Common Loon
(Gavia immer)
I'll never forget the first time I saw a loon. My husband and I were up in the northwoods of Wisconsin. A friend gave us a ride on his boat and took us out to where this loon was. I had a long lens on my camera and, yes, took a lot of photos. This is one of my favorites.
Loons are beautiful in their feathers as well as in their call. Hearing a loon makes me smile. It's so peaceful. Did you know that their eyes change color because of the season? In winter months, their eyes are gray and in warmer months their eyes are red. After they find a mate, they stay together for life.
What's fun to know about loons? They have webbed feet which help them move through the water. They are large birds in that they are between 28 and 35 inches long and have a wingspan of 60 inches. How much do they weight? Between 3.5 and 17.6 pounds. They live for approximately 30 years.
My husband and I went to another town up in the northwoods where we saw this adult with young. Again, we were on a boat. How special it was to see them together!
Living in a town where loons are not seen except for when they migrate, it is special to see them where they do live in the spring and summer. They like to stay to themselves instead of hang out in groups, although they do swim on the waters in groups when migrating. As it is just a stopover, you will see them as below.
Have you seen a loon with its dinner in its beak? I saw it once and that was in Pardeeville, WI when they were feeding on the lake before migrating up to the northwoods. Imagine my reaction to seeing a fish in its mouth. It was a wonderful sight! Loons normally eat the fish they catch while underwater. They dive up to 200 feet to find their meal. They only bring up the larger fish. Due to the fact that they do not have teeth in the back of their mouth, they swallow small stones. These stones, now in their stomachs, would help smash up the fish. Their diet consists of fish, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, mollusks and insects.
So, going up to the northwoods means that you go to tranquility. The lake that you're near has a pair of loons on it. You don't always see them. Their call is so beautiful. It can be heard for miles. I love their call. It calls us to them. Seeing their beauty as they swim across the lake.
Instead of being a member of the duck family, they are related to the penguins and albatrosses. Loons swim low on the water, as you see here in my photos.
What eats loons? Gulls, ravens, crows, fish (pike), raccoons, turtles, otters, skunks and weasels. Luckily, I have never seen one being attacked.
Loons. To me they are glorious. Loons. To me they are what make the lake peaceful.
Next week: learn about the crocus.
Thank you for visiting!
Judy
References:
http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-loons/
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