Project Loon Watch - Flight School


Chilly mist covered the lake as the sun rose over the treetops. A hunter shattered the quiet by taking a shot at a low-flying duck. And two immature loons knew their time on Johnson Lake was coming to an end. Their agenda for the day: fishing. Eating. And flight school.

As of October 8th, it appears the adult loons have left the lake for their annual migration to warmer climates. Contrary to earlier reports, not one, but two immature loons are spending their fall days on the lake. It's not clear if they were both born here, or one flew in from another lake. Based on what I saw, it's also not clear whether their fight feathers are developed enough so they can actually fly. One of the loons gave it a try right in front of me. The bird had been fishing very close to shore on the north side of the lake. She turned into the breeze and tried to take off.




Photo by Jon Okerstrom, October 2005


Loons are sleek and fast when they're chasing fish in the water or flying at 60 miles an hour, high in the sky. The transition between water and sky isn't nearly as graceful. Wings start flapping and webbed feet start flailing. These birds literally run on the water before gaining enough lift to become airborne. Like a 767 jet, they need a long runway to take off and land. The loons will continue their flight school as the leaves fall from the trees and ice begins to cover the lake. Their challenge is to develop their pilot certification in time for a safe departure from Johnson Lake.

Posted: Mon - October 10, 2005 at 09:21 AM      

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