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Meet the AnimalsCommon Loon
Loons are clumsy on land, and only when they're nesting do they spend much time there. Their heavy bodies are not easy to launch into the air, and so they often have to run over the water's surface for a long ways before they gain enough lift to take flight. Once in the air, though, they are powerful fliers, and reach average speeds of 75 miles per hour (120 km/hr). A mating pair will build their nest together. The female lays two eggs, and both parents provide incubation for the eggs and care for the chicks. Loons were once believe to mate for life, but it is now known that if the mating fails to produce chicks, they may seek other partners. Once chicks are born, though, the family will spend the entire summer together, sometimes gathering into groups with other loons to feed. Loons can live up to 30 years, which is quite a long time for a bird.
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Many people think of the Common Loon as the very symbol of northern wilderness. These sleek divers and their odd cries are beloved by all who know them. Their bodies are made for the water, with legs set far back on their streamlined bodies. Unlike other birds, loons have many solid bones and this helps to power their long dives. They also have air sacs in their bodies that can either provide air for staying underwater, or be quietly emptied if the loon needs to sink into the water fast to avoid danger.
