June 19, 2022: Loon Killed and Breakfast by Airmail

Note:  This journal entry contains some unsettling news and pictures that may be disturbing to some readers.

It's tough out there in the world of nature.  

An osprey returns to the nest with breakfast for the family.

Fish are hunted by creatures large and small, from birds to bears to otters to tiny leeches and even other fish.  But even animals near the top of the food chain must always be vigilant.  If a bald eagle saw this osprey with a fish in its talons it wouldn't hesitate to swoop right in and steal that fish, and the osprey wouldn't even try to fight, it would just go off and catch another.

Osprey in flight.

Nature's harshness isn't just about food however.  Territorial battles can be just as deadly and many animals will fight to defend their turf.  Unfortunately Lake Wicwas was the location of a fatal territorial fight this week; this is the part of the story where it gets difficult.  Early in the week Gordon Loud sent me an email with the ominous subject "Dead Loon" along with a picture that left no doubt about it.

I headed out to try to collect the bird for the Loon Preservation Committee to study to determine the cause of death.  I picked up able-assistant Michael Marion on the way, and Gordan's directions along with the known wind direction led us right to the bird before the scavengers (snapping turtles, racoons, etc.) got to it.  There was great trepidation on my part wondering if it was going to be one of our banded loons; there has been a great deal of loud fighting on the lake this past week.  Of course, the loon could have died from lead poisoning or from being hit by a boat, but as soon as the loon was lifted from the water the cause of death was immediately apparent, and even somewhat relieving:  it was clearly killed by another loon, and it was not a banded bird.

A clear cause of death.

A single stab wound right through the sternum is the way one loon kills another - a four-inch spear accurately placed in the abdomen from below.  That's why we'll see multiple loons swimming around each other constantly dipping their heads under water to make sure an attack isn't coming from below.  I'll guess it's also why when one dives, they all dive.  The LPC will perform a necropsy and test for lead poisoning which could have weakened the bird, but I think we know the immediate cause of death.

There have been at least five loons on the lake lately and a lot of loud arguments have been heard.  The local LPC biologist was out on the lake again (before this attack) and she had sent me this observation:

"There was a heated territory dispute near the center of the lake between the two established pairs and an intruding loon. It lasted for nearly an hour, but in the end, the pairs returned to their respective territories and the intruder left the area."

Since the kill I have seen one pair in the north end of the lake, and Keith and Shayne Duggan have seen the Harris Cove pair still working on a nest on the island in that cove.  Of course we'll never know, but I think the facts point towards the dead loon being a rogue that one of the pairs finally got tired of being harassed by, and decided to take it out once and for all.  Knowing it died by natural causes helps a little but it's still difficult to see such a beatiful creature meet its demise.

As I said, it's a harsh world out there.  But there are reasons to be hopeful:  There are still two pairs on the lake and both continue to show signs they intend to nest.  So on a happier note, let's enjoy the beauty of summer in New Hampshire.

Daisies are having a great year.

Spiderwort or Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis)

I just recently learned that spiderwort is considered an invasive species in some areas, though I didn't find it on any New Hampshire invasive species list.

Belted Kingfisher on Turtle Island - the first I've seen at Wicwas.

And it was peacefully sharing the tree with a dove.

A mourning dove and a kingfisher share a white pine.

Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia)

Amidst all this beauty I remain optimistic about our loons' nesting efforts and that we'll have father loons to celebrate later this summer.  Until then, happy Father's Day to all fathers!