Everyone should have a “crazy as a loon” moment.
A common loon swam alone along with its head partly submerged. Occasionally it would rise up and pull its wings backward, then flap them several times.
The loon stretched its neck with its daggerlike bill pointing toward the sky, rapidly turning its head several times, seemingly as far as it could go to either side.
It slapped its wings on the surface of the water and only dove under once in 20 minutes, repeating these behaviors in various combinations. Of course, the loon was not crazy at all, but simply, well, being a loon.
The “crazy” tag came from those almost-howling, haunting cries they give out. The word loon was derived from lunatic, a version of the Latin lunacus, which is traced to Luna, or moon, which was then connected (erroneously) to mental illness that depended on the phases of the moon.
Our loon’s behaviors weren’t mad but loon-logical.
Swimming with its head partly submerged allowed it to look for fish and crustaceans. Flapping its wings may have multiple goals, including stretching its muscles or drying its wings, researchers say.
Slamming its wings on the water’s surface might be a technique to force water through the feathers and wash away parasites. Preening rearranges the feathers into the most efficient manner and spreads the oil that keeps them waterproof, the bird’s defense against hypothermia.
One theory about that head-and-neck twisting is that as a species, loons are very curious, and if something attracts their attention, they may check it out. It’s also a way to scan for danger, even in the form of approaching boats or kayaks.
From our vantage point, there were no signs of potential dangers within hundreds of yards, or any other curiosity that we could see.
Maybe the loon was just exercising those neck muscles.
We wanted to see, but didn’t, the foot waggle, where the loon stretches a foot out of the water and shakes it. Now that would have been a visual prize.
Hawk abuse: Two rewards, up to $2,500 each, are offered by the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust for tips leading to the conviction of a person, or persons, who shot red-tailed hawks on Whidbey Island.
One hawk was found Jan. 25 off Deer Run Road near Coles Road; the other was found Feb. 2 along East Harbor Road near Goodell Road. Both federally protected hawks were euthanized.
If you have information, call the state Department of Fish and Wildlife hotline at 877-933-9847.
Picking up the tab: The state parks program that ties vehicle license tab renewals to a donation is bringing in less money than projected, but still enough to help keep parks open, according to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Committee.
The Legislature had required an average of $1.2 million per month for 24 months. The average collected through December was $1.1 million, just enough to squeak by.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
Common Loon
Adults weigh between 8 and 11 pounds and have a wingspread of about 4 feet. Powerful webbed feet propel them in dives as deep as 200 feet while staying down 10 to 15 minutes (most dives are far shorter).
A nictitating membrane protects their eyes during diving.
Loons have a major molt in February and March, losing all of their flight feathers and grounding them until replacement feathers appear.
The common loon may live up to 20 years, although most live about a decade.
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