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I heard that it has been a difficult year for loons. There have been so many black flies that several loon families have abandoned their first attempt at nesting. According to this years loon survey 70% of the loon nests have failed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin due to flies.

Some loons are now laying a second set of eggs. Karla and I kayaked into a couple of lakes and checked on loons that we had seen in prior years. At the first lake we found that a predator had gotten the second batch of eggs. One egg was in the water next to the nest with a hole in the side. The adults were hanging around and there was some liquid still in the egg so I think whatever got the egg had just happened.

The second lake had an active nest. They had just changed nesting duties as I kayaked around the island.

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Loon 002

This one was swimming out from the nest.

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This particular loon is especially tame.

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I had photographed this pair several years ago and it comes right up to your kayak.

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It even took a short nap after catching a few fish.

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At one point it surfaced next to me and pecked my kayak - a first for me. Maybe it was just showing me who was boss.

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It headed out into the lake and stretched its wings before leaving.

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An approaching rainstorm drove me off the lake before they switched nesting duties again so I never did see if the eggs hatched. I am hoping to check on them next week.

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Loon 009

Several years ago I spent over a week with this pair of loons. I happened to be there when the babies hatched. It was fun to see the head peek out from under the adult’s wing for the first time.

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By the next morning the babies were out of the nest and riding on mom’s back.

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