Brief Update

Greetings, and thanks for the updates of what you've been seeing, along with photos. With so little to watch, it gives everyone some evidence that the loons aren't a mirage, and most importantly, it really helps our research!



I just posted a blog about video from Willpat posted on UTube. Apparently it confirms the banded female. Can anyone post a link so we all can find this?



I did see in photos that the male that was copulating is unbanded. If time allows, I may try to visit the pond, and do a thorough survey. I'll post my findings if this happens.

One question was posted, asking if both males and females fight. The answer is yes. Like many species, there is constant competition for occupation and dominance in suitable breeding habitat. Although there are other nesting locations on this pond, there is only one island, and that's cause for a lot of competition.

Please keep up the blogs, even with few sightings of the loons.

Lee

More Fighting:<(

Good morning. As some have reported on the blog, June 9 was a day of seemingly endless battles. This situation makes it apparent that a pair of loons have not established dominance in this territory. Other, unpaired loons are still vying for a "seat at the table."

While we all continue to watch and hear the season unfold, let me try to answer a few more questions. One blogger asked about reporting band information. If anyone recovers a dead, banded loon, the metal band has contact information, which includes a phone number to call.

We can adjust the time of day the infrared illuminator turns on, but we are limited in the settings. I will look at this, and see if it can be adjusted.

Panning the camera, as I've done a few times, is something we do with great caution. It moves via a motor that makes quite a bit of noise, and we don't want to disturb the loons. I try to do it when I'm reasonably certain they are not nearby. If we move it to view the lake, we can't move it back if the birds go on the nest.

As always, any blogs that report loon activity are very important. Please keep them coming. Thanks!

Lee

More Answers

Good morning. I'm going to do my best to answer some more questions I came across, when I reviewed the blog.

Wider angle - some have asked about having the camera give a wider view. Given what we have to work with at the site, we have as wide an image as we can possibly get. We can't move the camera any further back, and it's zoomed out to the widest setting.

Soft calls - I'm listening to soft mewing as I write this post. We do hear a lot of this when loons are near the nest, and courting/mating. These calls are not identified in any publication I have seen.

Security - within the limitations we have, we have done what we can to try to minimize the impacts of human disturbance. Given the setting, there is no way to close it off, and we have done what we think is best at this point. This is upsetting to all of us, but the instances have been rare and brief, and have not caused the nest to fail.

Night vision - the infrared illuminator which allows us to see at night is activated by a timer.

Dead loons - one blogger asked is we've recovered any dead loons which might help explain the likely changes in the pairing. The banded male was in a bad fight, last year, but we didn't confirm that he was actually killed. The bands do allow us to identify each loon, and track their behaviors, location, and changes in breeding pairs.

Lastly - we received one question about how long the camera will be on. Provided no technical issues come up, the camera will remain on until sometime in July, or later, if the loons nest late.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Lee
P.S. I just saw a loon come into the nest, and just heard a wail call. For those that seem to miss the action, tune in during the morning. It's 8:15 am on the east coast, now.

Some Answers Or At Least Speculation

Many questions, and some recent activity have the blog buzzing. I know I'm glad to hear of some activity, although I haven't seen it, myself. Thanks for all the help sharing what you've been seeing and posting your notes so thoroughly on the blog!

While I've shared my concerns about three loons vs. a strong, distinct pair, I can only speculate about what that means for our chances of having a successful nest. Clearly, it would be better if the third loon wasn't around, as it makes it more challenging for a pair, when a third loon interferes. That said, only time will tell. I've seen many circumstances when I predicted a pair wouldn't be successful, only to be proven wrong.

Many have inquired about a second camera. Unfortunately, the company that makes this equipment isn't doing it anymore. Also, our donations have lagged well below our needs and forecasts, and our budget already exceeds our income. More donations would certainly be welcome! All of the money donated goes right back into the program.

We don't have any new news to share about bands. It seems quite certain that the banded pair are no longer together. There is at least one of the banded loons on the pond, and perhaps both. One may still be in the territory. We're still trying to figure this out, without disturbing the mating process. Updates will be posted as new information comes in.

For those of you that have been watching for many years, we are approaching "prime time." We're right in the middle of the nesting window, and very near the egg laying dates from the most successful years. More watching, could be rewarded.

If I missed some important questions, I'll try to catch them next posting. Have a great week, everyone!

Lee