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Critter Class Loons

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Critter Class Loons Critter Class Loons Photo by: New Jersey Birds September 12, 2011 Comment: MVK, can we do a class on loons one evening? I just love the idea of being looney! MVK: You mean like this? Plate by: Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) MVK: The loons (North America) or divers (UK/Ireland) are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia (Europe, Asia and debatably Africa). All living species of loons are members of the genus (Gavia), family (Gaviidae) and order (Gaviiformes). Per Wikipedia.com Pacific Loon Critter Class – Loons 1 9/12/2011 MVK: The loon, the size of a large duck or small goose, resembles these birds in shape when swimming. Like ducks and geese but unlike coots (which are Rallidae) and grebes (Podicipedidae), the loon's toes are connected by webbing. The bird may be confused with cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), not too distant relatives of divers and like them are heavy set birds whose bellies – unlike those of ducks and geese – are submerged when swimming. Flying loons resemble a plump goose with a seagull's wings, relatively small in proportion to the bulky body. The bird holds its head pointing slightly upwards during swimming, but less so than cormorants do. In flight the head droops more than in similar aquatic birds. Per Wikipedia online Photo by: Johann Dréo MVK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw1It3AlXmQ Comment: I think we have lots of loons on this mod chat! MVK: Male and female loons have identical plumage. Plumage is largely patterned black-and-white in summer, with grey on the head and neck in some species. All have a white belly. This resembles many sea-ducks (Merginae) – notably the smaller goldeneyes (Bucephala) – but is distinct from most cormorants which rarely have white feathers, and if so usually as large rounded patches rather than delicate patterns. All species of divers have a spear- shaped bill Per Wikipedia online MVK: Males are larger on average, but relative size is only apparent when the male and female are together. Per Wikipedia online Comment: Do loons like salt water or fresh water? MVK: Loons find their prey by sight. They eat mainly fish, supplemented with amphibians, crustaceans and similar mid-sized aquatic fauna. Specifically, they have been noted to feed on Critter Class – Loons 2 9/12/2011 crayfish, frogs, snails, salamanders and leeches. They prefer clear lakes because they can more easily see their prey through the water. The loon uses its pointy bill to stab or grasp prey. They eat vertebrate prey headfirst to facilitate swallowing, and swallow all their prey whole. Per Wikipedia online Comment: ooooooh, hand raised.....do they eat fish???? Comment:uk: ] Plenty of loons over here too, only we call then divers. Various kinds. I wish I could stay up but I am so tired tonight I have to turn in. Will catch up tomorrow. G'night MVK and EN♥♥♥ MVK: To help digestion, loons swallow small pebbles from the bottoms of lakes. Similar to grit eaten by chickens, these gastroliths may assist the loon's gizzard in crushing the hard parts of the loon's food such as the exoskeletons of crustaceans and the bones of frogs and salamanders. The gastroliths may also be involved in stomach cleaning as an aid to regurgitation of indigestible food parts. Per Wikipedia online MVK: Loons may inadvertently ingest small lead pellets, released by anglers and hunters, that will contribute to lead poisoning and the loon's eventual death. Jurisdictions that have banned the use of lead shot and sinkers include but are not limited to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, some areas of Massachusetts, Yellowstone National Park, Great Britain, Canada, Michigan, and Denmark.[3] Per Wikipedia online Comment: How about some "Loon" calls!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw1It3AlXmQ Comment: This just in.....their babies like to hitch a ride on mama's back at just one day....and fly at 11 weeks. Wow! They are beautiful MVK: Gaviidae nest during the summer on freshwater lakes and/or large ponds. Smaller bodies of water (up to 0.5 km²) will usually only have one pair. Larger lakes may have more than one pair, with each pair occupying a bay or section of the lake. Per Wikipedia online MVK: Despite the roughly equal participation of the sexes in nest building and incubation, analysis has shown clearly that males alone select the location of the nest. This pattern has the important consequence that male loons, but not females, establish significant site- Critter Class – Loons 3 9/12/2011 familiarity with their territories that allows them to produce more chicks there over time. Sex-biased site-familiarity might explain, in part, why resident males fight so hard to defend their territories.[4] Per Wikipedia online MVK: Most clutches consist of two eggs, which are laid in May or June, depending upon latitude. Loon chicks are precocial, able to swim and dive right away, but will often ride on their parents' back during their first 2 weeks to rest, conserve heat, and avoid predators. Per Wikipedia online MVK: Chicks are fed mainly by their parents for about six weeks but gradually begin to feed themselves over time. By 11 or 12 weeks, chicks gather almost all of their own food and have learned to fly. Per Wikipedia online Comment: And where do these lovely loonies live?? Photo by: National Park Service National Geographic MVK: Named for their clumsy, awkward appearance when walking on land, common loons are migratory birds which breed in forested lakes and large ponds in northern North America and parts of Greenland and Iceland. They winter all along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as in Europe and Iceland. Per Nationalgeographic.com Critter Class – Loons 4 9/12/2011 MVK: I don't think I have ever seen or heard one here - but I will try to find out if they are around here. I would love to listen to their calls. Comment: Now that is a wonderful picture. I was having trouble envisioning the description. Comment: Are loons in the Northeast? Do they usually hang out by huge bodies of water? MVK: Looks like around the Great Lakes and the Pacific and Atlantic coast in the winter, near bodies of water. Comment: Another sweet pic...http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/common-loon/ Comment: Ahh loons, a group of birds familiar to me.From the Eocene eopch (34 million to 56 million years ago) and the Oligocene epoch (23 million to 34 million years ago) the prehistoric species Colymboides and Gaviella have been discovered. These prehistoric inhabitants of Europe and North America could represent very early representatives of the Gaviiformes. Comment: I feel looney most of the time, so I guess I'm in good company! lol MVK: You are in the best of company!!! Comment: Loons or Divers eat small or medium sized fish, which they capture and usually even swallow under water. Usually it is only rare that different types of food provide supplementary nutrition. This can be frogs, crustaceans, worms, mollusks, or water insects. There are however cases, in which Loons breed at lakes which are completely devoid of fish-free, and then occasionally their diet completely changes over to mollusks or insects. (from The Wonder of Birds website) Comment: In that video, what is that looney riding on?? MVK: I don't think I saw the video you are referring to Shelly - sorry. Comment: They have such a haunting, beautiful call. I don't think we have them in CA. Critter Class – Loons 5 9/12/2011 Comment: Where are they found? MVK: Named for their clumsy, awkward appearance when walking on land, common loons are migratory birds which breed in forested lakes and large ponds in northern North America and parts of Greenland and Iceland. They winter all along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as in Europe and Iceland. Per Nationalgeographic.com Comment: I love the sound of a loon, and they do it even during the night. Comment: Hi, MVK! I find the loons beautiful and their call very soothing. Are they found only in the northern regions or all over the States. Thanks. ♥ MVK: Angie - It sounds like they are in the northern regions but winter over around the great lakes and the Pacific and Atlantic coast - I have to go check on them here - have never seen one that I know of. Comment: Hey I can Google, too. Did you know they dance????When disturbed the loon folds its wings against its body and swims upright in what is called a penguin dance. With its wings tucked against its body it looks kind of like a penguin. This dance is done when the loon is trying to scare enemies away from its chicks. "Dancing" like this takes a lot of energy so it's important that you keep your distance from loons. If you get too close to it and its chicks or nest, the loon will think you're its enemy and start the penguin dance. If you don't leave the area, the loon can dance until it's exhausted and dies. The loon has another dance that it does when it wants to chase away other birds. It splashes the water with its wings and kicks its feet so quickly that it is actually walking on water.♥♥♥♥ As a retired dancer, I gotta appreciate good moves when displayed. Comment: Their feather colors & patterns are beautiful! Loons look so gracerful lazing around in the water. Comment: The center released a loon last spring.
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