Bird Cams Around the World

Video: New Baby Loon Peeks Out

beans,

Edit: Beth your post came through while I was in the middle of doing this one. LOVE the pic of new baby!

I believe the Pacific Loons will also leave after the second baby hatches. These are palagic birds. They are clumsy and awkward on land. They can't walk on land and can only drag themselves along. The babies are born knowing how to swim. They will ride on their parents' back when they get tired or cold. Then it's back into the water to swim and eat.



Video: Baby Loon Struggles to get back into Nest

I'm curious about what the parent pulled from the nest and threw into the water.

MN loon egg update from Larry...6/18

Yesterday, I received a report about the eggs from the DNR.

"Hi, Larry,
I just got back from the Wildlife Rehab Center. The x-rays showed that the egg that floated out to the lake was infertile. The second egg had an air sac at the large end and a small dark "object" just under the air sac that could have been a partially decomposed embryo."
Obviously if there is a 'partially decomposing embryo' inside, it had not developed far enough to even be defined. So it appears that it was the right decision to remove the eggs from the nest and let the loons get on with their lives. Neither egg would have ever hatched. And how long they would have futilely sat on the nest is anybody's guess.
We may still do some more with the eggs and I will give you any further updates.

Dont want to be the bearer of bad news, but on one of the blogs, someone wrote that the 2nd chick is missing. They saw both chicks enter the water, and the first chick started bullying the second one, then they were out of camera view. Mom returned with only the oldest chick? I watched just for a while now, and see parent coming and feeding only one chick that was visible. There could be a second sleeping under mom? but if so it didnt come out for food. Am concerned it met a bad fate. Anyone knowing or seeing second chick, pls update us. THX