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Old 07-02-2018, 12:36 PM   #1
Greene's Basin Girl
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Default Loon Chicks

We have 2 chicks in the basin. We constantly worry about them because we have so so many boaters that come into the basin who wake board or tube. The same boat will go around and around for hours. Times that by 5 boats, it becomes dangerous for the boaters and the chicks. Please be careful out on the lake!
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Old 07-02-2018, 01:05 PM   #2
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GBG, as usual you are so lucky to have two chicks! We don't have any yet. I am still hoping. I know, we worry about them too. People sometimes mean well, but they get too close and endanger them while trying to look at them.
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Old 07-02-2018, 01:33 PM   #3
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That's super about the chicks! Have you called LPC for advice/support?

http://www.loon.org/
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Old 07-02-2018, 02:27 PM   #4
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There was a pair of loons with two chicks hanging out on Saturday in the cove behind Worcester Island in South Wolfeboro Bay. Not sure where their nest is. A number of boats were anchored in the area (myself included) and fortunately we all left them alone and gave them plenty of space.
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Old 07-02-2018, 05:53 PM   #5
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I wonder if Robert's Cove had one this year. We didn't see the loon on the nest. Also haven't seen any yet by Cow/Melvin/Chase. Anybody seen any others? The Fourth is our normal date to see the babies.
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Old 07-02-2018, 06:41 PM   #6
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Default None on the nest

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I wonder if Robert's Cove had one this year. We didn't see the loon on the nest. Also haven't seen any yet by Cow/Melvin/Chase. Anybody seen any others? The Fourth is our normal date to see the babies.
Tis, we've been out there several times. We have not seen two loons together at all. We were anchored off the SE end of Plum Island yesterday, and had a single loon come up by us, about 20 yards away. It just swam away from us after a few minutes.

We've heard loon calls, but it seemed to be a single loon calling out. We haven't gone down near the marina, sometimes they nest down there, or at least spend a lot of time down there.

Not a happy scenario. Love seeing the chicks when they do hatch.

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Old 07-02-2018, 07:32 PM   #7
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That's super about the chicks! Have you called LPC for advice/support?

http://www.loon.org/
The loon center knows about the chicks. We are fortunate to have chicks every year. I have been involved with trying to save the loons most of my life. We do lose one of the chicks occasionally from eagles, turtles, wakeboard boats etc. There are just too many boats in the basin. The area is not large enough for all the chaos. For example today, we had two PWC's going around and around for 2 hours. I also have a PWC, but I always respect other boaters and my surroundings. Please enjoy the lake, but remember that other boaters want to enjoy it also.

We are certainly fortunate to have the chicks, but many of us spend a great deal of time worrying about their survival.
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Old 07-02-2018, 07:41 PM   #8
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There are just too many boats in the basin. The area is not large enough for all the chaos. For example today, we had two PWC's going around and around for 2 hours. I also have a PWC, but I always respect other boaters and my surroundings. Please enjoy the lake, but remember that other boaters want to enjoy it also.

For those who are irritated by PWCs, wakeboards and the like, I think the biggest problem is circling behavior. If they didn't circle, there would be very few complaints
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Old 07-03-2018, 06:38 AM   #9
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Tis, we've been out there several times. We have not seen two loons together at all. We were anchored off the SE end of Plum Island yesterday, and had a single loon come up by us, about 20 yards away. It just swam away from us after a few minutes.

We've heard loon calls, but it seemed to be a single loon calling out. We haven't gone down near the marina, sometimes they nest down there, or at least spend a lot of time down there.

Not a happy scenario. Love seeing the chicks when they do hatch.

Dave
We always ride down to check their progress and usually she is sitting on the nest that the loon people put out. And we also have only seen a single loon this year. Maybe she is nesting somewhere else as you said. I guess we will find out soon.
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Old 07-03-2018, 07:52 AM   #10
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Default I agree

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We always ride down to check their progress and usually she is sitting on the nest that the loon people put out. And we also have only seen a single loon this year. Maybe she is nesting somewhere else as you said. I guess we will find out soon.
I agree, time will tell.

If you are motoring through the cove and see a 25 ft red & white Mariah bowrider anchored there, swing by and say hi.

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Old 07-03-2018, 09:52 AM   #11
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We always ride down to check their progress and usually she is sitting on the nest that the loon people put out. And we also have only seen a single loon this year. Maybe she is nesting somewhere else as you said. I guess we will find out soon.
The LPC folks have told me the loons don't like visitors. Make sure to give them plenty of space, especially in a power boat
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Old 07-03-2018, 10:26 AM   #12
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The LPC folks have told me the loons don't like visitors. Make sure to give them plenty of space, especially in a power boat
Believe me I know. I have spent more time than you can imagine shooing people away from the babies when they are by our house.
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Old 07-05-2018, 01:41 PM   #13
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Being a skier at nearby Cannon Mt,the title of this thread had me thinking about girls at Loon mt ski area!
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Old 07-17-2018, 06:33 AM   #14
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Default Loon chick spotted

We were in Roberts Cove Sunday afternoon and saw two adult loons AND a chick swimming near plum Island. Thats the first time on six years we have seen a loon chick in person, very cool! Unfortunately we also saw three wakeboarders/tubers/skiers in the same area soon after. They all buzzed the floating nest, but the loons werent’t in it.
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Old 07-17-2018, 12:25 PM   #15
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We were in Roberts Cove Sunday afternoon and saw two adult loons AND a chick swimming near plum Island. Thats the first time on six years we have seen a loon chick in person, very cool! Unfortunately we also saw three wakeboarders/tubers/skiers in the same area soon after. They all buzzed the floating nest, but the loons werent’t in it.
Really? I am so happy to hear that. We kept checking that nest and didn't see them sitting in it at all so didn't expect there would be a baby this year.
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Old 07-17-2018, 05:14 PM   #16
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Isn't the floating nest inside of the no wake zone?
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Old 07-17-2018, 06:30 PM   #17
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No, the nest is not in the no wake zone. It would be nice if they moved the no wake to the North of Plum Island.
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Old 07-19-2018, 02:55 AM   #18
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We have 2 chicks in the basin. We constantly worry about them because we have so so many boaters that come into the basin who wake board or tube. The same boat will go around and around for hours. Times that by 5 boats, it becomes dangerous for the boaters and the chicks. Please be careful out on the lake!
We now only have one adult male loon and one chick left.
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Old 07-19-2018, 04:50 AM   #19
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We now only have one adult male loon and one chick left.
Do you know for sure what happened, GBG?
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Old 07-19-2018, 04:55 AM   #20
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Lightbulb There's That 150 Number Again...

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We now only have one adult male loon and one chick left.
"One hundred and fifty feet" covers a lot of circumstances on Lake Winnipesaukee...

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Biologists say people should stay at least 150 feet away from adult loons and their chicks. Boat collisions are the greatest human-related cause of chick mortality and the third highest cause of adult loon mortality, following lead poisoning or injury from fishing tackle.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...QoI/story.html
"Boat collisions"? Does that mean propellers?

Ironic that Federal Park regulations keep people one mile from Bald Eagle nests, and Bald Eagles are a major predator of Loon chicks.

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Old 07-20-2018, 07:30 AM   #21
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Default Green's Basin Loons

As I mentioned on Facebook site, Dr. Lindy North of Meadow Pond Animal Hospital was called I think on July 13 at night to try to save the female loon from Green's Basin. It is believed she was being "attacked" by a group of bachelor loons (they travel in groups) ... that she flew away - trying to get the bachelor loons to leave the chicks alone... and that she flew into a screen door. Dr. North could not save her. Not sure what happened to one of the chicks, but GBG is right: one male and one chick left. Harry Vogel of Loon Center said that it would be very difficult for the chick to be successfully raised by a single parent. Heartbreaking, really.
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Old 07-20-2018, 07:52 AM   #22
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That is heartbreaking. I hope somehow the baby IS old enough to survive. I keep hearing people saying they are seeing groups of loons. I wonder if this is why. They gather in the fall but usually you don't see them in groups this time of year.
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Old 07-20-2018, 10:16 AM   #23
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The one chick in Green's Basin continues to be cared for by the male adult loon.
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Old 07-20-2018, 10:33 AM   #24
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For those who are irritated by PWCs, wakeboards and the like, I think the biggest problem is circling behavior. If they didn't circle, there would be very few complaints
amen. Friends don't let friends power turn!
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Old 07-20-2018, 11:52 AM   #25
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The one chick in Green's Basin continues to be cared for by the male adult loon.
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Old 07-20-2018, 03:00 PM   #26
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We just saw the baby in Robert's Cove. He is getting big.
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Old 07-21-2018, 07:42 AM   #27
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Quote:
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"One hundred and fifty feet" covers a lot of circumstances on Lake Winnipesaukee...



"Boat collisions"? Does that mean propellers?

Ironic that Federal Park regulations keep people one mile from Bald Eagle nests, and Bald Eagles are a major predator of Loon chicks.

.
Not to mention other birds of prey including owls.
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Old 07-21-2018, 07:53 AM   #28
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Question "Batchelors"

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That is heartbreaking. I hope somehow the baby IS old enough to survive. I keep hearing people saying they are seeing groups of loons. I wonder if this is why. They gather in the fall but usually you don't see them in groups this time of year.
Seldom, anyway...

Last Tuesday, one of this group sounded a modified alarm call (three syllables*, instead of two) as two lightning-rich thunderstorms passed on either side of Wolfeboro.

*I'm learning how they "talk".

These summer groups may be the ones termed "batchelors" by birders. I might know more at the end of the month, when I'll be touring with a group of knowledgeable "birders".

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Old 07-21-2018, 08:42 AM   #29
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Exactly APS and I have never heard of them in groups before except, as I said, in the fall when they gather to leave.
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Old 07-28-2018, 03:15 PM   #30
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Default Saw it yesterday

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We just saw the baby in Robert's Cove. He is getting big.
We were in Robert's Cove yesterday with family, and as we were leaving (to beat the thunderstorms that were approaching, we passed baby and a parent swimming and diving of the northeast corner of Plum Is. It is getting big, but still bobs to the surface after a dive.

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Old 07-28-2018, 04:04 PM   #31
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We were in Robert's Cove yesterday with family, and as we were leaving (to beat the thunderstorms that were approaching, we passed baby and a parent swimming and diving of the northeast corner of Plum Is. It is getting big, but still bobs to the surface after a dive.

Dave
He IS getting big!
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Old 07-30-2018, 08:10 PM   #32
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Default Loon chick picture

Robert's Cove loon chick with parent. 7-29-2018

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Old 07-31-2018, 11:26 AM   #33
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Daddy loon and chick continue to survive in the Green's Basin. Yippee!!!
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Old 07-31-2018, 11:45 AM   #34
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There've been five or so BIG loons hanging around Hanson Cove this last week. I haven't seen baby much, so I'm not sure if it's a massive defense flotilla or what, but I've never seen so many adults together as I have this year.

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Old 07-31-2018, 12:08 PM   #35
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There've been five or so BIG loons hanging around Hanson Cove this last week. I haven't seen baby much, so I'm not sure if it's a massive defense flotilla or what, but I've never seen so many adults together as I have this year.

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I keep hearing this. I haven't seen them.

GBG, so happy Dad and the baby are still ok!!
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Old 08-05-2018, 05:37 PM   #36
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Default Loon chick

Another shot of the loon chick with mom (?). Robert's Cove.
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Old 08-06-2018, 12:45 PM   #37
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Great Photo!
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Old 08-21-2018, 09:00 PM   #38
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Default Loon Chicks

There were 7 loons swimming together this AM on the west side of Big Barndoor.
I have never seen that many loons in such close proximity. It was remarkable.
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Old 08-23-2018, 12:42 PM   #39
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There were 7 loons swimming together this AM on the west side of Big Barndoor.
I have never seen that many loons in such close proximity. It was remarkable.
Saw the loon chick and his daddy last night in front of our house (Green's Basin)
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