Wildlife on a Maine Pond: Cute Loon Chicks Face an Unsure Future



It’s been some time since my final entry into the continuing “Wildlife on a Maine Pond” collection, nevertheless it’s not for lack of thrilling wildlife exercise. This entry will function the debut of the animal I crossed my fingers for: child loons. A few month after constructing their nest and laying the everyday clutch of two eggs, the breeding pair of loons that my dad and I’ve adopted for years turned mother and father. Whereas that is removed from the primary time we’ve seen loon chicks, it by no means will get outdated seeing new life clumsily swim round, chirping for meals, and napping on a father or mother’s again. Photographing the newborn loons is as difficult as it’s rewarding, because the fluffy infants are tiny — little grey specks coming up and down within the water. When photographing loon chicks from a protected distance, as one at all times ought to, they’re comparatively small within the body. As I’ve stated quite a few occasions on this collection, the two-times crop issue of a Micro 4 Thirds digital camera is tremendous useful for wildlife pictures, particularly when the topic is as small as a child fowl. Talking of child wildlife, it’s additionally fawn season, and this one was seen close to the pond. There’s additionally an emotional part to photographing child loons. They’re lovable, and I really like loons. However there’s the fixed risk of peril. As quickly because the chicks hatch, they’re swimming. They will’t dive and so they can’t fly, so they’re, nearly actually, sitting geese.
The dynamics of loon survival charges stay an space of intense focus. Nonetheless, usually, it’s virtually a coin flip {that a} loon chick will survive into adolescence and have the ability to migrate within the fall. And with two loon chicks, the chances that they each make it’s about one in 4. I’ve seen it occur, however not usually. So every morning we put the kayaks in and head onto the water, there’s a palpable nervousness about whether or not the loon chicks will nonetheless be there. And when photographing them, particularly when their mother and father aren’t proper subsequent to them, a frequent incidence, I dread a grizzled snapping turtle grabbing the newborn from under or a fowl of prey placing from above. Child loons face myriad threats, together with bald eagles, like this one seen perched in a tree alongside the shore of the pond the place the loons had been born. Child loons, weighing little greater than 140-150 grams (about 5 ounces) at start, face a grim, harsh actuality, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it. Turtles and eagles should eat, too, however I do at all times hope they discover one thing, anything for sustenance.
Final week, it appeared that each loon chicks had met a devastating destiny. They had been nowhere to be discovered. There have been different birds round… however no loons. I attempted to be optimistic. There have been uncommon events over time once we haven’t seen the loons on a specific day, as they’ve been tucked away within the weeds and didn’t come out within the morning. However that’s not the more than likely clarification for a silent, empty pond. Nevertheless, thankfully, the unlikeliest proved the true one. The loons are nonetheless thriving and looking out good. They develop so quick. We photographed them within the first few days of their lives when the newly hatched chicks had been lined in darkish, downy feathers with white bellies. Their eyes are nonetheless brown, a far cry from the sensible pink of their mother and father. The chicks have little darkish ft, and stunted wings that seem like somebody threw them on on the final minute, like unfinished, wonky little clay sculptures of a fowl somewhat than a residing, respiratory fowl.
The grownup loons do their finest to control their infants, however they need to go underwater to get meals for themselves and their younger, so the infants are regularly left uncovered. However make no mistake, these clumsy critters, whereas defenseless, don’t lack abilities. As talked about, they swim as quickly as they’re born. Overlook studying how they’re born realizing. Additionally they produce other spectacular instincts from day zero, like preening and drying their wings. One of many siblings appeared extra superior than the opposite and was the primary to take its first dives. Though they often can’t dive till they’re no less than every week outdated, which is spectacular in its personal proper, one of many infants began plunking beneath the floor after just some days. After a couple of weeks, they start to molt, sporting a contemporary, lighter brown coat. They then get considerably larger, can swallow bigger fish, and even swim underwater for some time. That is about the place the chicks are actually, as they rejoice their one-month birthday this weekend, now a lot bigger, longer, and browner. The loon chicks are rising quick.
They’re not out of the woods but, nevertheless it’s exhausting to specific the reduction that washed over me when the newborn loon’s unusual absence was simply an aberration. Nature might be brutal and unforgiving. It’s a part of what makes the wild world so compelling, stunning, and typically painful. However this yr’s infants are nonetheless within the battle, and I’ve been lucky sufficient to observe them develop, silently cheering them on from a distance. Many nature and wildlife photographers can empathize with my feelings in regards to the loon chicks. As passionate observers, we type an intense (however at all times respectful and hands-off) bond with wildlife. After you watch one thing take its first steps, paddle, or flight, it’s inconceivable to not care what occurs to them. In the future at a time, little loons. Picture credit: Pictures by Jeremy Grey and Bruce Grey

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

dadelios.com
Logo
Compare items
  • Total (0)
Compare
0
Shopping cart