Loon chicks
 

We have two Loon chicks that survived the busy summer boat traffic and all predators. Unfortunately, the loon chicks are still hanging out in 19 Mile Bay. We have not seen them even try to take flight. We called the Loon Preservation Society to report the loon chicks seem to be late in flying to the ocean for the Winter. Have not heard from them. Sorry to say on their web site they claim in so many words there isn't anything they can do. We hate to see them not be able to survive. Have others seen loon chicks still on the lake?

ChaseDawg,

I saw Loons last week over by Long Island....I wouldn't be overly concerned yet. I would believe that they have a few more weeks before it really becomes necessary for them to leave.

I tried to find some information on this however, everything I saw just indicated that they needed to leave before ice formed as they require room to take off....

However I do like the fact that you are keeping tabs on them..... And hopefully you will notice that they are gone before you are gone for the winter.

We too, worried about the babies leaving, Chasedawg, but I think they will. For some reason they take off later than the adults. I think they will be ok.

Wolfeboro Chicks
 

I saw some grown chicks in Wolfeboro Bay today too. I hope their instincts tell them they have to go south soon.

They've been here for millions of years. They know what to do!:)

I don't think they go too far south. Don't they just go to the ocean?

Yes The loons migrate to the ocean.... As another poster noted, the chicks leave for the ocean later then the Adults. I didn't want to post that until I confirmed the information... and yesterday I couldn't find a very informative page, on the subject matter. (mainly a time issue).....

still a loon chick in Braun Bay too...
 

and Misty Blue was concerned and checked in with the Loon Center... I believe their response was something like "don't worry, they do leave later than the adults, and the start of ice forming is a big motivator to them to start flying!"...

Reminds me of the movie Dumbo and getting him to fly... it was all a "state-of-mind"...

The pond at the end of Powers Road was skimmed over with ice Sunday morning... tick-tock... with long range forecast looking pretty chilly... ice will coming soon :)

-PIG

Several years ago a number of loons died on L. Winnipesaukee because they did not leave before the lake froze. We still have our chicks in Green's Basin.

Revere
 

I heard a lot of them go down around Boston Harbor close to Revere .
Now if you were in your right mind would you not wait until the very last moment to go to Revere !!!

Now hold yourself back and don't be messing up nature by feeding these guys or inviting them in . if they are to weak to fly etc its the way it is in the animal world .

Yes, they did. That was very sad. They got stuck in the broads. They were adults I believe.

Loon chicks
 

Yes Tis I recall that happening. I believe there were about 13 adult loons that perished. So sad.
The chicks in 19 mile Bay do not seem to be full grown and might not be strong enough to fly

Loons perish on Lake winnipesaukee
 

Tis I wasn't close. Back on Feb, 2007 22 Common Loons got caught in ice on the Broads just north of Rattlesnake Island....17 of the 22 perished. So they can get caught in ice it has happened before. Hope not this year.

Here is the article:

http://www.concordmonitor.com/articl...ump-biologists

Let's hope it doesn't happen again!! That was awful. But really, I don't think you need to worry about the babies. We watched them each year we had one and they always left late, we always worried that maybe they couldn't fly or something too, but they always left. After a while we got used to it and knew to expect it. They are just reluctant.

I think I posted something like this to a similar named thread so I apologize in advance. As a skier, when I saw the name of this thread I thought of these Loon (mt)chicks.:laugh:

Mary Holland is a naturalist from Vermont who has a blog. She recently wrote the following about loon migration. Based on this information, you probably have nothing to worry about.

"Some Common Loons begin their diurnal migration to their wintering territory in late summer, but most loons leave their breeding territory in September (high latitudes) and October (low latitudes), and arrive at their destination by the end of November. Breeding pairs and their offspring do not migrate together. Parents generally migrate first, usually separately; young remain on their lakes after adults have departed, until near freeze-up, and often migrate in groups."

http://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/

That is a terrific site. Wonderful pictures and great information.
Thank you fmgate.

LOL

This threads title conjured up the image of women gone wild on jello shots.

The loon chicks in Green"s Basin left around Nov.14th.

Mirror Lake loon chick
 

The loon chick left Mirror Lake on Nov. 19th- fyi

Good to hear. I assumed they would, they usually do!

Did the two survive in Mirror Lake or just one? I heard there were two. True?

Mirror Lake chicks
 

Tis, there were two but I heard that a large turtle got one of them.

Oh, darn. I hadn't heard that. Do you know how long it lived? At least one survived.

Tis, I believe it lasted until the end of July, beginning of August. Got this information off the Mirror Lake Protective Association website, from the home page click on the Facebook tab and scroll down.

http://www.mirrorlakenh.org/

Who was trying to catch the male, do you know?

Thanks for that link.

I have heard it is very unusual for two to survive.