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Saturday, June 25, 2005
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LOON BABIES NATURE'S NOTEBOOK Outdoors Columnist Carol Osborne, who lives on a lake near Nisswa, recently documented a small but critically important aspect in the life of a pair of loons. Her photographs are published below documenting the birth of loon babies.
Earlier this spring a small floating bog washed in close to her dock. With it came an opportunity and an extraordinary experience.
By a stroke of pure luck, a loon couple selected the tiny island of vegetation as their site for a nest. As time ticked by the loons constructed a solid nest of grasses, reeds and mud.
On May 31 at 3:30 p.m. the male took a turn on the nest as the female went fishing. An hour later the first egg hatched. At 10 p.m. the female had yet to return to nest.
On June 1 at 5:30 a.m. the second egg hatched with the female on the nest. Ten minutes later the two chicks were in the water near the nest. The male feeds minnows to both chicks. Life on the open lake begins.
It was then time to dedicate their days to starting a family. On May 4 the first egg was laid. The second came on May 6. From May 7 through May 26 the pair took turns sitting on the nest, turning the eggs and keeping vigil.
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