It's just loon-y! (non-snake pics)

[Cas]

I just had to share this.... Here tonight's new (and temporary!) addition to my little 'zoo'... a common loon!

<img width="639" height="335" src="http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?s=cano&src=/PhotoLoft/Asset20/2002/11/05/10160/10160647_0_0721.fpx,0,0,1,1,639,335,FFFFFF">

<img width="543" height="438" src="http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?s=cano&src=/PhotoLoft/Asset20/2002/11/05/10160/10160648_0_3792.fpx,0,0,1,1,543,438,FFFFFF">

My b/f's aunt called him tonight and asked "Does Dawn want a loon?" Yeah... do I want a what?? *lol* Story here is, my b/f's uncle's co-worker found this loon up north on the ice at McArthur River. After watching it for a couple days and determining that it wasn't moving much (loons need open water to take off, and can't even walk well on land), he brought it back to S'toon with him (2 plane rides and a van ride). It then got transfered to my b/f's relatives, who phoned the zoo here and were told that the zoo wouldn't take it. So, they call my b/f and ask him if I'll take it (once people know you like animals... *lol*). So I've got it for the night, until I can call the vet college in the morning (I believe they do wildlife rehab). For now, he/she is in a small animal cage with a bowl of water and some jackfish strips. Doubt it will eat anything, but it's been drinking alot... after a few days in a cardboard box, I'm not too surprised. It's playing with the fish as well, but I don't think it recognizes it without a head, fins, and guts. *L*

And yes, this is the classic black loon with white spots on the wings and red eyes... however, it's in duller, non-breeding, winter plummage. (check out <a href="http://hometown.aol.com/GaviaRCool/loonpage.html">http://hometown.aol.com/GaviaRCool/loonpage.html</a>)

Anyway, I have to say this is the last thing I thought I'd be getting tonight! ;) You just never know....

Dawn

[corr]

Hehe, that's cool Dawn. I wonder if it would eat feeder goldfish??

[Kathy]

He looks to be a baby, sometimes with babies they dont fly south soon enough and end up getting trapped. They stay down south for the next 2-3 years until they mature and then come back up north. Then they settle down with their mate and make the journey every year. You should see if you can get this guy down south, or get him a permanent home in a zoo somewhere, otherwise he'll miss out on those learning years. G'luck with him!

[eyespy]

Great pics and story, Dawn. Please let us know how this little loon makes out.

[liquid_mage]

He is cute. Is he loud?

[Cas]

Well, still have the loon... the vet college didn't want to take it. They said to take it to open water and see if it can swim/fly. if no, bring it in and they'll see what they can do (but, if it needs to be kept all winter, it would get put down - they don;t have the facilities for it). So, tomorrow I'll be taking my houseguest out to blackstrap lake and we'll see how it goes!

Also tried giving it some feeder goldfish today... it just tossed them out of the bowl and left them on the newspaper to die.... guess it didn't want them in it's water! Last time it was checked on, it managed to get into it's water bowl... so I guess it's waiting for the lake!


liquid mage, nope, has barely made a sound... probably too stressed to want to call (may be a territory thing too, and, well, it's not his/her territory!).

Dawn

[Cas]

Well, we packed up the loon in a cat carrier and drove out to Blackstrap lake yesterday.

<img width="480" height="360" src="http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?s=cano&src=/PhotoLoft/Asset20/2002/11/08/10165/10165061_0_4505.fpx,0,0,1,1,480,360,FFFFFF">

But, the lake was almost completely iced over. There was one little open area wiht a couple ducks on it, but that was it. So, we kept going for another 45 minutes until we got to lake Diefenbaker... which is completely open and ice free. We drove into the park a little ways from the Gardiner dam, and pulled up at the boat launch. I opened up the carrier and my b/f took it to the edge of the water

<img width="320" height="240" src="http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?s=cano&src=/PhotoLoft/Asset20/2002/11/08/10165/10165062_0_2194.fpx,0,0,1,1,320,240,FFFFFF">

After a few seconds, the loon figured out that it was free, and took off swimming.

<img width="490" height="482" src="http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?s=cano&src=/PhotoLoft/Asset20/2002/11/08/10165/10165064_0_9520.fpx,0,0,1,1,490,482,FFFFFF">

It spent awhile diving and stretching it's wings, moving slowly away from shore until we could barely see it... it gave a few little calls just before we left (i don't know if it was saying "thanks" or "screw you guys, i'm so out of here!" *L*)

<img width="280" height="431" src="http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?s=cano&src=/PhotoLoft/Asset20/2002/11/08/10165/10165063_0_2475.fpx,0,0,1,1,280,431,FFFFFF">

Anyway, it'll probably hang around the lake for awhile eating and recovering before hopefully flying south like it's supposed to. There were ducks, geese, and seagulls around the lake as well, so I'm sure it'll feel comfortable there until it's ready to move on.

Dawn

[lance]

cool story i hope everything workes out in the end

[Lisa]

I hope the loon makes it south. Did you name her?

[Clownfishie]

She was really cute :) I'll keep my fingers crossed that she figures out how to make her way to the rest of her family....

[Cas]

Lisa, no, I didn't name it... I have enough trouble trying to think up names for animals I'm keeping lately! *L*

The theory I'm running with right now is that it was migrating from somewhere and decided to land for awhile, not realizing until it was too late that the river it was heading for was already iced over (loons also apparently sometimes hit roads when it's raining, thinking the shiny surface is open water). In any case, it's got the chance to resume its journey now... so here's hoping. :)

Dawn