Chickadee Photo Art

Loons are one of my favourite birds. This loon family did consist of two chicks.  I love listening to their calls that echo through the nights on Manitoba lakes. Their heads are so streamlined and their legs are set back far on the bodies – perfectly suited for diving deep down in the waters to catch fish. Loons are attentive parents who piggyback their chicks sheltering them under their wings until they are old enough to be swimming on their own. Loons will only lay two eggs so when I see a loon family with two chicks growing and thriving it is a good feeling. Both parents share in the incubation of the nest which is built from wet plant materials.  Sometimes there will only be one chick or none and then I wonder what had happened. Did an eagle pick one off ?  Even large fish will take a small chick down. Perhaps the nest was raided or mother nature for some reason did not allow the eggs to hatch.  We can only wonder.

The photo below shows the rounded streamlined head of a Common Loon.

Below is a loon taking to flight.

The photo below shows the red eye of the Common Loon glowing in the late day sun.

The photos posted here would enlarge to poster size.

Enjoy!

~Sharon