Smith Cove Loons

ishoot308 · 07-07-2020, 08:39 AM

The two loon chicks born this year in Smith Cove are really getting big! Just a couple weeks ago they were getting rides on mommy's back! Not anymore! As you can see in this video they are about the size of full size ducks now. It's amazing how quick they grew! If you listen close in the video you can hear the other loon parent calling.

This video was done this morning by me when all four loons popped up right next to my boat at the Glendale Docks. They were not scared in the least.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04JuHa-SSY

Dan

Rich · 07-07-2020, 08:50 AM

Hi Dan,

Yes, we've been watching them since they were hatched.

It's been amazing to see the growth spurt that seemed to occur just in the last week.

We also noticed that they are starting to take long underwater swims now.

They started from a nest in our channel here at GYC, so it's been fun watching them grow!

thinkxingu · 07-07-2020, 10:02 AM

Not to throw this off, but it appears there are TWO Smith Coves on Winni? One is off Moultonborough Bay, the other by Dan in Glendale?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Slickcraft · 07-07-2020, 11:24 AM

Wow I can't believe how they have grown the past two weeks. Good that they can dive now and keep clear of boats on their own if necessary. We have only seen them in Smith Cove or near Glendale within the no wake zone.

Alan

Barney Bear · 07-07-2020, 12:18 PM

Perhaps they know they are safe around slow moving boats. I presume they were making no wake. 🐻

Hillcountry · 07-07-2020, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

The two loon chicks born this year in Smith Cove are really getting big! Just a couple weeks ago they were getting rides on mommy's back! Not anymore! As you can see in this video they are about the size of full size ducks now. It's amazing how quick they grew! If you listen close in the video you can hear the other loon parent calling.

This video was done this morning by me when all four loons popped up right next to my boat at the Glendale Docks. They were not scared in the least.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04JuHa-SSY

Dan

Dan, how many salmon smolts do you think the adult loon can scarf in a days feeding period?
I know gulls and other sea birds can swallow huge fish but I don’t know if loons can do the same? I know cormorants are eating machines...

ishoot308 · 07-07-2020, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

Dan, how many salmon smolts do you think the adult loon can scarf in a days feeding period?
I know gulls and other sea birds can swallow huge fish but I don’t know if loons can do the same? I know cormorants are eating machines...

I'm not sure how big a fish they can swallow but I can tell you they had a feast for the past four years on the extremely small smolt that were stocked and so did many other predators! This years stocked smolt were huge so their survival rate will be much better!

The loons I'm sure are feasting on YOY perch which are quite plentiful at Glendale right now. They pretty much feed non stop so they eat a lot of fish...how many, I honestly have no idea...

Dan

Slickcraft · 07-07-2020, 04:28 PM

Loon Diet:

https://loon.org/about-the-common-loon/loon-diet/

Alan

ishoot308 · 07-07-2020, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Loon Diet:

https://loon.org/about-the-common-loon/loon-diet/

Alan

Thanks Alan!

According to that info "loons eat up to 2 lbs of fish per day". Based on that and to answer Hillcountry's question...in the past 4 years smolt salmon were stocked at approximately 17 per lb which means each loon could have consumed 34 fish per day. There were quite a few loons at Ames Farm in years past during and after stocking feasting on them!

This year they were stocked at 7 per lb. which made them large enough to easily evade most predators.

Dan

ishoot308 · 07-07-2020, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top-Water

Thank you very much for this.

............ Wish they ate Rock Bass.

I would bet they eat year of young rock bass no problem!

Jdarby · 07-08-2020, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Not to throw this off, but it appears there are TWO Smith Coves on Winni? One is off Moultonborough Bay, the other by Dan in Glendale?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

They mention Glendale in the post. Although, honestly I only knew of the Smith’s Cove in Moultonborough!

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

AC2717 · 07-08-2020, 11:36 AM

I've seen them chase up large small mouth bass up into the shallows multiple times and take them down with multiple pecks of the beak, before feasting

Rich · 07-09-2020, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Wow I can't believe how they have grown the past two weeks. Good that they can dive now and keep clear of boats on their own if necessary. We have only seen them in Smith Cove or near Glendale within the no wake zone.

Alan

Sadly, I think a lot of people don't realize that all of Smith Cove is a no wake zone or am I mistaken?

Slickcraft · 07-09-2020, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Sadly, I think a lot of people don't realize that all of Smith Cove is a no wake zone or am I mistaken?

You are correct. All of Smith Cove is a no wake zone.

Descant · 07-09-2020, 10:26 AM

Even without the NWZ, it's infrequent that you can move around the cove and not be within 150' of dock, boat, shore, etc. Nevertheless many people seem to add a little throttle after they clear the channel. Perhaps a habit from decades ago when the speed limit was just the channel? Or are people just impatient?

Hillcountry · 07-09-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Even without the NWZ, it's infrequent that you can move around the cove and not be within 150' of dock, boat, shore, etc. Nevertheless many people seem to add a little throttle after they clear the channel. Perhaps a habit from decades ago when the speed limit was just the channel? Or are people just impatient?

Yes...not a "muscle memory" thing at all. People are definitely, impatient!

07-07-2020, 08:39 AM	#1
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,533 Thanks: 2,454 Thanked 5,467 Times in 2,143 Posts	Smith Cove Loons The two loon chicks born this year in Smith Cove are really getting big! Just a couple weeks ago they were getting rides on mommy's back! Not anymore! As you can see in this video they are about the size of full size ducks now. It's amazing how quick they grew! If you listen close in the video you can hear the other loon parent calling. This video was done this morning by me when all four loons popped up right next to my boat at the Glendale Docks. They were not scared in the least. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04JuHa-SSY Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

07-07-2020, 08:50 AM	#2
Rich Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Derry / Gilford Posts: 1,256 Thanks: 74 Thanked 348 Times in 237 Posts	Hi Dan, Yes, we've been watching them since they were hatched. It's been amazing to see the growth spurt that seemed to occur just in the last week. We also noticed that they are starting to take long underwater swims now. They started from a nest in our channel here at GYC, so it's been fun watching them grow! __________________ Don't listen to me, obviously I don't understand what I'm talking about! Let's help each other save time and money: WinniGas.com Get a backup/duplicate RF DESS Key for your SeaDoo, CanAm or SkiDoo RideKey.app

07-07-2020, 12:18 PM	#5
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 961 Thanks: 488 Thanked 274 Times in 175 Posts	Safety First Perhaps they know they are safe around slow moving boats. I presume they were making no wake. 🐻

07-08-2020, 11:36 AM	#12
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,616 Thanks: 755 Thanked 369 Times in 277 Posts	I've seen them chase up large small mouth bass up into the shallows multiple times and take them down with multiple pecks of the beak, before feasting __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
coltgov101 (07-07-2020), DRH (07-10-2020), Hillcountry (07-07-2020), pjard (07-07-2020), Slickcraft (07-07-2020), Tallyho (07-08-2020), Top-Water (07-07-2020), upthesaukee (07-07-2020)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Rich For This Useful Post:
ishoot308 (07-07-2020), Top-Water (07-07-2020)

07-07-2020, 10:02 AM	#3
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,542 Thanks: 1,184 Thanked 2,178 Times in 1,354 Posts	Not to throw this off, but it appears there are TWO Smith Coves on Winni? One is off Moultonborough Bay, the other by Dan in Glendale? Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

07-07-2020, 11:24 AM	#4
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,385 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	Wow I can't believe how they have grown the past two weeks. Good that they can dive now and keep clear of boats on their own if necessary. We have only seen them in Smith Cove or near Glendale within the no wake zone. Alan

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
Hillcountry (07-07-2020)

07-07-2020, 04:28 PM	#8
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,385 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	Loon Diet: https://loon.org/about-the-common-loon/loon-diet/ Alan

The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
Top-Water (07-07-2020)

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
Top-Water (07-09-2020)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
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07-09-2020, 10:26 AM	#15
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,591 Thanks: 1,415 Thanked 1,703 Times in 1,107 Posts	Even without the NWZ, it's infrequent that you can move around the cove and not be within 150' of dock, boat, shore, etc. Nevertheless many people seem to add a little throttle after they clear the channel. Perhaps a habit from decades ago when the speed limit was just the channel? Or are people just impatient?