Loons

This post is dedicated to the Common Loon.
If you have been following this blog you probably won't be surprised when I say I really like the Loons! They are a really neat bird. We have been lucky to see them in their natural setting on many different lakes and ponds. They are a huge bird and their call is something once you have heard you will never forget. Trox picked up a facts sheet about them the other day while at Baxter State Park so I thought I would share some of the information as well as more of our pictures. Some of these pictures you may have seen before. Some are better than others but all of them are pictures of the Common Loon. A wonderful majestic bird.

Loons are one of the largest water birds. They are almost 3 feet from head to tail with a wingspan of almost 4 feet. The average loon weighs up to 14 pounds, with males a bit larger than females. They have solid bones. These bones help them when diving but make it difficult for them to take off therefore when they take off from the water you will see them "running" along the surface to get enough lift. The Common Loon cannot take off from land. The average length of a loon dive is about one minute but it is not uncommon for them to stay submerged up to 3 minutes. They have red eyes and it is believed that the coloring helps them see underwater.

The common loon is considered a Species of Special Concern in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and listed as Endangered in Vermont and Threatened in New Hampshire and Michigan. We both feel privileged to have spent so much time with these wonderful birds.