Loons: The Iconic Waterbirds

by Stan Tekiela

Overview

Celebrate the lives of common loons with this collection of photographs and information by award-winning author and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela.

Their stunning beauty inspires us. Their haunting calls fill us with nostalgia. Loons remind us of joyful days at the lake, of time spent with family. Their arrival each spring signals the end of winter and that warmer days are ahead. Award-winning author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela believes that loons are the most fascinating of birds. He spent years studying loons, noting their behaviors and capturing them in photographs. Stan’s research spanned major events such as migration and courtship, as well as everyday activities including feeding and sleeping.

The result is a striking portrayal of these amazing birds in Loons. Stan’s extraordinary photographs depict the water birds in a new, unique fashion. His fascinating text, drawn from detailed research and personal observations, provides information about every aspect of the loons’ lives. Presented with headings and short paragraphs, the coffee-table book is pleasurable to browse and easy to read.

“They’re one of my favorite birds because they’re so beautiful,” says Stan. “Their calls can send shivers down my spine, and they have incredible parenting skills.”

Unmatched by any other book on the market, Loons is a must-have for bird watchers, water bird enthusiasts, and nature lovers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647552091
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	11/09/2021
Series:	Favorite Wildlife
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,029,872
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 175 field guides, nature books, children’s books, wildlife audio CDs, puzzles and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the Universityof Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 25 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

Read an Excerpt

Fascinating Loons

Loons have fascinated people for thousands of years. The striking black-and-white breeding plumage and deep red eyes of the Common Loon befit its elegance and grace. Loons are physically amazing, with large, powerful feet that propel the bird underwater at speeds fast enough to overtake fish. They have wings capable of carrying them thousands of miles to wintering grounds and back again with the changes of the seasons. The call of the loon catapults our memories to a time spent camping or brings to mind a lakeside summer vacation. Yes, loons have fascinated people for thousands of years—just as they do today. Here is the story of the Common Loon.

Myths of the Creation

Several native cultures tell stories of how the loon was created. According to one, the loon and the crow were once men. They were good friends and did everything together. One day they decided to go fishing. One of the men caught lots of fish. The other man caught none. The man who had no fish became so upset that he hit his friend, cut out his tongue and threw him overboard. The Great Spirit felt sorry for the beaten man and turned him into a beautiful loon, while his friend was turned into a crow.

A story from Finnish culture tells us when the first loon was created, it didn’t have legs or feet. Nature realized its mistake and flung a pair of legs and feet at the bird as it was leaving, which is why the legs and feet are located so far back on the loon’s body.

Folklore of the Necklace

Loons have played a part in the lives of native peoples around the world. Many ancient cultures had stories and myths about loons. There are various folktales about loons restoring sight to blind children or healing the failed sight of medicine men. Legend has it that a loon would carry an afflicted person on its back to the bottom of a lake, once, twice, again and again until enough water washed over the person’s eyes to restore the eyesight. It has been said that a grateful person made the loon a gift of thanks—a necklace of white shells—and hung it around the loon’s neck for all to see. To this day, all loons wear a necklace of white plumage resembling the strand of white shells given in gratitude long ago.

The Lore of the Call

A story about the loon’s call comes from Micmac Indian culture. A man named Glooscap came to visit the Micmac tribe one day. The people enjoyed his company so much, they did not want him to leave. Even so, after a few days he had to move on. Because the Micmacs were so lonely, Glooscap appointed Kwee-moo, the loon, as his special messenger. Glooscap said he would return whenever the loon called because his call could be heard from far away. Today we call that special call the wail of the loon.

Down through history it was thought loons could predict the coming of rain. Some cultures believed the call of a loon triggered rain. These notions are why the loon is also called Rain Crow.

More recently, the peculiar laughing call of the loon led to the phrase “crazy as a loon.”

Table of Contents

The Northwoods Loons

Fascinating Loons

Myths of the Creation

Folklore of the Necklace

The Lore of the Call

The Five Species of Loons

Origins of the Scientific Name

Origins of the Common Name

Popular Names Around the World

Range

General Population

The Decline of the Loon

Human Disturbance and Nest Failure

Lead Sinkers

Fishing Line

Coastal Water Threats

Mercury Poisoning

Sick or Injured Loons

The Recovery of the Loon

Differences of the Sexes

Impressive Size

Life Span

Unique Alignment

Bones for Swimming and Diving

Built-in Nose Plugs

Red Eyes

Extra Eyelids

Seeing Underwater

Powerful Legs

Wings to Carry the Load

Changing Plumage

Preening and Waterproofing

Nibbling

Bathing

Body Shaking and Wing Stretching

Tail Wagging

Seasonal Diet of Whole Fish

Spectacular Divers

Diving Reflex Lowers Heart Rate

Swimming Underwater

Submerging Like a Submarine

Surfacing with Control

Accessing the Nest Discreetly

Peering

Foot Waggling

Taking Off into the Wind

Rapid Shallow Wing Beats

Designed to Land on Water

Sleeping on Water

The Voice of the Wilderness

Communicating with Calls

The Wail

The Tremolo

The Yodel

The Hoot

Chick Calls

Mating Behavior

Loon Society

Nest Construction

Island Nesting

Water Activity and Nesting

Reusing and Relocating Nests

Eggs and Incubation

Out of the Nest, into the Water

Migration

Loon Allure

About the Author