Catching Up With The Loon Familes

It was too long between trips to check on the three loon families. Work, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair and rain kept me off the water. Things improved a week ago, and I’ve had a chance to visit all three families. All our chicks are doing well.

I’ll be up at the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival in Wells, ME, September 7 & 8 with lots of note cards, calendars and prints. All the details are on their site: https://wellsreserve.org/event/52783/36th-laudholm-nature-crafts-festival.

The next weekend, September 13-15, I’ll be in Tarrytown, NY, at the Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst Festival. Details for this one are here: https://www.artrider.com/fall-crafts-at-lyndhurst-2024.

And, for those parents who get picked to provide photos of student athletes, I’ll be teaching a workshop at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH, on September 28. The workshop is for anyone who wants to get better photos of kids’ sports from tee ball to varsity. It is designed for using cameras with interchangeable lenses, and may not be helpful if you’re using your phone. All the details are on the Museum’s site https://currier.org/class/photography-in-motion-with-ian-clark/.

OK, on to the birds…. A week ago Friday, I headed out to visit the Eastons. Their pond is away from the Connecticut River and slightly higher in elevation. It was clear here on the hill, with fog in the valley. When I crossed the River, it was foggy enough that I couldn’t see the water from the bridge. The Eastons were above the worst of it.

Before I found the loons, I passed the resident herons. Mornings are getting chilly again, this heron is fluffed up to keep warm while waiting for the sun to rise.

The other great blue heron had the camo working.

Our loons were well down the pond. The parents were just finishing up feeding the now four-week-old chicks. The chicks floated off to nap and the parents got themselves some breakfast in the shallows.

The osprey showed up, hunting for breakfast. He? had to work at it, making several dives that came up empty. While he was hunting, a small hawk appeared and repeatedly dove at him. The hawk didn’t seem to make much of an impression on him, he continued about his business. The hawk stayed far enough away that I couldn’t get any photos.

Nothing but water!

After diving, osprey shake like a dog to dry off.

After a short nap, the chicks were back up and about. And hungry. They can forage on their own now, but still need help from their parents.

Mom soon came to their aid with a horned pout.

And then a crayfish….

While mom was feeding the chicks, dad took a few minutes to preen and stretch.

Heading back to join the family, he cruised by to check me out.

The osprey has spotted a trout below….. Success this time!

The loons led the chicks into the shallow water and supervised while they foraged on their own.

The chicks are still learning what is good to eat. And what’s not. This chick tried a damselfly. Too much wing and not enough breast…..

The next morning, the fog in the valley didn’t seem to be as thick, so I headed out to visit the Middletons.

I was wrong. On the pond, the fog was very thick and it was tough to find the loons. After some searching, I found one adult and both chicks. The adult was feeding the chicks – but no where near as much or as often as the chicks wanted. The adult would stand off from the chicks, apparently encouraging them to forage for themselves.

Our adult took a second to stretch….

Eventually the chicks got so hungry they started looking for food for themselves. This chick stopped to rip this water lily apart – hey, it had it coming! There was probably an insect inside that the chick was after.

The next morning, I learned my lesson and went back to visit the Eastons. I managed to paddle past the loons on my way down the pond. I was well down the pond when dad when cruising by on a mission.

An eagle had perched overlooking the pond. Dad went to work explaining that this was not an eagle-inclusive community and the eagle should buzz off.
Turning around, I soon found mom with the chicks.

Mom took a few seconds to preen. Dad continued to wail at the eagle…

Mom has spotted something….. She chased a wood duck out of the nearby brush.


Mom was letting the chicks roam far from her as she foraged. Until dad changed his call.

Just after dad’s call changed, the eagle appeared overhead. Mom herded the chicks close to my boat. This behavior is apparently fairly common with lots of different people experiencing it. Apparently the loons figure the eagle won’t want to tangle with people. I was happy to babysit and couldn’t resist getting a pic as they got close.

If you’re on a pond and this happens, just put your paddle down and sit. Let the loons do what they need to do without interfering.

The eagle flew off without bothering the loons. I was not as convinced that dad had scared him off as dad was.

With the threat gone, peace returned to the pond.

Thursday, there was just a hint of fog in the valley, so I ventured up to see the Westons. And found the only patch of thick fog in the area. It was 48° with a chilly wind. There was one adult and the chick on the pond.

The chick is able to forage for itself at this point, but still preferred to pester the parent to be fed.

After a time, another loon flew in. The loon on the pond approached and displayed how big he? was. The new loon swam off to the other side of the pond and the home team returned to the chick. I’m not sure if this was an intruder or the mate.

The fog refused to lift and the wind was getting unpleasant, so I headed in.

On the way to the boat launch, I found four does playing in the shallow water. They were kicking up their heels and splashing and chasing each other. The photos weren’t any good because I was shooting through the fog, but it was fun to watch.

Not sure how soon I can get out again, but want to get back when I can. The Weston and Middleton chicks should be learning to fly by now, always fun to watch them as they try.

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14 Comments

  1. Reply
    Michael Fiske August 31, 2024

    A great narrative and photographs

  2. Reply
    Mary Mirkin August 31, 2024

    I was mesmerized reading the loon families’ stories and seeing the pictures.

  3. Reply
    Fonda Campbell September 1, 2024

    Thanks so much Ian for the brilliant photos and excellent narrative! Thoroughly enjoyable. Amazing!

  4. Reply
    Aunt Joy September 2, 2024

    You know I love your work!!

  5. Reply
    Murray Burk September 6, 2024

    Your work is marvelous & so informative- thanks! I wondered where you’d gone. Fall craft shows! Are u doing any here in the Upper Valley this month?

    • Ian Clark headshot
      Reply
      Ian Clark September 7, 2024

      Thanks. It gets tough to get out late in the summer, I always miss checking up on the families. I don’t have anything planned in the Upper Valley yet. I’ll be in Stowe over Columbus Day weekend and Burlington in November.

  6. Reply
    Esther September 6, 2024

    thanks so much for sharing your photos.

  7. Reply
    Debra Jayne September 6, 2024

    Thanks for the amazing photos, Ian,
    and information re:how to help loons when
    bald eagles approach.
    Ospreys are almost as amazing as loons. 🙂

    • Ian Clark headshot
      Reply
      Ian Clark September 7, 2024

      Thanks. Osprey are always fun to watch while they’re hunting.

  8. Reply
    Carol Keenhold September 6, 2024

    A special treat to view your excellent photos!

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