The Easton chicks are still on their pond and are finishing their lessons on how to be loons. The Middletons and Westons seem to have departed for the season.
Tomorrow – Saturday October 5 – I’ll be giving my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon at the Richford, VT, Town Hall at 10 am. On November 6, I’ll be a the Hartland, VT, Public Library at 6 pm. I’ll also have a print exhibit of some of my favorite loon photos hanging in the Hartland Library during November.
And next weekend I’ll be up at the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival October 11-13 with note cards, calendars and prints. Come on out and have a look. All the details about the Festival here: https://stoweartsfest.com/.
I made it up to visit the Eastons on the 24th. Mom and both chicks were out and about. The chicks should be able to feed themselves by now, but are still willing to pester their parents for food.
The loons were off doing loon things when I arrived. I spent a time just enjoying being out on the pond.
After a bit, one of the chicks showed up, foraging on his own before stretching.
The other chick was chasing and pestering mom to be fed. Mom came up with a nice horned pout. It took the chick a bit of work to get it down. Still working on it……
And before the chick has fully swallowed the fish, he? returned to pestering mom for more.
It wasn’t long before mom scored another good sized horned pout. Which the chick put away without a problem.
Mom dove and put some space between her and the chick – probably to get a moment’s peace.
A good look at the chicks. They’ve lost all their down and are dressed in their winter plumage.
Mom was keeping her distance, so one of the chicks tried to get the other to come up with a meal. No dice. I stuck around until the wind came up and was a little surprised that neither chick showed interest in attempting to fly.
On the first, I made it back to check in with them again. Fall has arrived.
The colors along the pond were just about peak.
The chicks are now 12-weeks-old. One was foraging for himself without the rest of the family in sight.
The other chick was begging from mom. Dad wasn’t to be found, he may have left for the season. After a little bit, mom took time to stretch.
Mom was traveling a good distance with every dive, possibly to try to lose the chick and make him forage on his own. The chick would head for mom when she surfaced, she usually dove before he got close. They soon got far enough away from me that I looked for other critters to photograph.
I hadn’t seen the herons on my last couple trips and guessed they’d moved on. But I found one hunting in the fog. I’m not sure if this was one of the residents or someone stopping by on his way elsewhere. But, he? posed nicely through the morning, so I was glad to see him.
Striking out finding breakfast in the first spot, he moved to again pose nicely.
And the same bird in yet another spot.
Once again, I waited for the wind to come up to see if the chicks would attempt to fly. Having a brisk wind increases the lift their wings generate. They’ll always take off into the wind. Mom swam downwind of the chicks, turned into the wind and took off. She seemed to demonstrate how to take off for the chicks. It took her much longer than usual to gain height. She ran across the water for longer than usual and she seemed slower than usual. It sure looked like a lesson on how to take off.
Still running across the water with the chicks watching.
Now she’s pulling up for take off…
The demonstration seemed to work. About 30 seconds after mom took off, the first of the chicks stretched and turned into the wind.
Clear the runway! The chick made a run trying to take off. He wasn’t able to get high enough out of the water to get his legs under him to let him run across the water. This was as high as he got. This time.
When the chicks decide to end their takeoff attempt, they slow down by turning and skidding across the water – sort of like a skier making a snowplow stop.
Soon after, the second chick made an attempt to take off.
The first chick tried again….
Not going to happen today little guy…. Soon, very soon……
After the chicks make a good effort they always seem to looked pleased with themselves.
And a good stretch and fluff to get the feathers back in place.
They were still trying to take off as I left. I suspect they’ve got just a few days before they get airborne. This late in the season, I suspect they’ll depart their pond shortly after successfully flying. I’m going to try to get back once more, but I won’t be surprised if they’ve headed out before I return. This may be the last post with this year’s chicks.
And a shoutout to everyone working to protect the loons. They have lots of great info about loons online. A few sites to check out:
This is absolutely delightful! We have loved watching parent loons on Baker Pond rear two chicks this year. We are grateful to those who work hard to aid their nesting and to keep an eye on them.
This is absolutely delightful! We have loved watching parent loons on Baker Pond rear two chicks this year. We are grateful to those who work hard to aid their nesting and to keep an eye on them.
Thanks for another great season of loons and other wildlife, much appreciated!!
Thank you Ian for sharing your amazing photos.
Thank you