Description
Weight: Adult loons weigh 8 to 12 pounds.
Color: The common loon has a black bill and a red eye. In summer it is a spotty black and white with a black/iridescent green head. In fall a "winter coat" that's gray above and white below replaces its summer plumage.
Sounds: The common loon has four calls. The tremolo, which sounds a bit like maniacal laughter, is an aggressive call. The wail is a long, drawn-out sound. The hoot, a shorter call, is used to communicate among parents and young. The yodel is sounded by male loons guarding their territory.
Food
Loons like fish - panfish, perch, ciscoes, suckers, trout, bullheads, smelt, and minnows. They also may eat frogs, leeches, crayfish, mollusks, salamanders, amphipods, and insects.
Habitat and Range
Loons are found on lakes throughout central and northeastern Minnesota. In September, Minnesota's adult loons travel to their winter home along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina south to Florida, or on the Gulf of Mexico. Younger loons follow a month or so later.
Population and Management
Minnesota has more loons (roughly 12,000) than any other state except Alaska. Threats to loons include human disturbance and pollutants such as lead and mercury. The DNR monitors loon populations with the help of volunteers to improve understanding of what our state bird needs to maintain a strong, healthy presence here.
Fun Facts
Loons' lives are filled with fun facts. For example:
- The bones of most birds are hollow and light, but loons have solid bones.
- The extra weight helps them dive as deep as 250 feet to search for food. They can stay underwater for up to five minutes.
- Because their bodies are heavy relative to their wing size, loons need a 100- to 600-foot "runway" in order to take off from a lake.
- Loons can fly more than 75 miles per hour.
- The red in the loon's eye helps it to see under water.
- Scientists think loons can live for 30 years or more.
The Cache
The container is a plastic tube. Initial contents include only a log. Be sure to bring your own writing implement.
In winter, the trail is used extensively by snowmobilers. Be watchful for snowmobile (snow machine) traffic as it can exceed 60 mph.
During hunting season, high-visibility apparel is recommended as part of the trail flanks a wildlife management area where hunting is permitted.
NOTE: This cache may not be SUMMER friendly. No maintenance, including weed control, is performed during summer months.
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