The Common Loon is the soulful spirit of the lake and the symbol of the North.
The loons' stream-lined body with its' strong legs and webbed feet --- combined with a javelin-like bill and the ability to stay underwater for 3 minutes and dive to a depth of 200 feet --- make it an awesomely efficient fishing machine.
The loon fishes from the surface of lakes, trolling for prey with its head submerged. In fact, the loon can alter its specific gravity at will, sinking like a submarine below the surface. Its distinctive red eyes give it excellent underwater vision . Once a suitable quarry has been spotted, the underwater pursuit begins. The loon propels itself vigorously with its webbed feet, and occasionally even uses its wings for extra spurts of speed. This incomparable grace in the water comes at a cost: the loon is awkward and ungainly on land and, though fast, is an adequate flyer at best. To take off, this large bird must taxi across the water for quite a distance (it cannot take off from land at all), and once aloft, must beat it's relatively small wings very rapidly to maintain altitude. Landings are not much better: the loon has little or no hovering or breaking power and so tends to make a swallow, inelegant crash-glide sending water flying in all directions.
Anyone who has spent time in the northern woods has undoubtedly heard the haunting call of the loon. The cry of a loon echoing over a lake embodies wilderness. Loon calls can sound so much like a human in anguish that the Ojibwe have a legend describing departed souls calling back to us through the loon.
Loons have 4 distinct calls... The WAIL is a long, one to three note falsetto call used to communicate with family members over long distances. It's most frequently given in the evening or at night, and can be heard for many miles. This haunting and eerie call is not an alarm but used to keep in contact with other loons on the same like and surrounding lakes.
The second call, the TREMOLO, sounds like hysterical laughter, its voice loops notes in intricate flips and trills. The 8 to 10 notes voiced rapidly, vary in frequency and intensity and indicates anxiety or excitement. If you are near a loon and it tremolos, back off. It's telling you it's uncomfortable with your presence. This is also the only call that loons make in flight.
The third call is the HOOT, a short, single note allowing loons in close proximity to stay in touch with each other.
The fourth is the YODEL, a quickly, undulating song. Only the males can yodel and do so to advertise and defend their territory, especially during incubation and early chick rearing. Each yodel is distinct, so listen carefully. You can use a yodel pattern like a fingerprint to identify specific male loons. As you get to know its language, you get to know the loon. |
