Tuesday June 5

Logged on around 9:00am CDT this am and the egg was over at the side of the nest and not a loon in sight. I don't know how long they had been gone when I logged on, but it was 4 hours before one returned.

I don't know who is who so I will just call this Mom. She returned with chick on back at 1:12pm


As she lumbered up the ramp, the chick fell off her back


Mom settled on the nest and then searched for the egg. Discovered it over at the side and rolled it back under her. The chick made it's way up from the camera side about 5 minutes later

Close up of chick as it worked it's way around to Mom's front


At 1:48pm Dad showed up at the nest edge with a tiny fish in beak.


Chick and Mom slid into the water and swam off. An hour later, still not back.

Wednesday June 6

11:45am

Mom returned to the nest at 10:56am The egg on the nest had been left uncovered since yesterday afternoon. I am not sure of the exact time the loon left the nest yesterday - but basically the egg was left to the heat of the sun and the cold of the night for maybe 18 - 20 hours. I doubt that the egg will hatch.

Mom settled in over the egg and the chick cruised around the raft - finally worked it's way up from the cam side.




She played around with one of the nest sticks for 10 - 15 minutes, with Mom lifting her wing inviting her to shelter. The chick wasn't ready to nap. Dad showed up with a fish in mouth. The chick was in front of Mom at that time, but evidently not hungry as made no attempt to accept Dad's offering



Dad left. Mom has been switching about. The chick has been in and out from under her body. I can not tell if all of Mom's wiggles are due to the chicks activities or if the egg might actually be active.

7:25 - 8:25

Mom returned to the nest. Adjusted the egg and then off the nest. Was back in a minute. The chick must have been doing something Mom wasn't pleased about. She settled on the egg again and Dad with Chick as a backpack cruised up to the side


Next minute Dad climbed up on the right side of the raft - talking to Mom? and then the chick waddled up from the cam side.


Dad left and Larry zoomed in on Mom and Chick. Chick has shown no signs of going nite nite. She has crawled all around Mom, under her wings, attempted unsuccessfully several times to climb up on Mom's back, pecked at the nest materials, anything but settle down.


Cam is still on close up. A gorgeous image.

7:20pm CDT

Loons were gone all day - egg left unattended.

At 7:17pm All three returned. Mom (I think) worked her way up and settled down over the egg - Note the position of the stick


Mom did her settle down wiggle and popped right back up and headed for the water


The reason readily apparent. The stick finished breaking the egg which had squirted out a yolk like substance. The embryo had never developed.


The family quickly swam away. Will they come back?

Love your loon pictures, BET!! My sister loves loons and I sent her the link to this cam. When I get to Michigan I will find out if she has watched it.

A little after 9:00pm Larry was down at the nest. He carefully scooped up the egg, the residue and the stick. He will undoubtedly post what he intends to do with the egg tomorrow. - guessing send it to the lab as he has with other infertile eggs.


By cleaning out the nest bowl, maybe the adults might come back a few more times before disappearing somewhere on the lake. Mom did not like that egg popping under her at all.

Larry just ran a playback of this morning at 9 40am The chick alone on the lower side of the nest. It was before I logged on this am so I don't know where the parents were or what led up to it. But a great view of the wee one.

Note the size of her feet compared to her head or wings. No wonder she can swim so well so soon in life