Common Loon feeds young
The morning was a long walk to check on Lily. What a sweetheart. She finally came to Lynn’s voice, gave a heart rate (82 again, very consistent) and disappeared. We didn’t see Eli and Ellie, but the family evidently had places to go from the mile they covered in less than an hour.
JulietOn to Juliet to see if Victoria was with her. She wasn’t. Juliet went on her way alone.
Loon adult and chickSue checked on June and found her eating mainly strawberries (Fragaria spp.), one of the earliest berries to ripen after American Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) and along with juneberries (Amelanchier spp.). While Sue was walking with her, June produced a fresh scat containing juneberry seeds.
Loon chickThen 
Bald Eagleit was a relaxing pontoon trip to the place where it all started—Lily’s den of 2010 where Hope was born. Throughout the day, we saw a painted turtle laying eggs, hundreds of skippers and tiger swallowtails sucking moisture from mud on this hot (80’s) day, frolicking fawns, a doe, a regal eagle, a loon family sharing food, and a beautiful blue sky.
The day wound down with a great supper that satisfied vegans and omnivores alike. Everyone had worked hard. The group was worn out. Tomorrow will be more.
White-tailed deerThank you for all you do.
—Lynn Rogers and Sue Mansfield, Biologists, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
All photos taken today unless otherwise noted.