You disagree, Louisville?

The Common Loon

Everywhere you turn, you run into loon pictures: license plates, door mats, canvas bags, t-shirts and bumper stickers all bear witness to 'our love of loons'. Almost everyone in Maine has thrilled to the sight of a live loon, and many of us have heard their haunting songs. In spite of our fascination with loons, we really don't know much about them.

Loons are one of the oldest groups of flying birds still living. The first loons, virtually unchanged, appeared over 60 million years ago! These birds have become masters at adapting to climate and environmental changes. If you have ever heard the cry of the loon, it is not hard to envision the primitive world they once lived in. The Common Loon

The Common Loon (Gavia immer) of today is a fairly large bird, averaging eleven pounds. Its wings stretch 50 inches from tip to tip, and its body is over twenty-eight inches long. It has a strong black bill for catching fish, crayfish, insects and even snails. Its bright red eyes are capable of seeing at depths below fifteen feet, and its strong legs are located far back on its body for maximum speed in the water. Unlike most flying birds, the loon has solid bones which enable it to dive to depths of up to 150 feet, although its dives are usually more shallow.

Loons are very awkward on land because their legs are located at the back portion of their body. They only come ashore for two reasons: to mate and to nest. Loons mate for life and spend their summers together raising their chicks. In the fall and winter months, the adult loons fly to separate wintering locations until courtship time the next spring. Usually two olive green eggs with dark spots are laid in a nest built of grasses and ferns. Nests are located near the water's edge and are often built on an island to limit possible predation. Loons return to nest sites year after year if left undisturbed. Once the chicks hatch they take to the water almost immediately, but they tire easily and soon learn that their parents' backs are great for resting on. Toward the end of summer, loons can be seen "chasing" their offspring up and down the lake trying to get them to fly. Loons need to flap across nearly a quarter of a mile of water to attain flight! Once in the air, they are capable of traveling great distances.

Young loons are left by their parents at the end of summer to find their own way. The young birds will stay at the lake until it is almost time for the water to freeze. They then fly to the coast to spend the next three or four years. At this time they are a drab gray color and their body rids itself of excess salt through a nasal salt gland found commonly in ocean birds. The juvenile birds eat cod, mackerel and other ocean fishes and crabs. The young birds must compete with the adult birds for food during the winter months, as the adults migrate to the ocean while the lakes are frozen, The adults are hard to distinguish from the juvenile birds in winter as they too are drab gray. The mature birds will regain their summer attire before migration time the next spring.

Although loons have managed to adapt to many changes in their environment over the years, their future is not certain. Man is rapidly populating lakes where few people were found. In places where man is a frequent visitor, loons sometimes fail to return if their nests are too close to human activity, or if they are frequently disturbed while in their nests. Loons, like other wildlife, suffer from other man-made problems such as oil spills, acid rain, plastics and even garbage. Accumulation of garbage attracts gulls and raccoons, who in turn feed on loon eggs and chicks. But even with all these problems, loons seem to be adapting. They have been seen nesting on alternative nest sites in highly populated lakes. Some have even begun using artificial nest platforms designed for their use. Loons that live on the more densely populated lakes are becoming less fearful of man and don't flush as easily as those on lakes with few humans.

For the true loon lover there is an annual festival sponsored by the Maine Audubon Society Wildlife Program. Normally held during the summer months, this festival is replete with loon crafts and even has a loon calling contest for those who have perfected their loon yodels, hoots and whistles. For information on the festival contact the Maine Audubon Society Wildlife Program.

Common Loon
Gavia immer
Order: Gaviiformes
Family: Gaviidae
Status: Common winter. Uncommon inland breeder.
Listen:

Source of Bird Audio
General Description

North American Range
Common Loons are large water birds with thick necks and sharp bills. In breeding plumage, both sexes have striking black heads with white collars, white breasts, and black backs with white checkering. Adults in non-breeding plumage are brownish gray with white throats and breasts, partial white collars, and white around the eyes. Under-parts are white in all plumages. Juvenile plumage is similar to non-breeding.

back to top
Pictures
[Enlarge]

back to top
Habitat

In the breeding season, Common Loons can be found on large secluded lakes (at least 49 acres in size) with plenty of room for takeoff, deep inlets and bays, and a good supply of small fish. These lakes can be in forested areas in mountains or lowlands. Islands, logs, and floating debris attract nesting loons. In winter, Common Loons are usually found on salt water, typically in shallow areas close to shore. They occasionally winter on fresh water.

Behavior

In winter, Common Loons are solitary while feeding, but they congregate in loose flocks at night. Before diving, they sometimes swim along the surface with heads partly submerged, looking for prey. When swimming under water, they use only their feet for propulsion.

Diet

Common Loons generally eat small fish up to 10' long, and also take crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic insects, leeches, and frogs. They may also occasionally eat aquatic plants. They swallow small prey underwater and bring larger prey to the surface.

Nesting

The male and female build the nest very near the water, on the shore or on a small island. The nest, a mound of grasses, twigs, and reeds, is partly hidden by surrounding vegetation, and is often reused from year to year. Common Loons will also use man-made floating nest-sites. The female lays two eggs, and both parents incubate. The young leave the nest only a few days after hatching and can dive and swim underwater at 2-3 days of age. Both parents continue to feed and tend the young, which sometimes ride on their backs.

Migration Status

Common Loons are medium-distance migrants. They migrate singly or in small flocks, just offshore low over the water. Over land, they fly higher. Peaks for the fall migration are from late August to late November. In the spring, peaks are from late April to early May.

back to top
Conservation Status

It is not known if the population of Common Loons in Washington is increasing, stable, or decreasing. Common Loons have declined in Washington in the last century, but there are no good data on their historic distribution in the state. Records of known nesting have increased in the past 15 years, but this may be due to increased sampling efforts. Because there are known threats and the species is recognized as vulnerable, Common Loons are classified as a state 'sensitive species' by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Gap Analysis Project also lists it as a species at risk. Pesticides, mercury contamination, and lead poisoning are all potential threats. Oils spills are also a threat, especially since loons dive rather than fly when they encounter oil slicks. Common Loons avoid densely populated areas, thus development of lakes and the resulting increase in boat traffic have resulted in a decrease in available habitat. Jet skis are a major disturbance to loons in that they are fast, loud, and can maneuver in shallow areas where loons nest. The decline of Common Loons continent-wide has aroused extensive public concern and action, and breeding conservation programs are in effect over much of their range. Many populations have responded to this effort. In Washington, there are 20 confirmed Common Loon nesting locations, and 8-10 nests were found each year in the 1990s. Common Loons do not breed until they are 5 years old, and often not until 7 or older. This delayed breeding results in low productivity, making it harder for the population to rebound from declines.

back to top
When and Where to Find in Washington

In winter, Common Loons can commonly be found on marine bays and inlets along the coast. They can also be found on nearby fresh water, albeit less frequently. During migration they are numerous on Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and Willapa Bay. They can also be found on large bodies of water in eastern Washington during migration, and in smaller numbers in winter. Common Loons have nested recently on lakes and reservoirs in Ferry, Okanogan, Douglas, Chelan, Whatcom, and King Counties. Non-breeding adults can be found in the summer in the north Puget Sound area, on the outer coast, and on lakes and reservoirs of Central Washington.

Posted by liam
June 15, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!!!

Posted by Cricket4
June 15, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I too love the loon--they are one of my favorite memories of summers in the Boundary Water Canoe Area of northern Minnesota. Nice folks those people in MN. Oh, and Garrison Keillor did a very funny bit on his show last night that feature a young woman science students who was doing corneal transplants on walleye and turned into a fish fresh walleye caught in the BWCA lakes are delicious!

I am only 5'4" and less than 110 pounds but used to drive a muscle car (a stick shift Cougar without power steering) and am so glad to hear your story about that engine.

Lot's of fond memories--thanks y'all. This old girl is going to have her martini now.

Posted by zydecogirl
June 15, 2008 7:13 PM | Reply | PermalinkYou know, I've recently been working on old Chevrolet cars. Something interesting is that most of them come with either a 235 or 216 inch straight six engine. Some of the later models came with a 265 V-8 but those are pretty rare. A nice thing about the engines is that they all pretty much took the same carburetor.

This is the single barrel Rochester. By now, I have been required to rebuild a ton of these suckers and I have a few tips that might be helpful.

First, every single one of them uses the same rebuild kit. After tracking down half a dozen specific model numbers I figured it out. Just tell the Nappa guy they are all the same ^^%*% thing - give me one. He'll probably respond - but I need a year and model number. Tell him to pick a 1953 Bel-Air with a 235 and it should do the trick.

These suckers seem to need a rebuild every couple of years, but this also might be a result of the entire fuel system being 50 years old. Usually you just need to clean out the jets and replace the stop-ball and spring. Interestingly enough - once I lost the spring and didn't have a rebuild kit handy. After disassembling half-a-dozen ball point pens, I found a spring from one that seemed to work great. Ultimately I replaced it with the correct part, but I was proud of my alternative-engineering prowess, so thought I'd take a moment to brag about it.

Beyond that, I'd just like to say that the 235 is a brutally solid engine. We bought an old 1955 (series 1) 3100 truck, and got it on the road. After hauling several cars and 2 tractors, the thing finally blew a head gasket. When we took the heads off, it turns out that the engine had been running with a quarter-inch hole in the top the #6 cylinder and a stuck valve. And it still hauled like crazy! This actually is the first motor that we've tried to do a complete rebuild on. It's almost on the road now. We replaced the pistons with .30 over stock, redone the whole bottom end, and repainted or powder coated most everything.

It's back in the truck now, and just awaiting a couple of extra hoses. Hopefully mu buddy gets off his butt and we can get it done next weekend - the damn thing is taking up half my garage! As a computer programmer, you can never actually touch what you create with your hands - it's fun sometimes to work on a physical system such as a motor. It's pretty cool that there are so many projects that can be found so inexpensively in the area.

Posted by kgb999
June 15, 2008 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The motor really had a hole in the top of the #6 piston - I always make that mistake (calling pistons cylinders) dunno why.

Posted by kgb999
June 15, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously, still seeking the best German Potato Salad and homemade B-B-Q sauce recipes.
Happy Fathers Day to all Dads.
Question for the day: "If someone posts a blog of nonsense and if nobody acknowledges it - does it really exist?"

Posted by Aunt Sam
June 15, 2008 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
German Potato Salad Recipe

This German potato salad includes diced potatoes, bacon, hard cooked eggs, vinegar, and green onions.

INGREDIENTS:

* 12 slices bacon
* 2 sliced hard cooked eggs
* 6 cups hot diced cooked potatoes
* 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/3 cup vinegar
* 3/4 cup water
* 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
* chopped parsley for garnish

PREPARATION:
Dice 6 slices of the bacon. Fry diced bacon along with the 6 whole slices in a heavy skillet. Remove whole slices to drain on paper towels; set aside.

Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, vinegar, and water; slowly add to diced bacon and bacon grease in the skillet, cooking and stirring constantly over medium heat until thickened.

Pour over hot potatoes and eggs; add green onions and toss lightly to mix. Garnish with bacon slices and a little chopped parsley; serve hot.
German potato salad serves 6.

Posted by kgb999
June 15, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh God DAMN! Nothing says summer to me like German Potato Salad. The combination of bacon, green onion and vinegar....mmmmm...I could live on that stuff.

Posted by CarolBG
June 15, 2008 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink

Thanks. I don't think I've ever seen this recipe, corn starch to bind/thicken dressing is new to me. I'll make it this week. Now, about that B-B-Q sauce!

Posted by Aunt Sam
June 15, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is one fucking scary salad recipe.

Posted by Cricket4
June 15, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Source:
Rev. Frank Purvis of Hassel, North Carolina

Serves/Makes:1 quart plus

Ingredients

* 1 quart (950 ml) cider vinegar
* 1/4 lb (.1 kg). melted butter
* 1/3 cup (80 ml) onion, minced
* 1/3 cup (80 ml) tomato paste
* 2 tbsp (30 ml). Worchestershire sauce
* 2 tbsp (30 ml). soy sauce
* 2 cloves minced garlic
* 1 tsp (5 ml). freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

* Combine all ingredients, cook and stir over low heat for 15 minutes.
* Remove from heat and use as a basting sauce for grilling meats.
* Also as a dipping sauce when serving the meats.

-------------------------------
Description:
MUSTARD BASED BARBEQUE SAUCE

Source:
FARMER'S ALMANAC

Ingredients

* 3/4 cup (175 ml) yellow mustard
* 3/4 cup (175 ml) red wine vinegar
* 1/4 cup (60 ml) sugar
* 1-1/2 tbsp (20 ml) butter
* 2 tsp (10 ml) salt
* 1/2 tsp (2 ml) worcestshire
* 1-1/4 tsp (6 ml) black pepper
* 1/2 tsp (2 ml) Tabasco

Preparation

* combine ingredients in saucepan.
* simmer 30 minutes over low heat.
* Let stand 1 hour before using.
* Refrigerate unused sauce.

Comments
This is a little different than the normal barbecue sauce. In South Carolina this is the normal. I love it. My family eats it on everything from hamburger to ribs. If you dont like spicy you can leave out the hot sauce. ENJOY!!!!
---------------------------------------------
Source:
Chuck's Collection

Serves/Makes:3 cups

Ingredients

* 2 cups (475 ml) cider vinegar
* 2/3 cup (150 ml) ketchup
* 1/2 cup (125 ml) brown sugar
* 1 tbsp (15 ml). Tabasco
* 1 tbsp (15 ml). lemon juice
* 1 tbsp (15 ml). Worchestershire sauce
* 2 tbsp (30 ml). butter
* 1 tsp (5 ml). red pepper flakes
* 1 tsp (5 ml). dry mustard
* 1/2 tsp (2 ml). salt
* 1/2 tsp (2 ml). black pepper

Preparation

* Combine all ingredients.
* Cook for 30 minutes over medium low heat.
* Allow to cool before using

-----------------------------------------------
Source:
Terri Mckibbon

Serves/Makes:6 or more

Ingredients

* Ribs:
* 6 lbs (2.7 kg). pork baby back ribs
* 4 oz (112 grm). tap water
* 3 cups (700 ml) barbecue sauce
* Barbecue Sauce:
* 1-1/2 tbsp (20 ml) olive oil
* 2 oz (56 grm). Spanish onion, chopped
* 1 oz (28 grm). scallion, chopped
* 2 oz (56 grm). fresh green pepper, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1-1/4 oz (35 grm). brown sugar
* 2 tsp (10 ml). chili powder
* 2 tsp (10 ml). dried oregano
* 1 tsp (5 ml). ground cloves
* 1 tsp (5 ml). cayenne pepper
* 1-1/2 oz (42 grm). paprika powder
* 1 tsp (5 ml). dry mustard
* 2 oz (56 grm). lemon juice
* 3 oz (84 grm). Worcestershire sauce
* 3 oz (84 grm). red wine vinegar
* 1-1/2 cups (350 ml) crushed tomatoes
* 4-1/2 oz (126 grm). chile sauce
* 1-1/2 oz (42 grm). ketchup
* 3 oz (84 grm). grandma molasses
* 1-1/2 oz (42 grm). honey
* 1-1/2 oz (42 grm). Crystal Hot Louisiana sauce

Preparation

* Sauce:
* Heat oil in pot.
* Add onions, scallions and peppers and saute.
* Add garlic, sugar, and remaining dry ingredients.
* Add liquid ingredients and continue to stir.
* Simmer 3 hours, until flavor mixes well.
* Ribs:
* Remove back sinew of ribs and sear on hot grill, both sides.
* Place ribs in roasting pan.
* Combine water and sauce and pour over ribs.
* Bring to boil on stove and cover with foil.
* Place in 350 degree (175 C.) oven until tender, but not falling off bone.
* Cool before serving.

Comments
Serve with plenty of napkins.

Excellent Dish.

Posted by kgb999
June 15, 2008 7:28 PM | Reply | Permalink

WOW! Thanks so much. Um, not to press my luck but do you know where can obtain good homemade ranch dressing recipe? And are there any recipes u are seeking? Again, thanks.

Posted by Aunt Sam
June 15, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I remember my mom making it when I was a kid. Requires mayonaise and buttermilk. No recipe, sorry.

Posted by Cricket4
June 15, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | PermalinkI've read more intriguing funeral programs. That being said, why is it that when people react with justifiable anger to some inbred Obama smear merchant - the smearer usually shrugs his shoulders while sarcastically saying, "New Politics?" What horsehit.. Its akin to picking a fight with someone and being utterly shocked when they turn around and kick you in the fucking teeth. Also, your sentiments about welcoming an Obama presidency, even if it is for "I told you so" purposes - is as