Loons on calm waterTemperatures in the 40’s melted more ice overnight. That means the pair of loons that arrived on Eagles Nest Lake One a couple evenings ago now have more room to swim. When they first arrived, they were confined to a small patch of open water at the north tip of the sunny north bay. This morning they had more room. The picture shows them cruising in open water during the calm before the wind and rain. Another picture shows one with a fish (bluegill?) it either caught or scavenged. Over a third of the lake is now ice-free, and a second pair of loons now occupies the other end. The lake is 1.2 miles long and holds up to 3 pairs of these very territorial birds.
Loon with fishLily, Eli, and Ellie likely visited their deep rock den today. A 54-minute gap between GPS locations near the den suggests they went inside.
Juliet, Ray, Bernard, and Charlie are still in the same patch of forest as yesterday. Since 7:45 PM last evening (now 3:40 PM Friday), they have remained in an area only 220 yards long and 50 yards wide. With temperatures now down to 37F and rain, we suspect the cubs spent some of their time snuggled under or against Juliet. At this moment, they are 1.03 miles from their den.
Loon in iceAster’s GPS locations suggest she is moving fairly well despite her leg injury. The great progress she has made since last fall makes us believe she will continue to improve. We’re glad to see her so active.
At the same time the radio-collared bears are becoming more active, sightings of non-radio-collared bears are increasing, including one running away up the driveway at 5:54 PM.
Thank 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.