Is loon history in the making?
A loon calls out from its nest at Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park, Vermont. In Barnard, Silver Lake may have its first long-term loon pair, though no evidence has been found to that effect. (Jennifer Lucas / Vermont Center for Ecostudies)
A couple of loons on Silver Lake in Barnard have caught the attention of swimmers, kayakers and others enjoying the summer weather.
The question is, are they actually a couple? Possible, but not confirmed, says Eric Hanson, loon biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). The lake has never had a confirmed long-term pair of loons. Hanson would need evidence of a nest or nesting activity to reach that conclusion. One sure sign would be sightings of loons rushing in and out of shoreline locations, which they do to gather nest materials, while cooing at each other — part of mating behavior.
Then there’s that operative word, long-term. The pair would need to be sighted four to five times over six to eight weeks to fit the bill. Also important: Two loons spending time together on the lake doesn’t by itself show a long-term bond, because these birds are very social, Hanson said. So yes, they could just be hanging out.
The most recent activity reported to VCE is one preening on the water last week. But if more than one sticks around, they could make loon history for Silver Lake.
“If they're still there, and they've been there fairly constantly, we definitely want to keep an eye out next May or early June," said Hanson, adding that’s when most nesting activity takes place. If that’s happening at a certain lake, signage is placed to protect nesting sites from water craft.
In Barnard, there’s still a sliver of a chance two loons could create a site on Silver Lake this month. At other Vermont locations, there have been five or six late nesting spots this July — all first-time nests for those birds.
“They may try to sneak one in, it’s not unheard of,” Hanson said.
On Saturday morning, over 200 volunteers will help VCE with their annual loon count which covers more than 160 lakes. Loons continue to be a favorite animal for people to watch, with their grace and almost constant activity this time of year. While the following is not always the case, some are so used to canoes and kayaks that they’ll swim alongside them, even with chicks.
“It's one of those species you can just watch continuously without interrupting them,” Hanson said.
— Gareth Henderson
