• Tuesday-What'sUP June 26 - 09:43 pm

If anyone is concerned that a loon may have been disturbed off its nest, you need to know this is not the case. These pictures from Tim and Ellen Haas, were taken near their camp in Munising, with a zoom lens, as they are both "protect the critter" people. They told me that the gestation period for Loons is 30 days and that they think perhaps that will be soon, as the mother loon has been leaving the nest and goes into her distress mode around 4:00 a.m. for several nights now, making unreal noises in the early morning quiet. Tim and Ellen do not intend to tell anyone where the nest is, so others won't congregate near and disturb the hatching process, but they promised that if they are around to witness the hatch, they'll try to get some pictures of the little ones!

Puts the term "laying down on the job" in mind. lol. Thanks for the beautiful picture. I have never seen a nesting Loon before. It would be wonderful to see pics over the next few months seeing them hatch and grow and swim.

It appears to me that the eggs are unusually pointed at one end, is that true? Looking forward to seeing pictures of the hatch.

I love loons. There's nothing better than being out on the lake and watching them dive and not knowing where they're going to come up. And the sounds they make are so calming. Great pictures!

It is an interesting bird. The young will fly solo to South of the equator in their first year. They will remain there for two years getting fatenened up on rich seafood, They will return and never migrate again and they can live for 30 years.

I love loons. The last time I saw one was in the waters by Panama City Beach, Fla. but it was far off and silent at the time. I hope to see one this summer while I am in Wi. otherwise I'll just have to play my tape of their calls. I also love the u.p. but won't be there this year.

Great picture, especially the close-up of the eggs! I've never seen a real loon in the flesh.

Midland has a new minor league baseball team. This is its first year. They are called none other than the Great Lakes Loons! Their mascot is really cute, & quite talented, in his ability to direct a band, among other things. They've been called the Looney Tunes by more than one person, especially when they lose, though.

Ohhhhh-most awesome photos!

Their mascot is really cute, & quite talented, in his ability to direct a band, among other things.

Wait a minute.....obviously you've never been to a MTU hockey game to see Blizzard do all that, plus a few other things I can't mention on here ;-)

Where I used to live on the lake we always had loons swimming around, both big ones and little ones. I have seen the eggs before but it is a rare sight to see the eggs alone like in the first pic. Unfortunitely, more and more people started building huge homes on the waterfront and since loons are quite anti-social, they along with the bitterns had moved on.....

HELP---HELP---YOOPER FRIENDS.
What's with these horrible, BITING, black flies???? They are terrible here in Bootjack today. I had to come in from doing yard work. I sprayed with bug "OFF" but it doesn't seem to be working.
WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR KEEPING THEM OFF OF YOU????
I heard fabric softener sheets work but that isn't the case today. Need some advice?????

I hear that if you take vitamin B12 or a B complex vitamin the bugs should stay away from you. Also, I've heard that taking Brewer's yeast is helpful. It's also helpful for your pets. Good luck!!

Bootjackbabe, I'm really sorry to hear that the black flies are out biting in force now, not only for you, but for us, as we are headed up to Houghton the day after tomorrow!

I read one place that you need a high concentration of DEET to keep them away, and that regular Off doesn't have a high enough DEET concentration.

Here's an article that might be of interest, even though it was written for Maine, not the UP:
http://www.mainenature.org/blackfly/blackflyinfo.html

Good luck! If you find something that works, please let the rest of us know!

Sorry, I forgot to include this reference on black flies, as well:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2167.html

The pics are great. Hope to see more as the season progresses!

when we were in munising last week there was a pair of loons which serenaded us daily right there on the big lake. sweet call.

I get black flies here near Harbor Springs in May and early June, then sporadically all summer. DEET masks one of their homing devices (I believe it is CO2 detection), but not their ability to sense heat; that is why DEET is not entirely effective. If you are talking about the tiny black flies that bite around the face, eyes, hairline and along edges of clothing, try applying a layer of antihistamine cream (like Benedryl Cream) wherever they are likely to bite. (Don't get it in your eyes!) They have a hard time reaching the skin through that goo, and if they do bite the antihistamine prevents an allergic reaction to their saliva which is what causes the itching and swelling.

On the other hand, if you are talking about the large grey stable flies that haunt beaches when the wind is off the land, I suggest a snowmobile suit and ski mask. Deer flies? They land on the highest part of you, and a hat will keep them from biting your scalp and ears. Horse flies? Stay indoors. I've seen some near Perch Lake that are bigger than some dogs.

When I was in Aura a week or so ago, I had two loons swimming by repeatedly, always north to south! Fifteen minutes later they'd do it again; 15 minutes later they'd do it again! Apparently they kept flying north and swimming back. It's kinda like deer always cross the road from left to right. Really they do!

With all due respect and appreciation for not divulging this important nestings exact location.
--However, the Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas #2 could use the particulars and info on this for its data base. This is the last year for the MBBA2 project and they really need any and all data for any nesting MI birds. Particularly, Loons, Eagles, Osprey, Hawks, Purple Martins, Pileated Woodpeckers and such. Info on this program can be seen at MI DNR http://tinyurl.com/9eqna
If you could just submit the GPS coordinates or at least the Township section # of this nesting to miatlas@naturecenter.org OR if this is Alger county contact Ron Annelin, Regional coordinator for region 4 --Alger,Delta,Schoolcraft countys. It would be much appreciated and all submissions will be held in strictist confidence! Thanks!

Mary says: Check your email Russell, I sent you a note about this.