Loons

Loons are amazing birds who live almost their entire lives on the water. They have adapted to be strong swimmers on and under the water, but can barely walk when they are one land. There is nothing more haunting than the call of a Loon echoing through the landscape. We try to visit good friends in the Adirondacks to go out on the lakes and view the loons from a canoe, especially around the time that their young are hatching. It is so wonderful to see a Loon chick riding on its mothers back.

A loon chick napping on its mother’s back.

A male loon flying in to land in response to his mate’s calls to come help with feeding the chick. He did.

The male shaking out his wings after landing.

The parents seem to find the right sized fish to feed their chick.

The parents are very attentive to their young chick teaching them to avoid predators such as bald eagles.

Bursting up to the surface after a dive. I had a sense of where the loon might come up and I was lucky.

Tender connection… mother and chick.