hey kittenface, great video...I was watching all day today and couldnt believe my eyes! This loon chick is defying all that is known and seen before on the cams! He is leading the parents around by their beaks so to speak! Like a kid on a water park slide, he climbs up on Larry's ramp which is at the bottom of the screen part of the "dock" nest, they walks around the nest, preens himself, and goes back down out the left side of the nest back into the water, only to swim around to the back and do it again!
This nest had "original" loon pair for 5 or 7 yrs, then 2? yrs ago arrived late to the nest, only to find a new pair had taken it over, so they nested on the other side of the lake, and Larry later saw they had at least 1 loon chick fledge. The pair that has stayed for 2? yrs here, I know either last yr or the one before had 1 hatch and fledge, and the other egg keep getting kicked into the water. I think 3 times Larry had to go and put it back on the nest, later removing it as it was only slightly developed inside, probably stopped growing when the parents were off nest LONG periods fighting with the "original" pair from the other side of the lake. This was also the first time there were ever 2 pairs of loons nesting on Larry's lake.
THIS years pair I think a new once again - they were fighting between themselves in the beginning, which we never saw before with any of the other loons, at least I hadnt. So I think this is their first clutch, which would account for the baby leading them around lol and also smashing the non-viable egg. And why they dont stop allowing the chick to return to the nest?
I like Larry am a little concerned re baby - is he getting tired swimming? is something wrong or injured? it doesnt appear so, but though his antics are adorable to us, I am concerned he is too exposed on the nest to eagles? Last evening, Larry said parents were nowhere to be seen, and the little guy was on the nest for a hour or two before parents came to nest! Today they seem better, jumping off the nest to follow him into the water most times he leaves, but not everytime. So while I enjoy seeing this 6 almost 7 day old cutie, I am a little anxious about why he is still returning to the nest. Hoping it will all work out, even though we will miss his cute personality!!
Everyone is saying he is defying the "24hour" rule about the baby never returning to the nest LOL
If you've seen this happen before, please chime in and let us know, THANKS!
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The storm sunday night in MN knocked the cam out, and fried something, Larry finally got his internet up, but cam parts may be fried. In view of the timing - its really the end of the season - he may not get it replaced, and just end the cam for this year. He did say in his blog that the loon chick is doing well, growing, changing its color, and has also returned to the nest once again! Our darling little "land loon baby" is missed by all watching. We have however, never before been able to watch our loon baby for an entire WEEK after hatching, so we were being spoiled anyway!
Pacific Loon...
So cute! And so are your pics, Beth. 