Common Loons normally lay two eggs. They breed on larger, deeper lakes in bare or wooded country. The nest site is usually on a bare promontory, island, or small island mound. Sometimes on a muskrat house or mass of floating vegetation. the nest is usually a small scrape with some fresh vegetation added. Incubation, by both parents, is 29 - 30 days. The young may ride on the parents' back for the first two - three weeks. They usually feed themselves after six weeks and fly after twelve weeks.

May 19th.
Two weeks from expected hatch date.

May 21, 2010
Eggs laying exposed.


Adult returns to the nest.

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2010

11:04 pm
Eggs alone on the nest tonight which seems odd because it's quite breezy.
Can hear the loons haunting calls out in the water somewhere.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Adult is back on the nest this morning.
In their blog they mentioned that the camera had to be readjusted because of the wind.

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010

7:41 am
All is well this morning.
Minnesota is experiencing a heatwave and the iris on the nest platform is getting ready to bloom.

May 25 2:40pm CDT

I have watched this pair off an on for the last couple of days (the Bri-loons too) The more I watch them the more they remind me of penguins particularly when they stand up. When they shove their eggs back on their feet they bring Emperor penguins carrying their eggs on their feet to my mind. They must be very close genetically.

One loon was on the nest when the partner came into view. He/she swam and dove around the nest for several minutes. Circled the raft, swimming underwater and surfacing on the other side several times. The loon on the nest did not pay much, if any attention to him/her.



Suddenly he/she popped up on the surface of the raft on the near side. The loon that was incubating slid into the water without even a "hi glad to see you" look



Taking over the eggs and positioning them back on his/her feet