LOON AT GOLDWATER LAKE

(photo by Chuck Vroom)

LOONS GRACE GOLDWATER by Dave Harner

On Saturday, November 6, Howard Kravetz, Chuck Vroom, and I journeyed to Goldwater Lake to do our first-Saturday-of-the-month cleanup. As I started to loosen straps in order to unload my kayak, I heard the unmistakable, plaintive cry of a loon. Wow! I can’t remember hearing that sound in my thirty-plus years as an Arizonan. Chuck and Howard confirmed that there were at lest three of these large diving birds out in the middle of the lake. Later, Chuck took photos with his 300mm lens-equipped camera. (see photo above)

The adult common loon (scientific name Gavia immer) is about 24 inches long and has a wingspan of approximately 58 inches. Both sexes are very similar in appearance. The loon's long tapering body rides low in the water. Its beak is straight, tapers to a point, and is held horizontally. Like most diving birds, its legs and feet are set far back on its body, and trail behind the body in flight. This features makes the bird a powerful underwater swimmer, but requires it to take a long takeoff run to become airborne. The upper wings are totally dark in flight.

The common loon is very widespread in the border waters of U.S./Canada. Maps of loon sightings show only one or two birds have been seen in the Colorado River flyway and no sightings in the rest of the entire state, so we were really graced with such a sighting here in the Prescott area.

There was a group of Girl Scouts in canoes who shared the lake with us that day. For all of their happy noises and churning paddles, the loons didn’t seem to be particularly afraid of humans. When I was a young man in Minnesota, I remember them as being particularly shy. Another oddity about these loons is that they don’t migrate. Whatever the mystery, we were happy to see them and to share their story.

For more information including a sound bit of the loon’s unique call, check out the USGS website www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/infocenter/i007id.html

THE COMMON LOON (Loon Gavia immers)

The Loon’s breeding ground is North America and migrates to the Gulf of Mexico, returning to the northern lakes when the ice melts.

 Unlike other aquatic birds, loons cannot “spring” out of the water. They need a long runway and a bit of wind to takeoff because of their weight—much like an airplane.

Loons defend their territory by vocalization and display. Loons do a “penguin dance” by running on the water and extending their breast to appear larger. The bill is sharp and can be used as a dagger to stab predators.

Photos and text provided by Environment Canada, a Canadian Wildlife Service. Visit them on the world wide web at — www.ns.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/loons

The Penguin Dance (photo by Kevin C Loughlin)