By Larry Chase

For the Beacon

The loon mating season on Bradley Lake began optimistically in early June, with a pair (likely the returning pair?) building a nest on an island on the western side of the lake. Numerous observers witnessed a loon on the nest during mid- to late June, and we were all awaiting another successful hatch.

Then, in early July, our Loon Preservation Center field monitor, Kathy Gunther, reported that she had observed, during a visit to the lake, shattered egg shells outside the abandoned nest. The evidence, she reported, pointed to a predator visit to the island. She could not identify what sort of predator it might have been.

After the nest abandonment, several lakeside residents observed the loon pair perhaps attempting to rebuild a nest on another island in order to begin the mating process a second time, but this did not happen. There were also reports of an invading male loon challenging the resident male, which perhaps prevented the second nest-building.

Later in the season, several other reports suggested that an adult loon was acting strangely, without much energy, which might have indicated an illness or wound. No evidence was later found of either.

In late August and early September, larger loon groups – five or more – were observed congregating peacefully, perhaps getting ready for their trip to the Atlantic coast for the winter. At the moment (September 14), all is peaceful, and the calling loons are still with us.