Loons
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When people camp in the Border Country in the summer, one of the birds they are almost sure to see is the loon. Loons are water birds that spend their summers on the lakes of northern states such as Minnesota and Maine. Did you know that loons make an incredible sounding call
that sounds rather like a wolf howl? |
Click on photo to enlarge |
Why do loons have red eyes?
The red eyes help loons see better underwater.
Where do loons live?
Loons spend the summer in Alaska, Canada, and northern Border States.
Where do loons go during the winter?
Loons fly south to the coast for the winter. This phenomenon is
known as migration. Birds migrate during different times of the
year to find food. The winters in northern climates are too cold
for loons. They depend on fish to eat and since the lakes freeze
over during the winter they must move south to find food.
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What do loons look like?
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Click on photo to enlarge |
What do loons eat?
Loons mostly eat fish such as yellow perch, trout, and minnows.
They will also eat mollusks, insects, frogs, and crayfish.
Did you know that loons stay underwater fishing for about 42
seconds?
Some loons have been spotted staying underwater for as long as 3
minutes! Loons are terrific divers and their bodies have adapted
to their aquatic lifestyle. Most birds have hollow bones to reduce
weight to make flying easier. Loons have solid bones, which makes
them denser than water therefore making it easier to dive deep into
the water.
When do loons breed?
Loons breed in the summer and both parents spend equal time sitting
on the nest incubating the two brown eggs. Their nests are on a
mound by the water's edge. Both parents help raise the chicks and
for the first three weeks the chicks spend most of their time riding
on their parents' back. They do this to avoid hungry predators like
fish and turtles.
When do loons migrate south?
Loons fly south in late fall and return again in late spring. They
can fly at speeds of 75 miles per hour! They have small wings and
heavy bodies so they require a long water runway to take off (between
60 feet and 1/4 mile). They need the wind to help lift them up out
of the water. It is quite a sight to see these attractive birds
take off and land!
What problems do loons face?
In the last few decades, scientists have found that acid rain which
falls into lakes can stop loons from being able to breed. The dangerous
chemicals also poison the fish, crayfish, and mollusks that the
loons feed on. When these animals die the loons starve. This is
more evidence that humans need to stop polluting because of the
negative effects on wildlife.
