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Today I got my first look at this years loon family. This year there is only one chick where as last year there were two. These were taken from my kayak on a lake near Whitehorse.
While every one of these are great loon images that illustrates the beauty, form and behavior of loons, picture number 1 is nature art. The peak-a-boo chick is a masterful image. Your choice in composition is so captivating...
Nothing but envy, jealousy and admiration here, bravo!
Beautiful wildlife photography! Perfect lighting! Great story/loon documentation.
I see behavioral similarities between your loons and the ones here.
Your entire set here is exciting and most interesting.
Looking forward to updates on your loon family's progress throughout this summer.
Robert
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The 2017 nest here in Maine I was watching failed mid-June. I believe it was due to the loons' choices/biology and not people. I just accepted it and wrote it up. Next year will add new knowledge and reasons usually become clearer with time.
Fabulous images Geoff! Really caught the bond and a delicate part of nature.
#3 for me is quite special, all the attention goes to the little one with the parent turning in the 'away' position but you did great to catch that eye too, that shot rocks
#7 is sweet
#8 I like it but the bottom area OOF does tend to take away from the eye impact, this could be one to crop out just up to the sharp area of feathering and make it a stunning head shot
douter wrote:
Great set Geoff, but if all of these birds have only one offspring per year that makes it, it doesn't bode well for the species.
Douglas
Thanks Douglas,
Humans only average less than 2 offspring per lifetime so I think 1 a year could still keep this population going. We all know how well humans have overpopulated this planet. Granted we have a much higher success rate but still. Last year they had 2 that I watched grow to full sized juveniles. I have no idea if there were two eggs this year or not and if there were 2 I don't know what happened to the other one. I checked the empty nest and no eggs were there. This chick is only about 1 week old so whatever happened would have happened recently unless the egg was predated on earlier on the nest.
