Loon Tragedy
11/9/10

View from the dock...Wait; something's moving out there.

A loon keeping an ice free hole a half mile away.

It is trying to take off.

Taking another run at it.

Stretching it's wings.

It's getting dark as Carolyn tries to net the stranded Loon.

It keeps diving to get away from her.

Sitting waiting for the loon to stop calling in distress.

Carolyn waits patiently, but the Loon demurs.

Returning with the net.

It is a sad evening.  Tomorrow we'll see if the Loon can keep the hole open all night.

A sad evening on Flat Lake.

The Loon Rescue
11/10/10

The stranded loon walked (flapped) closer to the north shore during the night, but is looking at something...

A coyote is approaching.

The loon flattens itself on the ice, which works to hide it when it's nesting in the summer, but not now...

The coyote approaching the loon. (click to enlarge)

coyote still coming.

Loon's really flattened down now.

I made my presence obvious; the coyote turned away.

The loon also tried to get away, the risk I had to take to chase off the coyote.

Carolyn hovering into place for the rescue.

It's interesting that the loon complained, but did not try to get away.

Loon netted and boxed for transport, then covered with a blanket...

It didn't like being covered with the blanket.

We were quite happy...

but then there was fox headed toward the loon, too, that  was not so happy to lose a meal.  The loon is now at the Alaska Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center for evaluation and eventual release.

11/24/10 - Note on the Loon Rescue.  USF&W Outreach Biologist Tamara Zeller writes that the loon Carolyn rescued was banded on 8/26/1995 on Big Lake and it's territory was The Call of the Wild. She comments:

"This is very exciting! I am not sure how old the loon was when captured but these birds are thought to live about 20 yrs according to the literature. Banding birds like this help[s] us to understand more about loon life history like life-span and site fidelity."

She also says the rehab coordinator at the Alaska SeaLife Center, where the loon was moved by the Rehab Center, will keep us posted on the loon's status and let us know when and if it can be released.

11/27/10 Haggard Loon Update:    Our rescued loon actually did survive Thanksgiving.  I heard they taste fishy, anyway.  So here's the straight scoop- the band on it's leg indicates that it was originally banded on 8/26/95 and that it's territory was described as the area of the Call of the Wild.  Loons are thought to have a life expectancy of about 20 years, so our bird is certainly no youngster.  The folks at the local bird rehab facility in Houston originally told us that the loon was substantially underweight- 9.2 lbs, and that it was suffering from a tapeworm infestation.  They theorized that it was weakened by the tapeworms and was unable to take off when the ice came in.  The loon was transferred to the SeaLife Center in Seward for treatment.  The most recent word from our contact, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, is that the loon is a male, is doing well, gaining weight, and that it's blood tests look good.  They made no mention of any tapeworm infection, and say that they don't know why it didn't migrate.  They describe it as "docile", and that it seems reluctant to swim and get wet.  Hmmmmm- could they have mixed up their birds?  The one I netted was anything BUT "docile"!!!  Anyway, they will continue to keep it under observation until they feel comfortable that it will be able to take care of itself.  They hope to release it in Resurrection Bay, where many loons spend the winter.

12/2/10: Tamara Zeller writes that she is sorry to be the bearer of sad news, but our rescued loon passed away at the SeaLife Center a few days ago.  A necropsy will be performed.  One of the other biologists responded to her that it's nearly impossible to keep an adult loon alive in captivity.  I think a lot of us here can understand that.