Activity!

Good morning, all. I hope everyone enjoyed the summer-like temperatures and sunshine for Memorial day, yesterday.

I was excited to read blogs, this morning, beginning on 5/27, where viewers have written about seeing a pair of loons on the nest. There were reports of copulation. That's real-time video as it's unfolding. Aren't we lucky? Very exciting!

Someone asked if the loons might have abandoned this location and nested somewhere else. Not that we know of. Although, they have thrown curves at us like nesting somewhere else on this island.

Keep the blogs coming with your observations. I get VERY little time to actually watch:<( Such is the price of trying to manage a rapidly growing organization like BRI.

Lee

All Quiet

It's been a quiet week for bloggers and loons. I noticed the water has risen with all the rain, but it isn't threatening the nest at this point.

Has anyone observed the loons visiting the nest? Day/time?

One blogger asked if the lake is large enough for a second territory. Yes, it is. It's a real mystery, to me, why we keep having intrusions by rogue loons in this territory, while the other potential territory remains unoccupied. A number of years ago, we did find an abandoned nest in the other territory, and collected a stinky, old egg. Since then, we haven't found any other signs of a pair there.

Lee

Too Many Loons :<(

In the past week, on site observers have seen up to four adults on the pond, in the same general area. Let's hope this doesn't persist beyond the next few weeks. We want to see a strong pair bond on display, which would mean little tolerance for other loons in the territory.

One blogger asked about the juvenile loon. They often will be seen on lakes and ponds. I would call them nomadic at this point in their life, as they usually move from one water body to another, and don't really have a home.

In anticipation of folks asking us to change the view of the cam, so they can see the water, and hopefully loons, it is our intention in these early weeks to keep it pointed on the nest, so we can determine if they actually visit. This is important for our research. Thanks for your understanding.

Anybody else see the geese? I did!

Lee

The Loons & BRI Looncam Are Back!

Greetings, all. I'm super happy to blog that we successfully installed the looncam for the 2011 breeding season, on Friday, May 6. The install went pretty smooth, and we went live that afternoon.

While on the pond, we observed a pair of adults moving around the pond. Before we departed, we spent about an hour monitoring them from a boat. We weren't able to see any bands. Our instincts and experience tell us it's an unbanded pair.

Local observers have reported three adults together:( Not what we want for best chance for successful breeding.

Lastly we observed a juvenile loon on the pond, alone. They are identified by there lack of breeding plumage, and often will move around from one pond to another.

Happy viewing, and please share any sightings, or significant events!

Lee