New Baby loon Chick

Greene's Basin Girl · 07-27-2011, 09:14 PM

I won't say exactly where it is located, but we have a new baby loon chick on L. Winni. We also had one of the 3 surviving chicks on the lake in our area last year. I feel like a proud mom. I saw it on the back of one of the adult's, but is was also swimming. All turtles, fast boats etc. please stay away. If you know where I live please drive slowly. Having a successful birth is only one step in saving our loons. The next few month's are also very critical to the chick's survival.

rick35 · 07-27-2011, 10:02 PM

I saw a baby loon with its mama today near the south end of Bear. There was a nest in behind Dolly that we saw a couple of weeks back and I noticed earlier today that the nest had been abandoned. I've only seen a baby one other time and it was up on its mother's back. This one was swimming along with mom.

Every time baby ducks swim by the camp it always turns heads but seeing a baby loon is very special.

Aguamenti · 07-27-2011, 10:31 PM

That is very cool. We have yet to spot a loon this summer. Heard them, but haven't seen one.

Greene's Basin Girl · 07-28-2011, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick35

I saw a baby loon with its mama today near the south end of Bear. There was a nest in behind Dolly that we saw a couple of weeks back and I noticed earlier today that the nest had been abandoned. I've only seen a baby one other time and it was up on its mother's back. This one was swimming along with mom.

Every time baby ducks swim by the camp it always turns heads but seeing a baby loon is very special.

That's two chicks on Winni that we know about. There were only 3 successful chicks on Winni last year. Let's hope for more success this year.

NoRegrets · 07-28-2011, 05:37 AM

Is this a scientific fact that there were only 3 loon chicks last year? Paugus bay has many loons and we usually see the babies on their mothers backs at the south end of the bay (near Cass Point). Did they not make it? We see loons everytime we venture out.

dpg · 07-28-2011, 05:49 AM

Agreed three chicks does sound like an aweful few. Is there a count kept by the state?

tis · 07-28-2011, 06:15 AM

Is this a NEW baby? If so, it is awfully late. Usually they are born by July 4th. I hope it can grow enough by the end of the season. I wonder if they are late this year for some reason.

I know the feeling, you feel like a parent worrying about them.

Rattlesnake Gal · 07-28-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpg

Agreed three chicks does sound like an awful few. Is there a count kept by the state?

Yes, The Loon Preservation Committee, holds an annual Loon Census, which just happened on July 16th.

Submit your census observations on-line!

CateP · 07-28-2011, 12:23 PM

Wondering how the Loon Center knows that people aren't counting the same loons.

tis · 07-28-2011, 03:48 PM

The loons are pretty territorial so the chicks are only in a certain area. And as stated before, there are not an awful lot of them on the lake.

NoBozo · 07-28-2011, 05:11 PM

I guess there are some circumstances where Man can help the wildlife. Not just talking about Loons. BUT: I really get aggravated when "environmentalists" decide to INSERT themselves into the lives of wild animals by Tagging/Drilling holes in whales fins, etc to attach GPS trackers so they can feel good about their work.

Maybe I have missed an article about the Loons. With ALL this Research..Loon Center, etc..I have NOT seen any hypothesis about WHY the Loons seem to be declining.

Maybe... WE humans should stop harrassing the Loons.....TAGGING them..GPS Trackers...Plastic Collars around their necks.....do you suppose... if we "Let them Alone" for awhile..they might come back...??????

WELFARE doesn't work for humans so why would it work for animals.

NB

riverat · 07-28-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I guess there are some circumstances where Man can help the wildlife. Not just talking about Loons. BUT: I really get aggravated when "environmentalists" decide to INSERT themselves into the lives of wild animals by Tagging/Drilling holes in whales fins, etc to attach GPS trackers so they can feel good about their work.

Maybe I have missed an article about the Loons. With ALL this Research..Loon Center, etc..I have NOT seen any hypothesis about WHY the Loons seem to be declining.

Maybe... WE humans should stop harrassing the Loons.....TAGGING them..GPS Trackers...Plastic Collars around their necks.....do you suppose... if we "Let them Alone" for awhile..they might come back...??????

WELFARE doesn't work for humans so why would it work for animals.

NB

Lead sinkers were one of the culprits of their decline I believe, but now those are illegal to use for fishing.

rick35 · 07-28-2011, 09:22 PM

Saw the baby loon again today. I tried to get a look at it while keeping my distance but it is so small its hard to see. Looks like it may be only 2-3 inches long. Someone came by and put a Caution Loon Chick sign near the double red-black markers at French Cove. There's a lot of activity in that area (near the Y camp beach) with water skiers and wake boarders and the sign is in the wrong position to warn people entereing at the south end of Bear. Being only one of two on the lake make this baby pretty special indeed.

Greene's Basin Girl · 07-28-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Is this a NEW baby? If so, it is awfully late. Usually they are born by July 4th. I hope it can grow enough by the end of the season. I wonder if they are late this year for some reason.

I know the feeling, you feel like a parent worrying about them.

This was their second attempt at nesting- that is why the birth is so late. Last year they didn't have a chick until the third attempt. That chick was even born later.

tis · 07-29-2011, 06:30 AM

And the baby made it to grow up and get away last year? If so, I am very glad to hear that. I think the ones in Winter Harbor nested twice this year and we were worried if they did have a chick it would be too late. Last year the baby was born a week later than usual (a week after the fourth). But it looks like no baby this year.

LIforrelaxin · 07-29-2011, 09:13 AM

Well with a chick reported over by Dolly, and one up in Green Basin area, plus the third that I know of in an area that I will not disclose... Makes 3 that have survived to this point. Unfortunately there is still a long way to go before they head for the ocean. And then there are also the dangers that going and being on the ocean presents....

Rusty · 07-29-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I guess there are some circumstances where Man can help the wildlife. Not just talking about Loons. BUT: I really get aggravated when "environmentalists" decide to INSERT themselves into the lives of wild animals by Tagging/Drilling holes in whales fins, etc to attach GPS trackers so they can feel good about their work.

Maybe I have missed an article about the Loons. With ALL this Research..Loon Center, etc..I have NOT seen any hypothesis about WHY the Loons seem to be declining.

Maybe... WE humans should stop harrassing the Loons.....TAGGING them..GPS Trackers...Plastic Collars around their necks.....do you suppose... if we "Let them Alone" for awhile..they might come back...??????

WELFARE doesn't work for humans so why would it work for animals.

NB

I agree with you. Below is a video of the Decorah eaglets which shows what they did to them:

NoBozo · 07-30-2011, 11:54 AM

Not sure if I should thank you Rusty for that video. The technology they use certainly is interesting...AND Politically Correct. Imagine: Solar Powered GPS..superglued to the birds back. I wonder if there is "other data" being transmitted to the satellite, such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, etc via implanted electrodes...

Imagine sitting in the top of a tree with that antenna sticking up during an electrical storm. It would be like standing out on the golf course on a hill under an umbrella.

NB

Less high tech tagging: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pentachoron/3052243824/ I have seen collars larger than this one.. a white "Bib" shaped collar with a big number printed on the front so it can be read at a distance. NB

Natt · 08-03-2011, 07:55 AM

We saw a parent loon with two good size chicks while kayaking on a local pond on Sunday. Stayed away so as not to bother them and they were having good luck fishing.

07-27-2011, 09:14 PM	#1
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	New Baby loon Chick I won't say exactly where it is located, but we have a new baby loon chick on L. Winni. We also had one of the 3 surviving chicks on the lake in our area last year. I feel like a proud mom. I saw it on the back of one of the adult's, but is was also swimming. All turtles, fast boats etc. please stay away. If you know where I live please drive slowly. Having a successful birth is only one step in saving our loons. The next few month's are also very critical to the chick's survival.

07-29-2011, 09:13 AM	#16
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,827 Thanks: 1,017 Thanked 881 Times in 515 Posts	Well with a chick reported over by Dolly, and one up in Green Basin area, plus the third that I know of in an area that I will not disclose... Makes 3 that have survived to this point. Unfortunately there is still a long way to go before they head for the ocean. And then there are also the dangers that going and being on the ocean presents.... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Greene's Basin Girl For This Useful Post:
Airedale1 (08-02-2011), donnamatrix (07-28-2011), LIforrelaxin (07-29-2011), Pepper (07-27-2011), VitaBene (07-27-2011)

07-27-2011, 10:02 PM	#2
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 710 Thanks: 56 Thanked 170 Times in 104 Posts	I saw a baby loon with its mama today near the south end of Bear. There was a nest in behind Dolly that we saw a couple of weeks back and I noticed earlier today that the nest had been abandoned. I've only seen a baby one other time and it was up on its mother's back. This one was swimming along with mom. Every time baby ducks swim by the camp it always turns heads but seeing a baby loon is very special.

07-27-2011, 10:31 PM	#3
Aguamenti Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: MA/Tuftonboro Posts: 143 Thanks: 95 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	That is very cool. We have yet to spot a loon this summer. Heard them, but haven't seen one.

07-28-2011, 05:37 AM	#5
NoRegrets Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hudson - NH Posts: 408 Thanks: 233 Thanked 212 Times in 88 Posts	Is this a scientific fact that there were only 3 loon chicks last year? Paugus bay has many loons and we usually see the babies on their mothers backs at the south end of the bay (near Cass Point). Did they not make it? We see loons everytime we venture out.

07-28-2011, 05:49 AM	#6
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Agreed three chicks does sound like an aweful few. Is there a count kept by the state?

07-28-2011, 06:15 AM	#7
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,411 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	Is this a NEW baby? If so, it is awfully late. Usually they are born by July 4th. I hope it can grow enough by the end of the season. I wonder if they are late this year for some reason. I know the feeling, you feel like a parent worrying about them.

The Following User Says Thank You to Rattlesnake Gal For This Useful Post:
NoRegrets (07-28-2011)

07-28-2011, 12:23 PM	#9
CateP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 868 Thanks: 584 Thanked 540 Times in 210 Posts	Wondering how the Loon Center knows that people aren't counting the same loons.

07-28-2011, 03:48 PM	#10
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,411 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	The loons are pretty territorial so the chicks are only in a certain area. And as stated before, there are not an awful lot of them on the lake.

07-28-2011, 05:11 PM	#11
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	I guess there are some circumstances where Man can help the wildlife. Not just talking about Loons. *BUT: I really get aggravated when "environmentalists" decide to INSERT themselves into the lives of wild animals by Tagging/Drilling holes in whales fins, etc to attach GPS trackers so they can feel good about their work. Maybe I have missed an article about the Loons. With ALL this Research..Loon Center, etc..I have NOT seen any hypothesis about WHY the Loons seem to be declining. Maybe... WE humans should stop harrassing the Loons.....TAGGING them..GPS Trackers...Plastic Collars around their necks.....do you suppose... if we "Let them Alone"* for awhile..they might come back...?????? WELFARE doesn't work for humans so why would it work for animals. NB

The Following User Says Thank You to riverat For This Useful Post:
NoBozo (07-29-2011)

07-28-2011, 09:22 PM	#13
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 710 Thanks: 56 Thanked 170 Times in 104 Posts	Saw the baby loon again today. I tried to get a look at it while keeping my distance but it is so small its hard to see. Looks like it may be only 2-3 inches long. Someone came by and put a Caution Loon Chick sign near the double red-black markers at French Cove. There's a lot of activity in that area (near the Y camp beach) with water skiers and wake boarders and the sign is in the wrong position to warn people entereing at the south end of Bear. Being only one of two on the lake make this baby pretty special indeed.

07-29-2011, 06:30 AM	#15
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,411 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	And the baby made it to grow up and get away last year? If so, I am very glad to hear that. I think the ones in Winter Harbor nested twice this year and we were worried if they did have a chick it would be too late. Last year the baby was born a week later than usual (a week after the fourth). But it looks like no baby this year.

07-30-2011, 11:54 AM	#18
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Not sure if I should thank you Rusty for that video. The technology they use certainly is interesting...AND Politically Correct. Imagine: Solar Powered GPS..superglued to the birds back. I wonder if there is "other data" being transmitted to the satellite, such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, etc via implanted electrodes... Imagine sitting in the top of a tree with that antenna sticking up during an electrical storm. It would be like standing out on the golf course on a hill under an umbrella. NB Less high tech tagging: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pentachoron/3052243824/ I have seen collars larger than this one.. a white "Bib" shaped collar with a big number printed on the front so it can be read at a distance. NB

08-03-2011, 07:55 AM	#19
Natt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 120 Thanks: 125 Thanked 30 Times in 23 Posts	We saw a parent loon with two good size chicks while kayaking on a local pond on Sunday. Stayed away so as not to bother them and they were having good luck fishing.