Two Baby Loons on Highland Lake This Year

Here are Highland Lake's 2016 loon chicks; one is 24 hours old, and the other just 12 hours old. On July 13 they were eating minnows and dipping under the water. They like to ride on their parents' backs and hide under their wings. They stretch and flap their own little wings and shake their feet while resting in their floating nest. They certainly have experienced a lot in one day! Caption and photo: Donna Baker-Hartwell — Here are Highland Lake’s 2016 loon chicks; one is 24 hours old, and the other just 12 hours old. On July 13 they were eating minnows and dipping under the water. They like to ride on their parents’ backs and hide under their wings. They stretch and flap their own little wings and shake their feet while resting in their floating nest. They certainly have experienced a lot in one day! Caption and photo: Donna Baker-Hartwell

Update!

On July 20, Donna e-mailed, “Chris Hobby called to report that she was out on the lake this morning and saw what appeared to be an attack from under the water on an adult loon and a baby chick. The adult bolted upwards onto its tail and dove sideways under the water. At the time, a chick was floating along-side, unresponsive. Chris was able to pick up the lifeless chick. I can only think that our loon family has been attacked by either the mink or a snapping turtle.”

At sunset, Barbara Couturier reported seeing two loons and a chick. Donna surmises that the family has taken refuge at the north end of the lake, a place where they feel protected and to which they have taken newly-hatched chicks in the past.

We have two baby loons on Highland Lake! I just looked over what records I have on chicks born on our lake and thought that Beacon readers might be interested.

2000: two chicks
2001: one chick
2002: nest failed
2003: one chick
2004: no chicks
2005: no nest
2006: no nest
2007: no nest
2008: nest failed
2009: nest failed
2010: nest failed
2011: two chicks
2012: no nest
2013: nest failed
2014: one chick
2015: nest failed
2016: two chicks

So, in 16 years, we have produced nine chicks on Highland Lake.

Loons usually lay two eggs a year. Failed nesting occurred four or five times because of waves from speed boats, twice due to torrential rains, once because of dogs, twice because of a third loon present (three is a crowd), once due to cold weather and egg exposure, and once due to an infertile egg.