Nature Scenes With Lynn Bowen - Common loons are graceful swimmers, divers and fliers

This fortunate common loon that I secretly nicknamed "Lucky" enjoys some R&R as he awaits his release from the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Ponce Inlet.

By Lynn Bowen
Beacon Columnist

posted Jan 29, 2012 - 8:06:37am

"I'm so lucky to get to rest and be pampered until I'm released in two days," must be what the common loon was thinking as he swam in a child's swimming pool at the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Ponce Inlet in January. When he was injured or fell ill, some kind person found him and brought him to the birdie hospital, which gave him a second chance at life. A healthful diet and lots of rest were just what the doctor ordered.

Powerful, hardy common loons migrate to the southern U.S. in the winter, November through March, in their non-breeding plumage. Looking quite plain, yet still beautiful, both sexes have a mostly gray body, pale underside, white cheeks, and dark eyes. In contrast, during breeding time, they have black heads, red eyes, a white checkerboard pattern on their backs, and jet-black pointed bills.

Common loons do not have hollow bones like most other birds; thus diving is easy for them. Their strength and endurance are also evident when one realizes that they can easily ride the high waves of stormy seas, which most birds cannot or will not do!

Their legs are farther back on their bodies than are most other birds' legs, making it nearly impossible for them to walk on land. However, they are fantastic, graceful swimmers, divers, and fliers. With the exception of the Arctic, all of North America is their home.

There are five kinds of loons; the Florida visitor I saw at the Keller Seabird Sanctuary was the common loon. Most of their diet is fish, but aquatic invertebrates, frogs and insects are also eaten. Loons dive underwater and eat small prey there, but take large prey to the surface to maul and eat.

As with people, injuries, illnesses, exhaustion, or old age takes a toll on any wild mammal or bird. Many recover, but some do not. Of course, so much depends on whether the creature gets medical attention. Survival of the fittest is the usual rule in nature's kingdom.

Ironically, one source I read stated that the name "loon" comes from the Icelandic word "lomr," which refers to someone who is clumsy. Though loons have so many excellent qualities, the person who named them picked their weakest feature, which is walking. I protest — they ought to be named "very strong, great bird." I wonder what the Icelandic word for that is.

— Bowen lives in DeLand. Send e-mail to her at lynnindeland@gmail.com.

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