other people, with varying degrees of success have also been trying to do loon cams.

And because of our ability to closely monitor the loons, we have known exactly when the egg was laid and we know within hours of when the loon chick hatches.  With that new knowledge we have been changing the commonly accepted wisdom of what is known about loons and we have consistently seen hatching take place in less than the 'traditional' 28 days!

In the next few days I will give you my best guess of when we might see the hatching of the eggs.  But that is a ways off yet so it can wait for now.  

Let me point out one of the little 'wonders' that you can watch for over the next few days.

Yesterday we were up near 90 degrees here on Loon Lake.  But in the next few days, high temperatures are only going to be in the 50s.  It will be more comfortable for our loons and you will not see them panting as much while they are on the nest.

But watch for something else.

A loon normally has its wingtips cross and make an "X" over the top of its tail - on top of its body.

But during cool weather on the nest, watch to see what they do when they settle down on the eggs.

They will lower their wings along their sides.  They will cross the wing tips.  But they will cross them and then lower their tail on TOP of the wingtips!

By doing this, they create a 'sealed' warm space underneath their bodies where drafts and cold air cannot infiltrate.  A little 'hermetically' sealed incubation space if you will with just the perfect temperature and humidity for our developing eggs.

And then in spite of cold winds and rain, there is a perfect space with all the right conditions no matter what the weather.  Sealed against all the dangers and onslaughts around it.

Such a small detail but such a profound part of making sure that everything is just right for our chicks to develop.

It is so easy to miss those small details.  But when we stop and look and think about it, we begin to realize how much wonder there is in even the small details of this marvelous creation that we are blessed to be a part of!

Copyright  2017  Larry R Backlund

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 2:10 pm CDT

87 degrees F   Partly Cloudy   Wind 4 mph S

Sunrise 5:42 am CDT   Sunset 8:38 pm CDT

It is a warm, partly cloudy day today.

With temperatures in the 80s and humidity, it feels more like summer than spring.

And while the last several house have been very calm and quiet for our loons, the day did not start out that way!

Earlier this morning, in the light rain, our loon left the nest and the eggs were exposed to the rain and cool of the morning for almost an hour.

First both loons were calling over and over because there was an eagle in the area.  Then the male got on the nest just short of an hour with the nest exposed.  But he left almost immediately as a loon was flying overhead calling with 'flying tremolos'.

As one of our pair was swimming back in towards the nest, an immature eagle swooped down and flew low over it.  The loon wailed and desperately dove underwater to escape.

The only a few minutes after that, both of our loons were well out into the lake, confronting a third loon, an 'intruder' loon.  That apparently was the loon that had just flown over a few minutes before.

There was no real battle between the three loons out there but there definitely was a face -off.

As if that was not enough, while our loons were out confronting the intruder and letting him know that he was not welcome in this neighborhood, a goose swam toward the nest.

I didn't think to much of it but then my jaw dropped.

The goose got up on the nest!

And the loons did not have a clue he was there because they were preoccupied with the other loon.  If they had known the goose was on the nest, they would have made short work of it and unceremoniously chased him off.

I knew what a mess geese can make on the nest in just a matter of minutes.

So I decide it is up to me to chase him off the nest.  He didn't want to leave until I was almost out to the nest.  But finally he did leave protesting loudly.

The loons now saw what was going on so both of them came swimming in.

The eagle swooped down twice.

The male got on the nest but did not stay long.  He wailed and he left the nest again.  But he stayed close by and did not leave the area.  His attention was obviously very focused.

I went down to look and the eagle had now switched trees from one neighbor a little ways away to another neighbor on the other side of the nest, but in a tree much closer to the nest.

And the loons did not like it at all!

I usually try not to interfere at all.  But the loons had been off the nest way too long this morning with the multiple threats.  So I walked along the shore to scare the eagle away.

But he wasn't ready to be scared.  He just sat up in the big tree watching me.  Until I was almost under the tree.

Then he finally swooped out of the tree, slightly toward me but not close enough to be of any danger to me. 

But then as if to put a fine point on that statement by the eagle, as he flew away he swooped one more time at our loons who called out in concern.

But then the eagle flew away, I went up to the house and the female loon got on the nest.

All was well with the world once again.

Right now it is the male on the nest.  He is MUCH more accepting  of me and comfortable with me than the female is.  She is getting used to me more and more but she is still a little bit hesitant.

But as I went down to the lake, the male loon did not react at all.  He never flinched.  He never lowered his head even a tiny bit.  He just sat there with his head held high.

Since he was so comfortable with me, I decided to see if he would let me actually do some work in the lake along the shore.  There have been a lot of weeds that have washed up in the wind.

He was VERY accepting of me working there.  

So I have just spent the last hour and a half raking weeds and working along the shore and never once did he seem concerned or even lower his head.

It is gratifying to see him accept me  and trust me like that.

Now I will continue to work on getting the female to accept me.  But until then, anytime she lowers her head in reaction to me moving, I just leave the area completely so that she can't see me.

The loons have had enough drama for one day.  And I have had MORE than enough.

So it is good to see them relaxed and content.

There are predictions for heavy rain and storms later tonight.

Hopefully that will be a non-event for out loons as well so that they can have some quiet time.

Copyright 2017   Larry R Backlund

Monday, May 15, 2017 1:45 pm CDT

62 pm CDT   Rain   Wind   3 mph NE

Sunrise  5:43 am CDT    Sunset  8:36 pm CDT

The rain has just started on the lake a little while ago.

And the loons have just made a perfect textbook nest exchange.

The male spent most of the today on the nest.  But as the heavy rain started, the female loon returned to the nest.  She got up on the nesting platform from the back and just sat and patiently waited until the male decided he was ready to leave.  

As he left , the female immediately got on the nest and rolled the eggs and covered them.  They were exposed to the rain for no more than a few seconds.

It could not have been a more perfect nest exchange.

This is just the start of what may be several days of rain.  And radar shows a very heavy thunderstorm cell headed this way.

Hopefully there is no hail or damaging winds with it.

But while we hunker down in our dry houses, the loons are exposed to all the elements of the weather.  Rain won't bother them.  But hail might.  Or extreme winds.

But for now, everything is safe and the plants on the nest are getting some much needed water.  It has been very dry for several days.

Early this morning the loons were concerned about an eagle in the area and both loons were off the nest calling and paying close attention to where the eagle was and what he was doing.

Then about 10 am this morning, there was another loon that circled over the lake doing his flying tremolos the whole time.

He landed further out in the lake and both of our loons went out and positioned themselves between the intruder loon and the nest.

All three loons were on high alert with heads held high.

Fortunately there was no battle between the loons.

It has been several hours since I have seen the intruder loon.  So I assume he has moved on - either to the other side of the lake or even to another lake.

So on a dark, moody, rainy afternoon we sit and watch our beloved loons.

It would be a good afternoon for a nap.  But I don't take naps.  So I will watch the loons while I work on other things.

Life is good.

Copyright  2017    Larry R Backlund

Sunday, May 14, 2017 8:35 am CDT

58 degrees F  Clear   Wind Calm

Sunrise   5:44 am CDT   Sunset  8:35 pm CDT

It is a beautiful blue sky Minnesota morning with a bright yellow sun hanging in the eastern clear blue sky.

But already this morning our loons have had to deal with what they (rightly) see as danger.

At 7:02 am, the loon left the nest amid several wails.

As I went out to look to see what was wrong, a mature adult bald eagle flew out of one of the trees in my front yard and flew over to a neighbor's yard, where they will often sit.

The other loon came in and both of them sat out by the buoys.  They seemed to be keeping track of where the eagle was.

Then both loons took off flying and circling the lake, all the while sounding their flying tremolos.

While they were flying, I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to wipe the spider webs and the trapped bugs off the lens of the camera.  So I hurriedly went out to the nest and quickly wiped the camera lens.

As I was heading back to shore, both loons came flying over and landed some distance from the nest.  They immediately started swimming toward the nest and came close.  But they did not get on the nest.  They seemed to be keeping an eye on the eagle down the shore.

Only then did I realize that I had been so focused on quickly wiping the lens and getting out of there, I did not even see the eggs!  I did not even see the condition of anything else on the nest.  Nothing.

I had only seen the camera!  

At that point they loons had been off the nest for almost 40 minutes.

But they still did not get back up on the nest.  Even though they stayed in the area close by.

Finally 1 hour and 9 minutes later the male got up on the nest and settled on the eggs.

I should know to trust the instinct of the loons.

But I have to admit that it always concerns me when they are off the nest for any extended period of time.

But for now, the eggs are safely tucked under the warmth of the male loon.  He has been so faithful in his attention to the nest and the eggs.   And so we have to trust his instinct.

And so for now, all we can is watch and wait.  And learn.

And marvel at the miracle that is taking place before our very eyes.

Copyright 2017  Larry R Backlund

Saturday, May 13, 2017 4:45 am CDT

54 degrees F  Clear  Wind 2 mph NE

Sunrise  5:45 am CDT   Sunset 8:34 pm CDT

It is still almost an hour until sunrise.

But in the morning twilight, our male loon is sound asleep on the nest.

Or as "sound" asleep as a loon ever is.  For you can see his eye opening and closing even as he keeps his beak tucked beneath his wing.

Early morning light begins to lighten the eastern sky.  But it still will be some time before the sunlight actually breaks over the eastern horizon.

Our loon is ready to respond at the slightest provocation or threat to the eggs.

The first birds are beginning to sing their song in the cool morning air.

Late Thursday night I saw something that I have never seen before and which is a little hard to explain or know for sure what happened.

About 9:45 pm CDT, a 'carp boat' with very bright lights came by the nest.  These are boats with fishermen who are hunting carp with bows and arrows.

It seemed as if they slowed down a little bit as they passed the nest.

The male was alert but he stayed on the nest in the bright light.

But as they were continuing to move by the nest off to the right, the male loon hurtled off the nest into the water.

He positioned himself in between the nest and the now departing boat in a typical defensive mode of a loon.

But that was not the surprising or puzzling part.

In a couple minutes he returned and swam toward the nest as if to get back up and sit on the eggs.

But as he came to the front edge of the nest, he once again rapidly left  in a huge splash and desperate dive away from the nest.  Something had frightened him badly.

I was very surprised by this reaction.  Because I did not see anything that should have frightened him.  But as I moved from one screen to the next to report to chatters what had happened, I missed some of the most puzzling part.

The male loon once again came in from the left of the picture in a full "penguin dance".

A penguin dance is when a loon rises up out of the water vertically as it paddles furiously with its large feet to make itself appear as big and as threatening as it can. They almost look like a penguin, hence the name.  It is about the most extreme posture a loon ever takes and indicates a VERY high level of concern and aggressiveness.

He actually struck the plants on the corner of the nesting platform with his wing.

But I could not see anything that warranted that type of aggressiveness.

Then a few seconds later he returned and once again went into full penguin dance posture as he once again attacked the area of the plants on the corner of the nest for a second time.  This time it looked like he actually stabbed the plants or something behind the plants.

A few seconds later he came back for at third attack at whatever was there and again appeared to stab with his beak whatever was 'behind the plants'.

The returning yet a fourth time he apparently decided that either he had "killed" the threat or he decided that indeed there was no threat there.

So he swam around to the back side of the nest and got up on the nest and settled on the eggs.

Thankfully one of our faithful LoonCam viewers, gah,  caught the whole thing video and posted it on her Facebook page.  You can find it at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/larrysloonlovers/permalink/10154836291338075/

I have watched it over and over to try to figure out what was going on.  And I can't say for sure but here is what I think happened.

It was pitch black.  The  full moon had not come up yet.

In addition, the very bright lights of the carp boat had somewhat blinded the loon.

And as he came back to the nest, he was surprised by the outline of the plants which somehow the thought was an intruder of some kind, and so he splashed away from the nest in a panic.

Maybe it was even another loon.  An intruder. A threat.

He immediately returned in full penguin dance to confront this threat to his nest and his eggs.

And he went after the threat, slapping the plants with his wing and probably stabbing them with his beak.

But he was not done yet.

He came back a second time and did the same thing.  Rising up in the water, slapping with his wing and probably stabbing with his beak.

You can see the viciousness of the attack as the whole plant clump moves and the rope which helps support the camera mount flexes and sags.

But he was not done yet.

He came back yet a third time.

This time not in full penguin dance nor slapping with his wing.  But it appears he once again stabbed with his beak and once again you can see the rope flex and the plants move.

Coming back a fourth time, he now seems to be content that he had killed whatever the threat was.  And so he swam around to the back of the nest and got up and settled on the eggs.

If there had been another loon there or some kind of other animal, it definitely would have been killed in this attack by our male.

But I think that in the darkness and having just minutes before having been blinded by the bright lights of the carp boat, he mistook the silhouetted of the clump of plants for some kind of a great threat to his eggs and he attacked.

I have never seen an attack quite like that before.

But that is the best explanation that I can give at this point for what happened.

Loons have only one offensive weapon.  Tthat is there very sharp beak.

And they can use it with great skill.

They have been known to kill other loons that they see as a threat to them or their nest or their young.

And It is one of the reasons that I never go out to the nest unless absolutely necessary.

I don't go out to the nest, or many times even down on my front lawn, because I do not want to disturb the loons while they are nesting.

But I do it for my own safety.  The loons very easily could, and would, stab me if they thought I was a real threat.

But in a couple instances when I have had to go out to the nest, and they have swam so close to me underwater that I can feel the rush of water as they pass within inches of my legs, they have never attempted to stab me.  Thankfully!

So we continue to see new behaviors and new wonders with every passing day.

What will today bring?

Copyright 2017   Larry R Backlund