Dead Loon

[ITD]

Saw a dead loon today about a mile east of the Eagle Island/Gov. Island No Wake Zone. Sad sight, not sure what killed it, 95% sure it was a loon. Called The Loon preservation committee to tell them about it. They said they would send someone to retrieve it.

Point of interest, they told me if I should come upon another dead loon in the future to retrieve it and give them a call. They send the bodies to Tufts for study.

[tis]

OH no!! I hope you are wrong and it isn't a loon!!

[ITD]

Originally Posted by tis

OH no!! I hope you are wrong and it isn't a loon!!

Pretty sure it was, it was floating belly up, but the legs located far back on the body makes me think it's a loon....

[garysanfran]

Before we assume the worst. Sometimes living things die of natural causes. And, yup, ALL loons will eventually die.

I know, it's sad to see anything die. But life does.

[Dave R]

I bet it was sleeping in a cabin cruiser and got hit by lightning.

[SunsetPointWentworth]

[pjard]

We saw the same bird right before the start of the poker run. I think it was a Canada Goose.

[Diver Vince]

Originally Posted by pjard

We saw the same bird right before the start of the poker run. I think it was a Canada Goose.

Let's only hope..

[Misty Blue]

We had two chicks hatch in Braun Bay (Hermit Cove) this year. One did not make it but we have one that is growing like a banchie.

They like to brood by the rafting area in the top of Braun Bay. So, you nasty rafters (just kidding) please keep an eye out for the mom ( I think) and the chick. An other month and they will be out of human harms way. I am still worring about that big snapper that lives up there!

I know that you will help. Thanks.

Miaty Blue.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by ITD

Pretty sure it was, it was floating belly up, but the legs located far back on the body makes me think it's a loon....

Either species is a long-lived bird, and the Loon is a goose-sized bird. Especially during the easy summer months, this finding suggests either an illegal molesting of wildlife or trauma by collision.

Regarding leg location, which did it look like most?

(Loon upper picture).

[tis]

So glad to hear you have a baby in Braun Bay! There is one in Robert's Cove too. Does anybody know about Cow Island's pair? Winter Harbor does not have a baby.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

We always have a nesting pair in Green's Basin. This year they nested, but we didn't have any chicks. I was later told that the male loon died of some sort of fungus. This is very sad. The female loon is now alone.

[cillovely]

Poor thing, even if it was a Canada Goose (I hate them too, but hate to see anything dead like that).

I got concerned when I was driving the boat thru the Weirs Channel last week and one dived down instead of moving over, but he popped up a minute later well behind us.

We had a dead pickerel wash up to shore on our week there (Paugus Bay), it was just a head and 1/2 of the body. Pretty gross.

[Scott's Yott]

Loon = fish gobbling water chicken

[tis]

Originally Posted by Green's Basin Girl

We always have a nesting pair in Green's Basin. This year they nested, but we didn't have any chicks. I was later told that the male loon died of some sort of fungus. This is very sad. The female loon is now alone.

Oh no! So the male just died this year? That is sad. I have heard they mate for life so she may never have another chick. I wonder if that is true.

[jerseyonbear]

There was not a chick this year in the carry area of Bear. First year of many there was not a new one. The parents were around. Kids were exploring and found the remains of a very large bird. The wings were a good 2 feet they did keep the skull and chest bones to try and identify.

[tis]

Yesterday we saw a fight with a duck and a loon. The duck had babies, big babies, but babies. The babies scurried to shore while the mother had the argument with the loon. She was ok, though I wondered for a while. Even though the loon was so much bigger, the duck didn't back away.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by tis

Yesterday we saw a fight with a duck and a loon. The duck had babies, big babies, but babies. The babies scurried to shore while the mother had the argument with the loon. She was ok, though I wondered for a while. Even though the loon was so much bigger, the duck didn't back away.

The loons eat the baby ducks when they are small.

[tis]

I know they do. I think that is why the mother duck was being so protective. Her babies were pretty big for the loons now though.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by ITD

The loons eat the baby ducks when they are small.

My neighbor reported a lone baby duck was calling for his mother, when a rogue group of three female ducks attacked and killed the baby duck. The next day, an adult female was calling into my empty shoreline—very likely for the chick she'd abandoned previously.
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I've noticed that Loons have a warning call for airborne threats; frequently, a Bald Eagle can be spotted overhead in this way. Especially-noisy boats also trigger this special call—a loud "hoot".

But, to Loons, the worst offenders are ultralight aircraft!
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Yesterday, after not seeing or hearing any loons since the event, this group appeared, and is noisily greeting the sunrise presently.

[Justenuff]

When I was up at Duncan Lake in Ossipee in July, there were at least two new loon babies floating in the water, watching their parents dive. I was surprised because it has been several years since more than one loon baby had survived.

[AC2717]

THere is a loon warning sign at the entrance to the channel from the Paugus Bay side, right at the no wake can.