LOONY TUNES
Some Loon Notes
Drawing by Peter Kasper, from the Fermilab Bird List web page. Used with permission
Peter Kasper's wonderful artistic creation above is of a Common Loon
in its most attractive breeding plumage.
But cooler weather has arrived, and once again much in evidence on the waters of Saratoga Passage and other Sound waters are loons in their somewhat drabber winter feathery. What follows are some notes regarding loons and their fascinating behaviors noted at various times of the year.
On lakes in the north country where they nest during summer months, loons can send forth some rather bizzare - even demoniac sounds: cries, wails, blood-curdling screams. Some have been said to resemble crazy laughter - hence expressions "crazy as a loon", "loony bin", "loonies".
And since the word loon itself is felt to have been derived from an old Scandanavian name,'lom', meaning a clumsy person, there's even more loony reinforcement. Loons do clumsily shuffle about on land, for their legs are set so far back on their bodies that walking is most difficult and awkward.
We'll put demoniac, loony, awkward, and clumsy aside here though, and touch upon an item accepted as fact by some because of repeated unsubstantiated information put out there. We'll call it an "interesting loon factoid".
Here it is, and it's one I may have passed along mineself: "You know, loons' principal food is fish (okay so far), and to go after fish prey they swim under water several minutes - three, maybe four or five."
Indeed, loons are the most proficient of diving birds - foot propelled- can go down to depths of 200 feet, but unless they're being pursued by a predator, seldom do they remain submerged for more than 60 seconds.
They usually hunt for fish meals just offshore - most often solitarily - head nearly below water - I call it "scoping". Already being "low riders" on the water and having many solid bones, when the decision to dive is made, they simply expel air from the body, squeeze the insulating air from their feathers, and gracefully and undramatically sink slowly below the surface like a submarine - oft-times creating nary a ripple.
More information of a more factual nature related to their underwater feats are: 1) they have large amounts of a respiratory pigment called myoglobin in their muscles which affords them the storage of a goodly supply of oxygen for their underwater use, 2) many of their organs are more tolerant of a reduced oxygen supply, and 3) a reduced heart rate also helps them stay submerged.
And regarding another loon related activity: If you've observed chicks on a parent's back - an incredibly sweet thing to observe - I previously would have thought it a bonding time or protection against predator behavior. Not to totally dismiss these reasons, but I recently learned that the young ones' piggy-backing is probably more likely to happen because of properties of the young chicks' downy feathers. Seems their soft first plumage can become quickly water saturated leading to chick death from exposure. Hence the rides are more apt to keep the chicks' down from water contact.
Did you know that most species of loons cannot take to air from land? And from water they need a long "runway". Our Common Loons run across the water, beating wings, minimally 60 feet - sometimes up to 1/4 of a mile.
And a parting loon fact before you doze off: although some will come ashore, our oft-seen Common Loons generally sleep on the water.
Pat Nash
Beach Watcher
Class of '94