Jasper Lake

Karla and I spent a couple of days this week on a little lake just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A friend mentioned that a pair of loons were still sitting on eggs. It was a beautiful place to spend a couple of days.

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Jasper Lake Sunrise

I got on the lake just before sunrise and heard the loons calling in the distance. It was a peaceful morning and it felt good to be out on the water.

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It didn't take long to find the loons. The eggs must have hatched the day before we got there. Since I saw only one chick I thought probably a predator had already got to one of the babies. This little guy is only one day old. July is late for most loon eggs to hatch but over the years the pair on this particular lake hatch chicks around the 4th of July.

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I have spent several years photographing this particular loon pair and they don’t seem to mind me being around.

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The rising sun cast a beautiful glow on the loons as well as the cedar covered shoreline which reflected green on the surface of the lake.

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Just exercising.

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"If you move your foot a little more I don’t think he can see me".

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"Mom, there is a deer fly sitting on your head".

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"Let me get it for you".

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"I missed. You try".

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On target.

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"Good job, Mom, you got it".

I just had to smile watching mom and the little guy trying to catch the deer fly.

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The chick would go from feeding on small minnows to sleeping on the parents back.

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For the first five days the babies ride on the adults back for protection since they can’t dive until after a week.

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They are always hungry.

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I enjoy watching loon families interact as much as I love listening to them on a wilderness lake.

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When you see them straight on you realize how aerodynamically designed they are for high speed swimming.

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After feeding, the chick took turns riding on each adult’s back.

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The adults protect them from predators by covering them with their wing.

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Twice a Bald Eagle flew over looking for a chance to get to the chick. That is probably what happened to the other baby. I was so glad to see the loons protecting this little guy. The eagle finally gave up, at least for now.

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