Great Observations!

Wow. If you haven't looked at the comments on the blog, check them out. Several viewers have shared detailed sightings of the loons, including copulation. Very exciting, and extremely rare to get to see! If anyone has pictures to post, that would be terrific for all that missed this action, including me.

The reports of geese sightings is not alarming, or unusual. They have nested in past years on the island (other end), as well, and their presence has not bothered the loons. Has anyone seen chicks with the geese? They usually have hatched by now.

In addition to a pond resident reporting that the banded female was spotted on the pond, they observed four loons together, this week, but no fights, so far. The frequent and somewhat routine nature of the loons appearing on camera and copulating, gives me hope for a nest attempt, soon.

I just scanned the area with the camera (8 am, 5/21) and didn't find anything. Please keep the great observations coming!

Lee

Mixed Feelings

Greetings, loon cam fans.

I'm encouraged to report sightings of loons coming and going from the area currently in view. This is a good sign. If the birds get serious about nesting, this activity should increase dramatically.

Timing is anyone's guess. In the early years of the original pair, they were on nest within the next few weeks, but they also nested as late as the first week of June. Now that we have a new, unbanded pair, it's a whole new game.

Another development, which may not be good news, or it could be inconsequential, is the banded female has been seen on the pond. Obviously, that confirms she is still alive. My hope is she'll come and go without engaging the unbanded pair, and perhaps negatively influencing there nest activity.

Keep an eye out for any signs of bands on the loons we see on the camera.

Enjoy!

Lee

Low Water :<(

Good morning. We pivoted the camera, yesterday, to look for a nest in the marshy area behind the island, and left it with a water view, hoping to catch views of the loons coming and going.

The spring in Maine has been extremely dry, and water levels are lower than I can ever remember. It would be hard for the loons to nest, right now, at their traditional location, so we will be watching attentively for any signs that they are nesting somewhere else. If they do something on the back side of the island, there is a good chance we'll see it, and will be able to catch the nest activity with the camera. If they move somewhere else altogether, we can't relocate the system.

Stay tuned!

Lee