Sad News

I'm really sorry to have to report that a recent check of our looncam family only found the two adults by themselves. I was able to talk with several camp owners that watch the loons very intently, and they confirmed that both chicks were lost. No cause was observed, which is an ongoing frustration for loon researchers. If only we had the ability to have eyes on them 24/7 after they leave the nest.

As I've discussed in earlier blogs, loon chicks face tough odds for survival. The 30 year average productivity for nesting loons in New England (measured by chicks fledged per nesting pair, per year) is .5/year. That means it takes the average pair four years just to replace themselves, and we know virtually nothing about their survival rate after fledging.

Although this is a very sad ending for our 2006 looncam family, you should all feel good that organizations like BioDiversty are monitoring common loons very closely. Through our efforts, many loon pairs are assured of having excellent breeding habitat ongoing, giving nesting pairs a good chance to successfully hatch young. What happens after chicks hatch is largely up to nature, and survival of the fittest.

Please check back for blogs concerning next years looncam, and other miscellaneous looncam news, and thanks again for all your excellent blogs and support. We need that to successfully continue this vital mission.

Best wishes to all!

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Link To WGME 13 News Video

I just confirmed that the video airing on WGME 13 in Portland, Maine, last night, is now posted on their site. To find it, go to: www.wgme.com .
Click on the link to Doug's Discovery. Look for the links entitled " Watch Streaming Video", which are located underneath Doug's picture, and the title. Click on the viewing option that matches your internet connection setup.I just viewed it myself, to confirm it is working.

The closeup footage at the beginning of the segment is from this year's looncam nest. You will get to see great footage of the adults and the chicks.

The rest of the story was filmed on Little Sebago Lake, in Windham, Maine. When I was out with the TV crew, we checked on the status of four loon territories. We found two pairs that were without chicks, and two pairs that had two chicks each.

During our time on the water, I was also able to identify three banded loons that I couldn't confirm during an earlier visit. The data we collected is extremely valuable for our ongoing loon research & conservation efforts.

Hope you enjoy the story. It's so great that technology allows us to make this available to anyone around the globe that has access to a high speed internet connection.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

News Story Airing Tonight

For those of you experiencing looncam withdrawal, I wanted to let you know that WGME Channel 13 News in Portland, Maine will be airing a segment, tonight as a follow up to the looncam. It will air sometime between 6-6:30pm EDT, as the feature segment on Doug's Discovery.

For those of you from "away", you should be able to view the video segment on their website: : www.wgme.com . I believe you should click on the Doug's Discovery link, and it will have a listing of the latest stories that aired. The video may not be posted on their site until Thursday morning.

I hope that helps calm the loon DT's!

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

P.S. If you like auctions for a good cause - check back here for news on something REALLY SPECIAL. I hope to commission the creation of a unique collage, using chick downy & eggshell fragments from the 2006 looncam nest. It would be professionally framed, and signed by me. If I can pull it off, I will post it via the blog, and auction it off to the highest bidder as a fundraiser for next year's looncam expenses. Stay tuned!

Giving The Family Some Space

Today was the first time I've had a chance to check our website for blogs about the loons, and I posted a number of the blogs earlier this afternoon. It's now 7:30 pm EDT, and I wanted to write a brief blog about what's going on.

Given the circumstances of the hatch, and the disturbance created by my intervention on behalf of #2, we have opted to give the family a week or more of quiet solitude, without disturbance from any data gathering researchers. While I know this will disappoint many of you that are anxious for an update on the family, and the fate of #2, it's in the best interest of the loons, and that is out highest priority.

It's possible that I will know something more by the end of the week. If I haven't posted a report by Friday, I definitely will by next Monday. We appreciate your patience and consideration of doing what's best for the loons.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

P.S. On my way back home, last Friday, I called the office and jokingly told my assistant that I was going on maternity leave. From your blogs, I bet a lot of you can relate to that.

A Final Blog on the Fate of Lee and the Loon Chick

Friends,

Lee has asked me send a final word on the events of these last few hours and the fate of the second loon chick. Based on the length of time the chick sat alone on the nest, it was determined by the biologists here at BioDiversity Research Institute that the chick had indeed been abandoned. It is a difficult scientifically to intervene in the natural fate of living things, yet not to give this chick a second chance weighed just as heavily on us. For the many that patiently kept vigil over these long weeks of incubation and kept Lee company during the tense days of hatch, we decided to step in*.

Lee set out in his kayak to the nest island and after much searching, found the chick hidden in the shallow waters around the island. He brought the chick within visual distance of the adults and placed it in the water. The adults responded to the calls of the young chick and soon the family was reunited. Although the adults were accepting of their young, the older chick was aggressive towards its sibling in a natural show of dominance. Sibling aggression dissipates readily if the chicks are of equivalent strength and can assert themselves with the adults during feeding bouts. In some cases, however, this can lead to the death of the younger chick through reduced feeding and abandonment by the adults. Though difficult to watch, sibling rivalry is a natural occurrence that works to ensure the survival of the stronger chick.

At this writing, the family is together but a steady wind across the water makes for much effort to keep up against the waves. The chick is significantly smaller than the first-hatched sibling and will need to fight for access to the feeding adults. The hours ahead will be long for the young loon but this timeless struggle for survival in all species is both worthy and good.

Kate Taylor
Loon Biologist
BioDiversity Research Institute

…………………………………………………………………………………………
*What to do if with abandoned loon chicks:

There are many occasions when adult loons will leave chicks for short periods of time, such as when foraging for food. Loons may also stash their chicks for longer periods in emergent vegetation if a threat is perceived. If you think a loon chick has been abandoned, do not attempt to reunite it with the adults. Please contact your state’s wildlife agency or a certified wildlife rehabilitator.

We’d like to thank all of you who have participated in the events of this loon pair and it has been an honor sharing this unique viewing of a loon pair’s private world. Many have even sent donations and kind words of support, which are greatly appreciated. A special thanks to all those who helped keep Lee company in the days surrounding hatch.

Time to get some sleep, Lee.

Next Chapter

The image that appears on the screen, now, is the cove where this pair always goes to brood their chicks. For the first 2 weeks, the chicks will spend time back riding, as previously described. They do this to rest, get warm, and to reduce the chances of predation. When the chicks reach two weeks of age, the adults will no longer tolerate this, and the chicks will remain in the water for the rest of their rearing.

I took a few minutes to pan the camera around, and we were all treated to live video of one adult with both chicks, slowly moving down the pond and into the brood cove. After they moved out of camera range, I took a few minutes to pan the camera across the scenery where this loon pair resides. Several of you asked to see more of that, and I hope you got to see it.

Although we will be terminating the looncam feed within the hour, don't disappear. After I catch up on all my other duties, I will try to get back in the groove of blogging once a week to update folks on the status of this loon family. I'll try to do this on Mondays. That should give all something to look forward to, to start a new week. So, check back, at least weekly.

Also, you've probably all heard that we hope to produce a documentary DVD all about the looncam. This isn't going to happen overnight, but check our website as well for news about progress on that. I hope to have some news posted by the fall.

Finally - thanks ever so much for making this a very special experience for all that found us, and for your very generous support. My plea for donations to purchase a second camera was extremely well received, and if we can keep gifts coming in, we can make that happen in 2007. Just think, when we're all sitting around our computers, watching double the video, you can tell your friends that your donation helped buy the second camera!

I look forward to sharing the 2007 looncam season with all of you.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Time To Take A Tumble

9:15 am EDT - mom & #1 are very near the island. She is busy diving for those tiny minnows I described in an earlier blog, and feeding #1. She has called for #2 several times, and it's time for him/her to take a tumble down the embankment and join the family.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

High Drama

6:39 EDT - many of you may have heard a lot of loon commotion not long after the female & #1 entered the water. I had observed them sitting rather quietly near shore, and had returned to the camera and observation of #2. It was at that time that the host male could be heard yodeling, and at least one other loon was making a lot of noise. I ran outside to catch the end of a skirmish created by a rogue loon that had entered the territory. Unfortunately, this likely indicates that the rogue loons mission was to kill #1. The incidence of other adult loons killing chicks is quite well documented by loon researchers. This is just another predator that they need to fend off.

Now, before everyone panics, and goes into blogging hysteria, let me say that there is at least a 50/50 chance that #1 is hiding out somewhere, waiting for the "all clear" sign. Often times the host adults sense the danger, and they stash the chicks somewhere near shore.

At present (6:55am), both parents are a ways down the pond, and are engaged with now three other adult loons. When all is settled at that gathering of the tribe, I anticipate the parents will return, I will know if #1 is alive & well, and the fate of #2 will move forward.

I'll keep you posted on any happenings off camera, and keep the camera on the nest & #2 until
he makes his exit. When that happens, I will try to pan the camera within its limits to catch a few glimpses of #2's first swim.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Welcome #2!!!

5:03 am, EDT - blogger biologist just observed two chicks, one under each wing. From reviewing all of your blogs over the last 4 hours, it appears the incubating female kept the hatching of #2 covered up the entire time.

One might wonder how a chick can emerge when it appears from camera view, that its smothered by the adult. I surmise that our view is somewhat deceiving, and that the adult likely rests its sternum on the front of the nest bowl, and uses its large webbed feet to hold up the back end, essentially creating a bit of a pocket.

Dawn here brings us all great joy to witness #2 coming into the world, along with chilly New England air, and pond mist that you may be seeing blowing by the camera lens. To all who know it, this is life in Maine at its very best.

Many thanks to all that propped open their eyelids with toothpicks, and kept up an all night vigil. I'm back in the saddle, now, and anxious to watch the events that will unfold on the looncam, today.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Blogging Off

Okay all you west coast looncam bloggers, I'm counting on you to keep up the night time watch, and blog in any key observations until Pam UK wakes up across the pond. This looncam blogging biologist needs at least 4-5 hours of sleep after another 19 hours in the chair.

When I'm on site, I work out of a short basement (low headroom). I often feel like a bit of a troll, and I've come to nickname the space as the "loon dungeon". Actually, as field research environments go, this is pretty cushy. It's dry, bug free, and it doesn't smell too bad, except for days like, today, when the plumber was here clearing the pipes of a serious blockage - smelled a lot like loon .......

Thanks again to all for keeping up the blogging. Blog back around dawn.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity research Institute

P.S. Ever wonder why a spell checker on a blog site doesn't know the words blog, blogging, bloggers, and it always wants me to change my last name.

The "Wild" Ride Continues

For a minute there, I thought it was snowing out, and all the bloggers that had grabbed their sunscreen and umbrellas were calling the news station, insisting that I be fired. Like some of you had concluded, I was certain the loons had abandoned the nest, and my earlier forecast was blown all to hell.

When the male & #1 last left the nest, just before dark, they swam all the way down to the brooding cove, some 1/4 mile from the nest. When that happened, last year, the adults never returned - thus my fear that my forecast was all wet.

Now that we have an adult incubating, again, there remains hope for #2, and perhaps a family of four for Friday, July 7. I don't know if it's the male or female on the nest, but it's a very good bet the male is out defending the territory.

While I'm blogging under the cover of darkness, you might be interested to know a little about the miracle of infrared technology, that allows us to watch these loons at night. On your monitor, you would swear that we have a massive spotlight blinding the loon on the nest. Not so. If you and I were to paddle out and try to see the loons with the naked eye, we'd likely crash into them before we would see them. It's totally dark out there., with the exception of whatever illumination the moon is providing. Tonight, that's actually quite a lot, as the sky is clear, and we have a moon somewhat over half.

Stay awake loon bloggers, you can always call in sick tomorrow. If your boss calls me, I'll deny I ever said that.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Hazarding A Guess - Educated I Hope

Like a weather forecaster, I'm going to lay out my prediction for what's coming next, but keep your umbrellas and sunscreen handy. It's that unpredictable.

When the male returned to incubate, and the female went off on her own, I had a strong suspicion that #1 was hanging out around the back side of the island. He/she was out of view from land, off camera, and frequently calling, confirming my hunch. I did think, and hope we would see #1 make the journey back up the hill to, once again hang out in the relative safety of the nest.

Regretfully, #2 is really struggling to get free of that shell. Perhaps he/she began hatching a little prematurely. Nobody knows.

As long as some progress is being made, I wager that the adults will hang in there, incubating, at least through the night. After that, all bets are off on the fate of #2. My gut tells me tomorrow morning is a key time for this family to move along. Will #2 be a part of it?

Are all you night owls ready for another long night. I'm counting on your vigilant observations.

I was asked if common loons nest in salt water. I don't know of any confirmed cases. The changing water levels in tidal water would make it nearly impossible. Juveniles that reside along coasts until they reach adulthood are marked just like full adults in winter plumage.

Finally, I don't know for certain if all common loons are marked uniquely. I would venture to say that it's likely, but we haven't figured out a way to identify them this way - as researchers do with whales for example. That's why we use the bands, and each loon does have a unique band combination.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity research Institute

Questions Without Answers

Many, many questions are coming now, and candidly, I don't have many, if any answers. I'm sorry.

The hatching event has been so unique, and so different than previous years, mostly what I can offer is that we are all learning together, and that's the beauty of an unedited wildlife viewing experience. It's raw, and wild, and beautiful, and ....... fill in the rest.

The male remains on the nest, incubating the second egg. I believe the chick is somewhere on the back side of the island, hopefully staying out of harms way. I think we are hearing it over the audio, as well as the chick from inside the shell.

People are blogging in about video, and/or refreshing still image problems. I've checked both, and both are operating properly, so the problem has to be with the individual(s) computer.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Tremelo Chorus Celebration

4:20pm EDT - the tremelo chorus that we all just heard was the two adults and the chick swimming together on the pond. I believe they use this call both when alarmed, and when excited - happy excited. I'm observing them both diving for small minnows and feeding the famished chick. No danger evident.

This is a perfect example of how a second camera would improve our research, and your viewing, DRAMATICALLY. The family is just off the shore of the island, behind the camera, and unfortunately out of your view.

Now the male is yodeling, and I must run out to see what is happening. Be right back.

4:30pm - I saw one adult just south of the island, with chick #1. The other must be behind the island, hopefully ready to come back and incubate. The second chick is really making SLOW progress getting out of that shell.

One blogger asked if we ever intervene to aid the natural process - specifically if we have ever artificially incubated a loon egg. In general, as wildlife researchers and conservationists, we try by and large to let nature take whatever course it will take. We've never (male back on nest)
artificially incubated a loon egg, and I can't imagine us doing so. The only instance where we have taken action that would alter the natural outcome of a loon chick's life, is a few occasions where chicks have been separated from their parents, and we've gathered them up and performed a "chick drop". That means re-uniting the chick with the adults. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity research Institute

Loons & Airplanes

1:33pm EDT, and the incubating female just let out a single syllable wail call from the nest. This was in reaction to a plane that flew over head, which you may have heard over the audio.

Common loons appear to find airplanes quite disturbing, almost as if they view them as some sort of large avian predator. Often males will yodel when they fly overhead. It's a great chance for loon watchers to identify male loons.

My first paragraph mentioned the female made a one syllable wail call. Common loons make both single and multiple syllable wail calls. This should be demonstrated on most loon vocalization recordings.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

P.S. Thanks so much to all the enthusiastic looncam viewers, for both your informative observations, and your generous support. Without your support, we can't keep this dream going, and we can't improve it as we move forward. Thanks very much!!

Appeal For A Second Camera!!

Bloggers - before we lose all of you to whatever you do when the looncam isn't on, I want to make a special appeal for donations to purchase a second camera for 2007. If we can raise $4000 - 5000, we can add another camera on the shore, opposite the nest island. This new camera would allow us to observe all the loon activity that we miss, which takes place behind the current camera - on the water. It would be a huge addition to our research, and it would add fantastic video for all that watch on line.

If you want to help make that a reality, PLEASE make donations clearly marked for the looncam second camera. Donations can be made on line, via phone, or by mailing us a check, and all donations are fully tax-deductible.

Let's make this happen! Thanks very, very much!!

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Quite A Mystery

High noon, EDT, and I hve to admit that even after studying loons for more than a decade, the behavior I've seen on display over the past 1 1/2 hours is truly a mystery. I've been chewing my mustache, a lot, and that's a sign of stress.

During the last few chapters of the loon chick and partially hatched egg being left unattended, I've observed both adults just floating around the lake. I can't explain what they are doing, or why they are doing it, which drives wildlife researchers like me half crazy.

Just to keep everyone on the same page, the female is presently back on the nest. The male sat for several hours earlier, this morning, but the female has been on the last two times. With chick #1 getting awfully hungry (did you see it trying to eat some of its own membrane), and #2 needing further incubating to enter the world, she has her hands full. I've hypothesized that one adult would tend & feed the first chick in this scenario, while the other incubates the second egg. Perhaps that's wrong, or this pair follows a different strategy. Guess this stuff is what helps make this all so fascinating, and no more explanation is needed regarding how valuable a research tool these wildlife cams are. We're learning by the minute, and able to share it with all of you.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Blogger Blogging Down

I think all you looncam fanatics are blogging the blogger down - I can't even get on to blog :(

I have to say that although we've seen some awe inspiring things from these loons over the past three years, the last 24 hours has surpassed all of that. I hope you all caught the chick tumbling halfway down the embankment when the female left the nest, and the male climbing up and sticking his bill right inside the small hole in the second egg!

The male has now assumed incubating duties. The chick slowly made the journey back up the slope, and is under the back wing of the male.

Now that we've seen a hole in the second egg, I'm feeling very good about it's chances of hatching. That should happen by the end of the day. If all goes well, its very first survival challenge will come from its sibling, which at just one day old, will have a huge advantage in strength. Be forewarned, that if you haven't witnessed it before, sibling rivalry can be hard to watch. When this happens with humans, we call it tragedy. In nature, it is simply the way it is - survival of the fittest. We can all hope that the little guy/gal has a strong spirit to survive, and that it will fight back with vigor.

The chick(s) first meal will not come until they leave the nest, and it will be very tiny minnows. It's amazing that adults can catch such small fish in their large bills, and not crush them. Their dexterity is something to envy. Chicks that are back riding are either sleeping or simply resting. Sometimes the adult that doesn't have a chick on the back will feed the one(s) back riding. Yes, sometimes both chicks are on one adults back.

The chicks remain all downy until 4 weeks of age. Their color will lighten, and they will begin to develop their first feathers from 4 weeks on. By 12 weeks their feathers are fully developed. They are a somewhat drab grey/brown in color as compared to the striking black & white speckled adults. They will not get the adult breeding plumage until they are three years of age.

Someone asked the age of this pair. We don't know their age. Nobody has figured out a method to accurately age common loons, but they are long lived - some 25-30 years on average.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

P.S. I apologize if I don't answer all the questions that are posted. If I miss one of yours, we have a wealth of information on our website, as well as links to other sites where you can learn just about anything you might want to know about common loons. Check it out.

Songbirds Signal Dawn

5am EDT in Maine. From reviewing the blogs written during the night, all has remained fairly quiet on the nest. Mom continues to guard the newborn chick, and incubate the second egg. Sounds like a number of you night owls got to see the chick pop its head out from under the wing, where Mom keeps it stashed for safety & warmth. I guess it even came fully out on at least one occasion, which is quite normal.

I was greeted, a few minutes before 5, by a mirrored pond with the male floating quietly to the left of the nest island. He wailed a few times, and otherwise didn't make a ripple on the water.

Today we should learn if this family will stay long enough to allow the second egg to hatch. Last year they abandoned the second egg. Several bloggers have written that we will be able to watch this family on the nest for 10 days or more. This is incorrect. It's true for pacific loons in western North America, but not so for common loons. This family will leave the nest within the next 24-48 hours, and will not return.

As you might imagine, taking a chick(s) that are just a day or so old onto the water, exposes them to a lot of risk of predation. They can be eaten by predators from below such as snapping turtles, and large fish, and they can be taken by avian predators such as bald eagles. Common loons defend against these threats in the first few weeks of rearing their offspring, by allowing them to ride on their backs. This protects them from predation during their most vulnerable period, and helps them to stay warm. This back riding behavior is easily seen by lake dwellers in New England, except when the adults hide the chicks under their wings. Only the trained eye knows to look very carefully for a back profile that is not quite right.

Check in often, now, as the sights and sounds of this years loon nesting season will be drawing to a close very soon. If technology allows, we will post some highlight video and/or still pictures a little later on. I will also post an occasional blog about how the family is doing. Be sure to check back.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

We Can All Breath Easier

Before checking in on new blogs, I can just imagine that I will find many expressing concern for the hours old, vulnerable chick, being left alone by its parents for 45 minutes. Even when I know that this is typical behavior from this pair, I still found myself extremely anxious watching, and listening to the chick cry out.

Don't assume that this is bad parenting, as humans are inclined to do. This pair has been together for at least five years, and they have successfully hatched chicks all but one of those years. Their overall productivity exceeds the average, and I have to think that it reflects well that they know what they are doing.

The female did take over incubation shortly after 9pm EDT, and she should remain keeper of the domain through the night. If you can stay awake, you should get to see the chick numerous times, and watch for signs of any holes in the second egg.

The camera is going to remain fixed until tomorrow am, as my body is growing very tired of sitting in this metal chair for most of the past 17 hours. I should return around dawn, tomorrow.
Please keep all posted with blogs of your observations. It really helps.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

A New Common Loon Chick Enters The World

It's official. At 6:16pm EDT, I observed a loon chicks head and eye from underneath the males's right wing. This chick will now remain in the nest, mostly covered by the adult, until it is fully dry.

I anticipate that the female will return near dark, and take over continued incubation duties from the male. For those that are up for an "all nighter" you should be able to observe mutiple viewings of the chick popping out from under the adult. If past patterns continue, it will sometimes be akin to the old Jack In The Box routine.

Don't know how many got to see the extraordinary behavior of the male when he returned to the nest. He used his bill to gently peel away some of the shell and membrane. This is the first time we've observed this particular behavior.

I believe the fate of the second egg will depend a lot on what transpires over the next 12-18 hours. If it begins to hatch in that period of time, I'd bet it will make it. If not, I would guess that it will be abandoned. Only time will tell.

Aren't we all lucky to see such intimate scenes of nature at work!!

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Sorry For The Interruption

We had to unexpectedly shut down for some urgent maintenance. All is back up and running, and I can report that you didn't miss anything, except the male panting away on the nest. He hasn't exposed the eggs at all.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Male Takes Over Incubation

12:12pm - male arrives and assumes his incubation duties. I anticipate that he will remain on the nest for the balance of the daylight hours - giving the female time to rest & feed.

From the brief looks at the egg that is hatching, there seemed to be very little if any progress in enlarging the hole.

There have been a lot of blogs about identifying the loons by bands. It caused me to review what we've published on our website, and I'm embarrased to admit that the information listed is incorrect. For the record, here are the correct band combinations:

Male - Left Leg = White A3/Yellow, Right Leg = White Stripe/Silver

Female - Left Leg = Yellow/Yellow, Right Leg = Blue Stripe/Silver

Take note of the A 3 on the white band on the males left leg. This is clearly visible when the camera is zoomed in close. Sorry for any confusion our website created!

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Female Doing Double Duty

11:10 EDT, and for the second year in a row, we've witnessed the female stay with the eggs on the morning the first egg starts to hatch. She's left and returned twice, this morning. Interesting. The male should take over at some point later on, but we'll all have to wait and see.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Egg Tooth & Peeping

It's a little hard to see in the sunlight, right now, but the egg tooth is visible. It's the small white area on top of the chicks bill, and it enables it to break away the shell - gradually. As you might determine from watching for the past 30 minutes, it can be a VERY SLOW process.

The female had returned after her morning dip, and I expect one of them to return soon. Usually we miss a lot of this action, as it takes place underneath an incubating adult.

A few minutes ago, you could hear the chick peeping inside the shell. Don't think you can have a more fulfilling wildlife viewing adventure than what you are witnessing "up close and personal" right now, and without disturbing the natural process. Quite something!

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

P.S. Next year we are going to add a disclaimer that BRI assumes no responsibility for general workplace disruption and loss of productivity. Sure hope none of you lose a job over this.....

Brief Look At Eggs Confirms Hole In One Egg

For those with keen eyes, the female just turned the eggs, and I observed a small hole in the egg that is presently under her right side (cameras left). The hatching has begun, and will likely take quite a few hours before the first chick actually emerges, fully.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

Nothing Yet To Confirm Hatching

It's now 8:30am in Maine. The female left her incubating duties some 1/2 hour ago, and the eggs are now in plain view. This image does not show any holes, but it is possible that we can't see them.

I just took a peek at the pond, and interestingly, our pair were engaged with a third "intruder" loon. All three were together, circling around one another, shallow diving, etc. These intrusions by other loons can be very distracting to nesting loons. The intruder did leave the territory after a brief visit, and I watched as the nesting pair swam lazily down the pond. One would never know that they are nesting, and have a couple of eggs ready to hatch, unless you have a looncam that is.

At around 5am, this morning, the female was quite restless on the nest. She was exhibiting the flinching behavior I've described previously, but I've seen no visible signs of the eggs to confirm hatching is in process. My gut instincts tell me that something is going to happen, today. Ah, patience!!

Lee Attix

BioDiversity Research Institute

The Male Finally Relinquishes The Guard

At approximately 8pm EST, the male finally vacated the nest, and the female took over night incubating duties shortly thereafter. For all those listening, when the nest was void of both adults, we were treated to a chorus of loon vocalizations, including - tremelos, yodels and wail calls. Pea soup fog has set in over the pond, and all is as it should be on a muggy summer evening, lakeside in Maine.

Note that male common loons are the only ones that make the yodel call. It's a sure way to identify males from females if you hear that call.

Some of you reported observing that around 6pm, both loons were seen in camera view. It was quite fascinating that the male called the female in with wail and tremelo calls, and she dutifully showed up, only to have the male sit there and look at her. After growing tired of his unwillingness to leave the nest, she slid back down the embankment, and I watched her swim slowly away.

It's now just past 8:30pm, and we've had many excellent closeup views of the eggs, today. I haven't observed any small holes, seen any movement of the eggs, or heard any peeping from a chick itching to break out of its shell. I've been known to pull "all nighters" as part of loon chick watches, but I'm leaning towards getting some sleep, tonight.

One person did ask if a chick could hatch at night. That is quite possible, but I doubt it would be fully hatched, tonight, given no signs of any progress. In prior years, we have had dawn viewings of eggs with small holes, so we could see that tomorrow morning as well. Anything can happen in nature - and that's its magic.

This is likely my last blog for this 4th of July day. Join you again in the morning.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

P.S. If anyone is alert enough to go all night, and you happen to observe any positive signs of a hole in an egg, please blog the time you observed it. Thanks!

Has Hatching Begun???

Approximately 15 minutes ago, I witnessed the male flinch 3 or 4 times in succession, lifting his wings out to the sides just a bit. This was followed by him raising up and turning the eggs. Although I didn't get a good look at the eggs for any signs of holes, this appeared to be the first outward sign that there is movement inside an egg.

Everyone should keep a close eye out from here forward, as this flinching behavior should be noticeable, and if fortunate, we'll all get an early look at the hole forming.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

The Wait Is On

Happy 4th of July!

I've been monitoring the behaviors of the nesting loons very closely since 6am EST, and I haven't seen anything that indicates the hatch is in progress. We all got a very good look at the eggs, while the adults were both off for more than an hour, and I didn't see any signs of holes emerging, movement, chicks peeping inside the shells, etc. A few twigs did give the appearance of a crack and/or hole, but we were deceived.

The male is presently taking his turn incubating, and he seems in a very normal pattern. Although it is still early in the day, and the status subject to change, I'm now thinking that the first egg might not hatch until sometime tomorrow.

One blogger expressed concern about the eggs being left unattended for so long, this close to hatching. While this makes humans very anxiuos, we've actually witnessed this identical behavior from this pair in previous years. The eggs have always been fine.

More soon.

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute

4th of July Hatch?

It's possible that we could witness a 4th of July hatch this season, and viewers should remain particularly alert for telling signs that the process is underway. The most obvious sign that the hatch is happening, is that the adult that is incubating will be restless, with frequent slight raising of the wings. This becomes more pronounced as the chick gradually breaks away more of the shell.

We anticipate that the first egg layed will hatch sometime Tuesday/Wednesday, and if fortunate, the second egg will hatch some 24-36 hours later. The second egg usually needs extra luck, as it sometimes is abandoned by the adults, as they're anxious to get on with rearing and feeding the first chick. We have recovered abandoned eggs from this scenario, and when we've examined the contents of the egg, the chick was fully developed.

Starting Tuesday morning, I will be on site, some 1/4 mile from the nest, with the ability to operate the zoom and panning abilities of the camera. With some luck, anyone viewing on line will get a chance to view extreme closeups of the hatching. Loon chicks have an "egg tooth", which they use to break away the shell.

Keep in mind that we will have a very brief period - a day or so, to view the hatching, and the very first parenting, as the chick(s) dry. As soon as common loon chicks are dry, and ready for the life on the water, the whole family leaves the nest, and will not return. We may see a few trips on/off the nest, but they will leave for good, way to early for those who would hope to watch them raise the chicks in the nest.

Happy 4th of July, and happy viewing!

Lee Attix
BioDiversity Research Institute