If you’ve spotted a loon exhibiting what appears to be distress, it’s crucial to understand the potential causes and how to respond appropriately. This guide will help you differentiate between genuine signs of injury or illness and normal loon behaviors. If you believe a loon is truly in trouble, contacting a wildlife professional is the best course of action. Observing and documenting the loon’s behavior with videos can significantly aid experts in their assessment.
Identifying Causes of Loon Distress
Several factors can lead to a loon appearing distressed. Recognizing these issues is the first step in seeking help.
Entanglement and Hooked Tackle
Loon entanglement in fishing line or injury from discarded fishing tackle is a significant concern. This can happen if lines are cast too close, if loons pursue active fishing lines, or from general pollution in their habitat. If you suspect entanglement, it’s important to try and capture clear photos that show the fishing line or tackle for confirmation. Sometimes, brightly colored research bands on a loon’s legs can be mistaken for fishing bobbers. Understanding normal loon behavior can help clarify these observations.
Beached or On Land
Loons are highly adapted to aquatic environments and are not agile on land. Therefore, finding a loon on shore, or “beached,” is typically an indicator of an underlying problem. This could range from injury or illness to more specific issues like lead poisoning. If you encounter a beached loon, it’s vital to keep people and pets at a safe distance while awaiting assistance from a wildlife professional. Documenting the loon’s current behavioral state is also helpful information for the experts.
Lead Poisoning
A serious threat to loons is lead poisoning, often caused by the ingestion of lead fishing tackle. Signs of this condition include extreme lethargy and a profound lack of awareness of their surroundings. A loon suffering from lead poisoning might unintentionally collide with objects in the water or beach itself. While loons do spend time resting and floating on the water, a truly lethargic loon exhibits a distinct lack of responsiveness. Resources like the video “Loons & Lead: What’s on The Line” can offer visual examples of these symptoms.
Injury
Injuries can occur from various sources, including interactions with other loons during territorial disputes. However, injuries caused by human activity, such as boat or propeller strikes, are of particular concern for wildlife rehabilitators. An X-ray from a wildlife rehabilitation center, for instance, might reveal an injured wing likely sustained from a boat propeller. It’s also worth noting that loons sometimes position their legs in unusual ways, which can be mistaken for injuries. Examining examples of different leg positions can help prevent false alarms.
Understanding Normal Loon Behaviors
It’s common for observers to mistake normal loon activities for signs of distress. Familiarizing yourself with typical loon behaviors can help prevent unnecessary alarm.
Colored Research Bands
Many loons are fitted with brightly colored bands on their legs for research purposes. These bands, typically two on each leg, are visible while the loon is swimming, stretching its legs, or preening. These bands are not detrimental to the loon’s ability to function and are often confused with fishing tackle. Observing closely, perhaps with binoculars, or referring to photos of banded loons can help confirm if these are indeed research bands.
Preening
Preening is an essential activity for loons to maintain the cleanliness and waterproofing of their feathers. This process involves stretching their neck, tipping their head back, and sometimes rolling onto their side to clean their undersides. A leg might also be extended backward during preening. These actions are entirely normal and crucial for the loon’s survival, despite sometimes being misinterpreted as abnormal behavior. Videos of loons preening are available for reference.
Bathing
Bathing is another important grooming behavior for loons. It involves more vigorous actions like splashing water, submerging their head, or rolling in the water to clean their feathers thoroughly. A loon can spend a considerable amount of time bathing. While this behavior might appear unusual to an observer and could be mistaken for neurological distress, it is a natural part of a loon’s routine. Videos demonstrating loon bathing can help clarify this behavior.
Sleeping and Resting
Loons typically sleep on the water by tucking their head back against their body and may take naps throughout the day. They also spend time resting and drifting calmly. Even when resting or sleeping, loons remain aware of their surroundings and will generally move away if approached by people or other perceived threats, though some habituation to human presence on recreational lakes occurs. A photo by Trista Snapko showcases a loon in a typical resting posture.
Leg Tucked or Raised
During preening or resting, a loon might tuck one leg beneath its wing or raise it slightly out of the water, often to help regulate body temperature. This can sometimes be mistaken for a broken or even missing leg. Loons are also capable of paddling gently with one leg while resting the other. The colored bands mentioned earlier are also often visible during these leg-raising behaviors.
Foot Waggle
Both adult loons and chicks exhibit a “foot waggle,” where they extend and shake their legs. This action serves purposes such as stretching or temperature regulation. It is a normal movement and not indicative of an injured leg. Observing the colored bands in conjunction with this behavior can further differentiate it from a sign of distress. A video demonstrating the foot waggle is available.
Wing Rowing and Territorial Behaviors
Territorial displays in loons can include actions like the “penguin dance,” vocalizations, and even physical altercations. To rapidly move away from a threat or during territorial disputes, loons may use their wings to propel themselves across the water’s surface, an action known as “wing rowing.” These displays, while potentially alarming, are normal loon behaviors. Videos of wing rowing and other territorial behaviors like the penguin dance can provide further context.
Hangover Position
A nesting loon that perceives a threat may adopt the “hangover position,” lowering its head and remaining still. This is a defensive behavior to avoid detection and should not be mistaken for a loon in distress or even a deceased bird. If observed during the nesting season (typically May to early July), it indicates you may be too close to the nest. Moving away quietly is the recommended course of action to allow the loon to continue incubating its eggs undisturbed. A photo by Judd Brink illustrates this position.
