Haunts
Prefers to nest on small lakes or larger lakes with sheltered bays
or islands and where there is little chance of disturbance. They can
be seen and heard around Lake Windermere.
Schedule
Common Loons return to the Columbia Valley in mid-April to early May
often to the same lake or pond year after year. They begin migrating
south in early to mid September and winter on coastal waters. Most are
gone by mid November, but occasionally the odd one remains in open
water around Invermere.
Field Notes
The name Loon is thought to have come from an old Scandinavian word,
lom, meaning a clumsy person, in reference to the loon’s awkwardness
on land. But on water they are one of the most skillful birds. An
unusual form of escape that loons perform is called "sinking". By
compressing air from inside its body, a loon is able to descend
slowly, much like a submarine. This allows the bird to disappear
without sound or ripples. Also, the loon may just partially submerge
to any level, so that it can avoid being seen, yet still have its eyes
above the water to watch the source of danger. Common Loons have other
fascinating physiological features: red eyes for filtering light under
water, heavy bones for diving to depths of more than 100 feet, and
special glands for expelling salt water when over wintering on oceans.
