May 07, 1992 - The Common Loon: Anything but Common4A • The,Syffolk•Timgs —May 7, 1992
The Common Loon: Anything but Common
By Paul Stoutenburah
For any of you who have been out on
our bay, Sound or ocean any time but
summer, the sight of a common loon is
possible. In old- country terminology
they are known as divers, a name well
deserved because diving is what they do
best. They are often confused by the ca-
sual observer with the cormorant that we
see resting on
buoys, fish traps �oCUS
and rocks. Actual-
ly the loon is a on mature
much larger bird.
In its winter
plumage, which we see mostly, it is gen-
erally black all over with white under-
parts. That nondescript winter plumage
changes most drastically when it
migrates out of our area during the
breeding season and through the sum-
mer. And that's why I've chosen to write
about the common loon at this time.
Not having any great quantities of
lakes here on Long Island we usually
look for the loons along our maritime
edge and so when Tim called the other
day and told me about seeing a loon in a
small freshwater pond in its breeding
plumage I jumped at the chance to pho-
tograph it. The reason this was so un-
usual is that loons are difficult to get
close to. Of course, there are always
those rare occasions when their curiosity
brings them within range, but at those
times I never had a camera with me. So,
equipped with binoculars and camera, I
headed for the pond in hopes of seeing
this now handsomely dressed bird.
Sure enough, there it was, dressed in
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
COMMON LOON —We usually see this big diver in its dark - colored winter
plumage. Here we see its handsome breeding plumage on the loon's way
north.
its beautiful checkered black - and -white
pattern. The head was jet black and
when the light from the sun hit it just
right, there'd be a hint of iridescent
green. With my binoculars I could see
its deep, red - colored eyes. The neck had
a unusually clear -cut black- and -white
streaked collar with a "necklace" above.
They seemed painted they were so per-
fect on the sleek black neck. The big,
black, pointed bill glistened with water
as a drop like a jewel clung to its tip.
Sitting on the marbled surface on the
pond, this common loon floated in
grandeur before me.
Loons migrate from our waters and
along the eastern seaboard at this time
of the year for nesting sites in the iso-
lated areas of the Adirondacks and
points north. Here on lonely lakes and
ponds they'll build their low, boggy nest
that will usually hold but two eggs. I
saw one of these nests while visiting a
remote lake in Alaska. Like all loons'
nests it wasn't far from the water's
edge. Loons, being such expert swim-
mers, have sacrificed their walking
ability for legs far back on their bodies
which makes them uneasy and awkward
out of the water.
Evidently the pond had a supply of
fish for the diver would go below in
what could only be termed a smooth en-
trance with hardly a ripple. Its whole
body seemed as one flexible unit as it
went under. Loons also have the re-
markable ability to sink effortlessly into
the water right before your eyes. They
can sink to any depth they want and of-
ten, when pursued, they'll only raise
their head above the water, keeping
their body completely submerged and
therefore difficult to locate.
The diet of loons could be fish, frogs,
snakes, worms or anything that might
inhabit the water they are feeding in.
Often I could see the loon's movement
ripple in the shallow water of the pond
as it pursued some food source below.
This was particularly apparent when it
would make a rush toward its prey. I
was amazed to see how fast these torpe-
does of the bird world pursued their
frantic prey. Loons, unlike cormorants,
eat their food underwater and so I
E
couldn't tell what it caught after its
dashing charges. Was it some unfortu-
nate frog or perhaps the goldfish that
inhabit the pond? I'll never know.
After a period of feeding the loon
spent most of its time above water
preening itself. It would lie half on its
side using its big bill to try to remove a
dark, black oil spot from its white
breast. At one time it spent a good half.
hour in this exaggerated, undignified
pursuit. I felt sorry for the bird for the
oil was in such an inconvenient place, it
was doing little good in its attempts to
remove it. I wondered if it was one of
the many seabirds that had the misfor-
tune to be caught in the oil spill off our
ocean shore a few weeks ago. Had it
come to this small freshwater pond in
hopes of curing its discomfort?
Loons are powerful flyers and easily
recognized in flight. Their long feet trail
out behind them and with their big body
and long neck and methodical pointed
wing beat they soon become easily rec-
ognized. May is the time we most often
see flying loons because they are mi-
grating. Their size and weight and the
placement of their feet and legs far to
the rear of their bodies, require an extra -
long takeoff from the water. They al-
ways seem to have difficulty in becom-
ing airborne and always take advantage
of the wind on takeoff.
Once nesting loon's were fairly com-
mon on many of our northern lakes but
with the introduction of summer cot-
`The call of the
loon, once heard,
will never be
forgotten'
tages along the edges and motorboats
zooming about, most of our loons have
retreated to the more isolated and hard -
to- get -to lakes. It's a shame, for our
lakes now miss that wonderful wild
quality and sound they once knew.
The call of the loon, once heard, will
never be forgotten. It's true wilderness.
To some it has been described as a wail-
ing call, to others the call is melancholy
and mournful. To one individual it has
the quality of "bittersweet sadness." To
me, it's a wild and wonderful haunting
call I'll never forget. My most vivid
memory is from my youth when I heard
it across the water on a cold and quiet
winter day.
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