LOONS
Throughout the world there are five species of loons: the Red Throated Loon, The Pacific Loon, The Arctic Loon, The Yellow Billed and The Common Loons. Let's take a minute and speak about the common loon.
Common Loons Gavia immer Many a family sat out on the porch of a cabin around a northern lake and listened to the mysterious sounds of the Loons. Many people know the Loon's call well because of its appearance in many movies and leisure tapes. Besides having a fascinating song, it is a handsome water bird.
Loons require at least 50 acres of lake area to supply enough fish to sustain a non-breeding pair of common loons. For common loons to produce successfully they need 100 acres or more and 200 acres or more to support two or more breeding pairs of this species. Loons do not show partiality for clear or colored lakes and raise broods on both types of lakes.
The loon breeds in the northern part of northern hemisphere. The bird breeds from Alaska to Greenland and from Northern California to Nova Scotia. The loon winters from British Columbia south to Southern California and the Gulf coast and from the Great Lakes region south to Florida.
SUMMER - In the summer months the loon's plumage on its upper parts is glossy purplish black with greenish reflections. The loon has white spots and white on its under parts. There is a sharp white streak on its lower throat and other white streaks on each side of its neck.
WINTER - In the wintertime the upper parts are greyish brown with no spots. Loons have thick necks, knife-like bills and small pointed wings. Being a water bird, they naturally have webbed feet. Their feathers are hard and dense, except on their neck where the feathers are soft and fine. Found in both salt and fresh water, loons are the only birds having some solid bones. The average adult loon measures from 28-36 inches long.
During the mating season the Loons carry out a circle dance and bill-dipping practice where the two birds circles around each other occasionally dipping their bills into the water as if peering down. Sometimes they will build special copulation platforms.
Loons usually lay two dark freckled eggs that they do not cover up when leaving the nest. In some locals they assemble a nest of rough sticks and reeds. The usual loon nest consists of a hole in the sand without any nesting materials.
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