There’s always so much interest and excitement in regards to the loons on our beautiful lake. This page, I hope, will be a resource for our lake community. A place where you will find updates, links to information, photos and guidelines that will help protect our loons
Here at Crystal Lake you will observe different behaviors and postures of our loons:
preening
bathing
defensive posture
circle dance
foot waggle
Click on the button from the Loon Preservation Committee to learn more.
The behavior of the loon could be that it is alerting the observer of how it is feeling in regards to your proximity, or a warning to a challenger. The flapping of it’s wings, position of it’s body and neck will tell the story.
The eerie call of the loon is one that we all recognize and love to hear.
the wail
the hoot
the yodel
the tremolo
the cooing
Each of the calls has a meaning. Sometimes a warning or communication with a mate or chick. The Loon Preservation has put together a wonderful reel with examples of each call.
The call could be an alert to danger, a warning or even an attempt to locate other loons. At dusk, listen for the circle call as they attempt to find each other as darkness settles in.
As Spring arrives our lake community anxiously awaits the arrival of the loons. There are things that we can do to ensure their safety.
Check your tackle box for lead weights. If ingested they are the leading cause of death in the loon population..
There will be signs marking the nesting location, whether it’s the floating nest or somewhere near the shoreline. These signs are to ward people away, NOT to draw you near, so keep your distance. Know that if the loon feels threatened it will leave the nest. The egg is now vulnerable to the elements or to predators and may not survive.
Updates, if any, will be shared on this webpage!
As summer approaches there’s always excitement with the arrival of a chick (if we’re lucky)! Whether on the water or near the nest, if you’re getting too close, the nervous parents will alert you, be mindful of the behavior.
Later as the chick grows the parents will take turns with teachingskills to the young one: to fish, dive, to call and eventually to fly.
Sometimes, when there’s a lot of loud warning cries from the loons, look to the sky, and most likely you will see an eagle.
It’s not unusual to have other loons stop in for a visit, they are social. But the visit from another loon could also be a territory challenge. Females will challenge females and males will challenge males! The size of a lake will determine the size of the population that’s sustainable.
As the summer winds down and there’s a chill to the air, the male will take flight for his winter destination leaving the mother and now juvenile behind. Eventually too, the mother will head out and then the lake residents watch with concern the juvenile, hoping for it’s departure before the arrival of the ice.
IF at anytime you feel that a loon is sick or vulnerable reach out to the Loon Preservation and alert them to the situation.