Loons Check Out Nesting Site

Loons Explore Floating Platform as Nest Site
by Noel Sederstrom, VLA Volunteer
With the wind blowing from the east and creating a choppy Lake Vermilion, "our" loon pair was out Tuesday evening of May 23 checking on a possible nesting site. The gusty conditions had sent boaters to shore and they were all alone on the water.
We were able to watch them about 7:21 p.m. as presumably Mom Loon approached and climbed up atop a floating nesting platform anchored just for the two of them to use. She made herself comfortable and got a sense of how it felt bobbing up and down in the water.
Then, about a minute and a half later, with an impatient wave of his head, her partner signalled it was time to go. Down below the surface he went, and for 30 seconds she took one long last look from her perch.
With a great effort, she then got up and lurched into the chilly Lake Vermilion water to join her mate.
It's not clear if the loons will use the platform, or will build a nest on-shore nearby as they did last year.
A team of volunteers from Vermilion Lake Association has been working to create a way to watch the loons' activities, hoping the pair will bring a couple of chicks into the world in the coming weeks. With a new Axis camera and adding a parabolic dish for the waterproof mic, a marine team led by Bill Michaelson positioned a weighted post and pointed it at the most likely places the loons might choose to build a nest.
We're grateful that Access Broadband of Virginia is partnering with us again this year to help provide us with an internet path out for the camera's video and audio. Anyone who'd like to join our caring loon-watching community to comment on what they see is welcome to check out our VLA TH-cam Channel. We'll also keep you posted on the VLA's website and Facebook page.