[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by LoonPreservationCommittee

SamIAm, thank you for the extra details regarding where you are, and my apologies for assuming you were on Winnipesaukee.

There were two loon pairs that hatched chicks on Winnisquam this year—the pair at the far north end (the Sanctuary), which hatched 1 chick, and the pair that hangs around the 3 Sisters, which hatched 2 chicks. We did go out on the 3rd of July and captured and banded the female at the far north end. Interestingly, the place on the lake where we found and caught the loons was much further south then where they usually brood, which may help to explain why you stopped seeing them around your place at that time.

We always follow up on the families the day after banding, and the family was together and looking just fine on the 4th. About a week later (around July 9th), the chick did disappear, with credible reports from observers that an eagle had taken it. Each year, at least a few loon chicks are predated by eagles, and at nearly a week after the banding, it is unlikely that any residual stress from banding would have played into this turn of events.

I'm sorry to have to confirm that the chick is no longer around. We are glad to answer any follow-up questions.

Thanks so much for providing details. Feel much better knowing that they just moved down the lake a bit. I posted a video two years ago of an eagle harassing two chicks right in front of our home so those things do happen in nature.