My oldest son and I walked to our nearby lake where we were fortunate to be greeted by this solitary loon and the frog below. Loons nest on an island in the lake, so we see them often and hear their warbling calls, and sometimes see their young. While loons are common in northern New Hampshire—places like Lake Umbagog—and further north in Canada, they are not as common this far south and hazards like lead fishing weights have made them a species that is struggling. Loons have been around for 50 million years—relatives of penguins having retained their ability to fly and of albatrosses. Lead fishing tackle and other chemicals have harmed them, along with perhaps issues with the fish supply where they overwinter off the coast of New England and the mid-Atlantic states. This article provides good information on the loons' struggles here in New England and elsewhere:
I count every day that I see or hear a loon a good day. My son, the animal whisperer, remained silent and the bird swam closer. Then he whispered a word I so rarely use, "Perfect!"
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