A beloved waterbird
If you’ve ever been to a northern lake or coastal ocean, it’s likely you’ve seen or heard the cry of this notable bird. These tuxedo-colored waterfowl are known for their immense beauty. They are also highly vocal birds, possessing a variety of calls – including tremolos, yodels, hoots and haunting wails – used for communication. Click here to listen to the unique vocal sounds of the loon.
Find that intriguing? Let’s learn more about these fascinating creatures of the wild!
Loons can be spotted up north on lakes during the summertime. These long-lived water birds are agile swimmers due to the placement of the legs toward the back of their bodies. Though they spend more time on water than in the air, they are also capable fliers. They must run across the top of water while flapping their wings to take off. Per Allaboutbirds.org, some migrating loons have been clocked at flying speeds of more than 70 miles per hour. Loons typically migrate from their breeding grounds in northern lakes to coastal water during wintertime.
Loons are excellent divers, able to swim underwater to aptly catch small fish required for their survival in the wild. It is estimated that hungry loon parents with two chicks can eat about a half ton of fish over a 15-week period. Loons tend to live for about 20 to 30 years and are considered territorial as they typically return to the same lake to breed each year. In the spring, the males migrate first to breeding lakes to establish a nest. Then females will rejoin the males. Loons, though quite loyal, do not solely mate for life as evident by banding studies. They are sometimes known to switch mates or territories and seek new courtship upon their previous mate’s death. ADKloon.org describes courtship behavior as, “…subtle and quiet, including side-by-side swimming, bill dipping, circling, and soft hoots between the pair.”
Loon nests are generally made in vegetation near an island, large rock, log or bog. The nests are conveniently located near deep water so that loons can make quick and safe escapes underwater if needed for protection. Loon females typically lay one or two large oval-shaped eggs beginning in May or June and both parents share in the incubation of the eggs for about 30 days, until the chicks hatch. ADKloon.org shares this important message, “This is a vulnerable time for the loons and their nests, as they are at risk of disturbances by predators, humans, and water level fluctuations.” It is imperative that people respect the space of loons both on land and on the water to help preserve the species.
The chicks, often described as tiny puff balls, are simply spectacular to watch from afar. They remain close to their guardians and are dependent upon the mother for feeding. In the case of two chicks, the older often works to exhibit dominance, thereby being fed and tended to first. In some cases, the younger chick may die for lack of food or care. Per Mentalfloss.com, a newborn loon will spend about 65% of its first week riding around on the parent’s back. Chicks do this to keep warm and remain protected in waters until they are large enough to explore on their own. Soon, skills advance with the passage of time. In the late fall, after their parents migrate, juveniles from lakes on the northeast or eastern Canada go southward to winter along the Atlantic coastline. There, they may stay for several years before regularly returning to their northern homes. Note that loons from the Great Lakes region migrate to the Gulf of Mexico or Florida coasts instead.
We hope you enjoyed this article as part of our animal series. Stay tuned for our upcoming feature on the Great Horned Owl.