Painted

Published

1932

Volume

1

Plate

7

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Loon

Gavia immer

DESCRIPTION

The bluff above our tent extended east and west well into the Maine Lake. With the night came a June thunderstorm out of the north. Jo and I lay smoking comfortably, watching vivid flashes light up dark spruce ridges. When the first bursts hurtled by we heard the weird war whoop of the LOONS coming to us, up wind. "Maybe they think the Big Chief's comin!"

Soon the two forms were visible, upright, with fanning wings and beating feet — advancing in the wind's eye.

I think Jo was right; they went past the point, calling wildly and always going on toward the lightning and thunder which now came in staccato bursts, the two intrepid birds against foam-dark water — their exultant battle cries — the chaos of sound — a blended picture of noise and sable color memory never releases.

I have known them for many years but always they seem remote — alien. I have watched them riding high on stormy Georges — seen them on quiet waters and more than once surprised them on shore taking a sun bath but never with any sense of intimacy.

They are themselves — wild, untamed as their strange demoniac call. Even if they are feathered Mephistos, I envy them.

BREEDING

RANGE

Northern America from Alaska across Arctic America, south in Winter to Lower California and Gulf coast.

loon
western-grebe
Western Grebe
1
holboell-grebe
Holboell Grebe
2
horned-grebe
Horned Grebe
3
eared-grebe
Eared Grebe
4
mexican-grebe
Mexican Grebe
5
piedbill-grebe
Piedbill Grebe
6
loon
Loon
7
yellowbill-loon
Yellowbill Loon
8
blackthroat-loon
Blackthroat Loon
9
pacific-loon
Pacific Loon
10
redthroat-loon
Redthroat Loon
11
tufted-puffin
Tufted Puffin
12
puffin-largebill-puffin
Puffin, Largebill Puffin
13-13a
horned-puffin
Horned Puffin
14
rhinoceros-auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet
15
cassin-auklet
Cassin Auklet
16
paroquet-auklet
Paroquet Auklet
17
crested-auklet
Crested Auklet
18
whiskered-auklet
Whiskered Auklet
19
least-auklet
Least Auklet
20
ancient-murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
21
marble-murrelet
Marble Murrelet
23
kittlitz-murrelet
Kittlitz Murrelet
24
xantus-murrelet
Xantus Murrelet
25
craveri-murrelet
Craveri Murrelet
26
black-guillemot
Black Guillemot
27
mandt-guillemot
Mandt Guillemot
28
pigeon-guillemot
Pigeon Guillemot
29
murre-california-murre
Murre, California Murre
30-30a
brunnich-murre-pallas-murre
Brunnich Murre, Pallas Murre
31-31a
razorbill-auk
Razorbill Auk
32
dovekie
Dovekie
34
skua
Skua
35
pomarine-jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger
36
parasitic-jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
37
longtail-jaeger
Longtail Jaeger
38
ivory-gull
Ivory Gull
39
kittiwake-pacific-kittiwake
Kittiwake, Pacific Kittiwake
40-40a
redleg-kittiwake
Redleg Kittiwake
41
glaucous-gull
Glaucous Gull
42
iceland-gull
Iceland Gull
43
glaucouswing-gull
Glaucouswing Gull
44
kumlien-gull
Kumlien Gull
45
nelson-gull
Nelson Gull
46
great-blackback-gull
Great Blackback Gull
47
slatyback-gull
Slatyback Gull
48
western-gull
Western Gull
49
herring-gull
Herring Gull
51
california-gull
California Gull
53
ringbill-gull
Ringbill Gull
54
shortbill-gull
Shortbill Gull
55
heermann-gull
Heermann Gull
57
laughing-gull
Laughing Gull
58
franklin-gull
Franklin Gull
59
bonaparte-gull
Bonaparte Gull
60
ross-gull
Ross Gull
61
sabine-gull
Sabine Gull
62