Loons in June

What makes June the top month for loons? Well I’d say a variety of reasons. Loons are most vocal in June, from the haunting wail to the short communicative hoots loons are the audio spectacle that raises the level of our outdoor experiences. Everyone likes to hear loons. June is also breeding season for loons. Loons can be seen on nests and once the loonlets hatch loons tend to their young all day long. Feeding and protecting the loonlets becomes their top priority. This is an opportunity that offers up viewing the loons hunting and feeding their loonlets almost constantly during daylight hours. In the instance the  loons sense danger baby loons will scurry to cover or dive. Loonlets will also tuck under the wings of the adult loons. If you see a loon in June with an abnormal raised wing position or one wing seems higher than the other chance are their is a baby loon under that wing.

Many lakes and larger ponds in the Twin Cities metro are homes to loons during the summer. And northern Minnesota it probably goes without saying harbors big populations of breeding loon pairs.

I typically scout for loons by stopping at boat landings and scope for them with my binoculars. Of course if you are in your boat, canoe, kayak or pontoon that makes things a bit easier.

Onto the nitty gritty. Where can you see loons raising young and listen to them? One place you might not think is Lake Minnetonka. Others include, Beebe Lake, Bush Lake, Medicine Lake, Lake Independence and Big Marine Lake. Chances are any lake you are visiting North of the metro that offers some quiet areas with an undisturbed shoreline you will encounter loons.

Scanning with your binoculars is a popular method to view loons and so is a slow cruise in a boat around weed islands and natural shorelines. If you stumble upon a nesting loon or happen on a family of them they like peace. Watch them from a suitable distance. They will alert you if you are too close and if that happens simply back away and the loons will go about their family business.

See you on the water-

Pete

Loons are water birds and only go ashore to nest and incubate eggs.”

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