Loons and Maine just go together. In fact, it is somewhat amazing that they weren't chosen as the state bird. There are 5 different species of loons in North America, and the Common Loon is probably the best known -- especially since they are able to breed as far south as New Hampshire. Over the last 2 summers, I have spent a significant amount of time watching loons raise their chicks - and am totally amazed and transfixed at the amount of parental care the adults provide their young. Because of the immense amount of support the chicks require until they reach fledging at 12 weeks, loons are only able to raise one brood per year - and are lucky if a single chick is able to survive. In fact, on average, most loons only succeed in raising a single chick every other year. This is counterbalanced by the fact that loons have a long lifespan - up to 30 years has been recorded.
In the initial days after birth, loon chicks have difficulty regulating their body temperature. They are able to swim - and even walk on land (which their parents can't do) but have minimal protection against predators. For this reason, and to help keep them appropriately warm, chicks will typically spend a significant amount of time riding on the backs of their parents. This affords them warmth, protection, and camouflage (see the photo below!). At this stage, the chicks are entirely dependent on their parents for food - and most often, one parent will stay up top with the young while the other fishes. By about a week of age, the chicks are better able to maintain their body temperature and will spend more time exploring shallow water and looking for small prey items, but still spend a large amount of time riding.
As the chicks grow, the intensity of the care from the parents also changes. They need larger prey items, and plenty of them. A family of 4 loons will consume over 600 pounds of fish in a single season! This means that both parents will need to start fishing to provide for the young, and the babies are left alone for longer periods of time. This leaves them very vulnerable to predators, especially larger birds such as bald eagles and underwater predators such as snapping turtles. Loons will aggressively defend any perceived threat to their chicks. The young can also be impacted at this age by human recreation, in that they can easily be swamped by the wake of passing boats which don't notice the tiny downy chick in the water.
By 2 weeks of age, the chicks can typically swim underwater for as far as 50 feet. Their initial attempts are clumsy (and hilarious to watch) but they quickly catch on. Hunting, and sometimes eating, takes more patience. The chick above dropped this fish at least 5 times before succeeding in taking it from the parent. And each time, the patient adult loon re-caught the fish and held it out for the chick to accept. They appear to feed first one chick, and then the next chick in succession, followed by a break/nap cycle which is then repeated some time later. There is little pushing and shoving to get the next fish, the young are markedly well behaved waiting their turn. By 4 weeks of age, they are pretty much too large to ride and are fishing for small prey, and are well on their way to fledging at about 12 weeks.
One parent will typically leave when the chicks are about 10 weeks of age and head to the ocean. The other parent waits until the chicks fledge, and leaves 2-3 weeks later. The chicks will stay on their natal lake for several more weeks, and even into the early winter months before heading to the ocean. By this time of year (January), most of our loons will be overwintering on the ocean, although the late ice formation this year gave some extra time to the young before they had to leave. During breeding season, loons preferentially feed on species such as yellow perch, pumpkinseed, and blue gill because their erratic swimming behaviour makes them easier for loons to catch. They will also take suckers, catfish, smelt and minnows. Fish with straight swimming patterns such as trout and salmon are harder to catch and not preferred by loons. Loons are also opportunistic, and will also take crayfish, frogs, leeches, snails, and even salamanders! Once they move to the ocean, they will continue to eat fish but add to the menu crabs, shrimp, marine invertebrates, and even lobsters.
I found myself totally addicted to spending time with the loons during their chick rearing days. Loons are able to get to know individuals, and the pair I spent the most time with this year certainly recognized the crazy photographer in the kayak when I arrived. At one point, an adult brought a fish over and offered it to me, making the small "food" sounds that they do with their chicks. It came so close I could no longer even focus on it with the long lens I had on the camera - what a heart-warming and endearing experience. And on multiple occasions, the adults "parked" the chicks near my boat for protection while they fished. I actually felt a bit stressed while I was on eagle duty! An incredible, long lived species that is intelligent and shows genuine concern for their young. I can't wait for them to return in the spring - they show high territory fidelity, and I'm anxious to see if they remember me across a winter.
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