"If you look closely at the chick photos, you can see that the fuzz has come off of their heads, their eyes are larger, and their bodies are shedding fuzz for feathers. Wing nubs are growing on their sides, and hopefully will be full sized by October to fly to the coast. It's hard to believe that the tiny gray adorable fuzz balls will turn into large, beautiful, solid-boned loons. But of course they will. And I'll have to wait until next year to find new chicks to admire." - Photos by Jane Naliboff
Jane!!! You’re next children’s book should be the story of these loons!! Great shots!! Keep them coming!!
Great photos! Where did you see these?
Thank you, Jane. I’ve been waiting for an update on the Loon family!
If you like seeing the pictures of the loons, you might like to read more about them and the threat they face from mercury pollution. Go to the University of Maine at Farmington website. Find the alumni relations page. Find the alumni magazine Farmington First. Click on “current issue” (Spring 2011) and see the article “For Love of Loons”.
It’s about a UMF graduate and the work she is doing to educate about loons. Or the link below may work to get you a pdf.
Rodney: Thank you so much for the link to the article. It’s quite informative. Now if we can just figure out how to meet our electrical needs without burning coal around the country, we can prevent mercury poisoning of loons and fish. In the meantime, I’ll continue to photograph them, and hopefully make more people aware of what a terrible loss theyd be for our enjoyment and the environment. They truly are one of Maine’s treasures!
Lori- thank you for the nice comment. Unfortunately I can’t divulge the location of the loon family to protect them from too much human contact and also because I promised my source that it would remain unknown. Sorry. However, there is a chick in Crowell pond.
People who are following the loon family should be aware that statistically the probability is that only one of the chicks will survive. Odds used to be better, but people might consider why they might not be so good these days. I don’t know.
Jane!!! You’re next children’s book should be the story of these loons!! Great shots!! Keep them coming!!
Great photos! Where did you see these?
Thank you, Jane. I’ve been waiting for an update on the Loon family!
If you like seeing the pictures of the loons, you might like to read more about them and the threat they face from mercury pollution. Go to the University of Maine at Farmington website. Find the alumni relations page. Find the alumni magazine Farmington First. Click on “current issue” (Spring 2011) and see the article “For Love of Loons”.
It’s about a UMF graduate and the work she is doing to educate about loons. Or the link below may work to get you a pdf.
http://alumni.umf.maine.edu/files/2011/05/Spring11.spreads.xnotes.pdf
Rodney: Thank you so much for the link to the article. It’s quite informative. Now if we can just figure out how to meet our electrical needs without burning coal around the country, we can prevent mercury poisoning of loons and fish. In the meantime, I’ll continue to photograph them, and hopefully make more people aware of what a terrible loss theyd be for our enjoyment and the environment. They truly are one of Maine’s treasures!
Lori- thank you for the nice comment. Unfortunately I can’t divulge the location of the loon family to protect them from too much human contact and also because I promised my source that it would remain unknown. Sorry. However, there is a chick in Crowell pond.
People who are following the loon family should be aware that statistically the probability is that only one of the chicks will survive. Odds used to be better, but people might consider why they might not be so good these days. I don’t know.