It was Loon Magic

Summary

In northern Wisconsin, a loon family's life unfolds as a second chick hatches on day 28. The parents teach survival skills, like riding on their backs to avoid predators and finding food. An eagle's attack causes a moment of panic, but the family recovers. The chicks learn to eat minnows and leech, and eventually, all leave the nest together, marking the end of their nesting period. The video captures the intimate moments and challenges of loon life, showcasing their resilience and the beauty of nature.

Takeaways

• 🐦 The incubation period for loon eggs is typically 27 days, with the second egg hatching on day 28.
• 📹 The video captures the hatching process and early life lessons of loon chicks in northern Wisconsin.
• 👨‍👦 The loon parents teach their chicks essential survival skills such as finding food and avoiding predators.
• 🌞 Loons are clumsy on land due to their feet being positioned far back, but they are adept swimmers.
• 🥗 The adults feed their chicks with small aquatic creatures like leeches and minnows, teaching them to eat properly.
• 🔍 The video provides a close-up view of loon behavior, including their interactions and parenting techniques.
• 🐦 Loons are known to mate for life, and their chicks learn to climb onto their parents' backs to avoid predators and the cold.
• 🌿 The loon family faces challenges such as eagle attacks, which the parents defend against to protect their young.
• 📈 Loons have been around for 65 million years and are admired for their beauty and grace, as noted by the Ajachemem Indians.
• 📹 The footage documents the loon family's daily activities, including hunting, feeding, and the eventual departure from the nest.
• 👋 The loons' departure from the nest marks the end of their time there, as they learn to fend for themselves in the wild.

Q & A

What is the average incubation period for a common loon's egg?

The average incubation period for a common loon's egg is around 27 days.

What event prompted the narrator to capture the hatching of the second loon egg?

The narrator received a call from a friend named Gary, informing them that one of the two loon eggs had hatched the day before.

What lesson was the young chick learning from the adult loons?

The young chick was learning how to find food by looking at the tip of the beak, as well as how to ride on the adult's back for safety.

How did the adult loons react when an eagle attacked the nest?

The adult loons performed a 'penguin dance' to scare off the eagle, and then circled the nest to survey the damage.

What did the adult loon do when it noticed the chick had left the nest?

The adult loon rotated the remaining egg and then looked for the chick, which eventually appeared from the brush.

What is the lifespan of a loon in the wild?

A loon's lifespan in the wild is around 30 years.

What did the adult loon bring to the chick for feeding?

The adult loon brought minnows and a leech to the chick for feeding.

How did the chick learn to eat the minnow properly?

The chick learned to eat the minnow head first, after initially struggling with the first attempt.

What behavior did the chick exhibit when it was full and tired?

The chick, when full and tired, would work its way under the adult loon's wing to rest.

What event marked the end of the chicks' time in the nest?

The end of the chicks' time in the nest was marked by a fight between the two chicks, which fell into the water.

What did the loon family do after both eggs had hatched successfully?

After both eggs hatched, the loon family swam off to open water, with both parents gathering the chicks close to them and teaching them to stay close.

Outlines

00:00

🐦 Hatching and First Lessons of a Loon Chick

The video script describes the hatching of a common loon's egg on day 28, following a call from a friend named Gary. The narrator, in northern Wisconsin, captures the hatching process and the chick's first experiences, including learning to eat from its parents and how to ride on an adult's back for safety. The family faces an eagle attack, which the loons manage to fend off. The chick learns to swim and the parents continue to care for it, with the second egg still unhatched. The sun warms the nest, and the family heads to open water, with the chick learning to stay close to its parents for protection.

05:00

🥣 Feeding and Growth of Loon Chicks

This paragraph details the loon family's life, focusing on the feeding of the chicks. The narrator observes the adult loons bringing food to the chicks, with the chick learning to eat minnows headfirst. The chicks also learn to rest under the adult's wing for warmth and protection. The script mentions the loons' ancient lineage and their cultural significance to the Ajuachipa Indians. The chicks continue to eat and grow, with one chick refusing a larger minnow after being full. The family dynamic is highlighted as the chicks jostle for position and food, with the parents ensuring each chick gets fed, even amidst playful competition.

10:01

🦅 Sibling Rivalry and Departure from the Nest

The final paragraph of the script captures the sibling rivalry between the loon chicks as they fight for food and establish dominance. The adult loons attempt to feed the youngest chick, but the elder chick takes the food instead. The chicks' aggressive behavior leads to them falling into the water. The narrator notes the end of their time in the nest as the loons prepare to leave after all eggs have hatched. The family swims off together, with the chicks learning to stay close to their parents. The narrator expresses gratitude for witnessing the loon family's life and the 'Loon Magic' captured on camera.

Keywords

💡Incubation period

The incubation period refers to the time required for eggs to hatch after being fertilized. In the context of the video, it is mentioned that the common Loon's egg has an incubation period of around 27 days, highlighting the anticipation of the second egg hatching on day 28.

💡Loon

A Loon is a type of aquatic bird known for its distinctive calls and behavior. The video script revolves around the hatching of Loon eggs and the subsequent activities of the Loon family, emphasizing the bird's life cycle and parenting behaviors.

💡Hatching

Hatching is the process where a young animal emerges from its egg. The script describes the hatching of the Loon eggs, marking the beginning of the chicks' lives and the start of their learning journey.

💡Nesting

Nesting refers to the creation of a nest, a place where birds lay their eggs and raise their young. The video script details the Loon's nest as the central location for the hatching and early life of the chicks.

💡Predators

Predators are animals that hunt and eat other animals. The script mentions predators like snapping turtles and large fish, illustrating the dangers that the Loon chicks must learn to avoid for survival.

💡Beak

A beak is the hard, specialized mouthpart of a bird, used for feeding and other functions. The video describes how the adult Loon teaches the chick to look at the tip of the beak for food, showcasing an important aspect of bird behavior.

💡Leech

A leech is a type of worm-like organism that lives in water and feeds on blood. In the script, the adult Loon brings a leech to the chick as food, which the chick learns to eat, demonstrating part of the chick's diet and feeding behavior.

💡Minnow

A minnow is a small, freshwater fish often used as bait or food for larger animals. The script describes the adult Loon bringing minnows to the chick, indicating the type of food that supports the growth of the Loon chicks.

💡Eagle

An eagle is a large bird of prey known for its keen eyesight and hunting prowess. The script mentions an eagle causing a commotion, which leads to the chick scrambling for cover, illustrating the threat eagles pose to the Loon family.

💡Survival

Survival refers to the ability of an organism to continue living or existing, often in the face of challenges. The video script highlights various survival lessons the Loon chicks learn, such as how to eat, swim, and avoid predators.

💡Forage

Forage is the act of searching for food, often used in the context of animals. The script describes the adult Loon foraging for food, which is essential for the nourishment of the chicks and the continuation of the species.

Highlights

The incubation period of a common Loon's egg is around 27 days.

On day 28, the second Loon egg hatches.

Loons teach their chicks to look at the tip of the beak for food.

Adult Loons demonstrate diving for food, like small leeches, for the chick.

Chicks learn to ride on the adult's back to avoid predators and cold water.

Loons are clumsy on land due to their feet being far back.

An eagle attack causes panic among the Loon family.

The Loon parents successfully distract the eagle, protecting the nest.

The chick learns to swim and use its feet with guidance from its parents.

The Loon family heads to open water with the chick on an adult's back.

The adult Loon brings a Minnow to the chick, a new type of food.

The chick learns to swallow the Minnow head first with parental guidance.

The chick refuses a larger Minnow, showing signs of being full.

A new hatchling is spotted, the second chick of the brood.

The chicks fight to establish dominance, a natural behavior.

The Loon family leaves the nest for the last time, heading to open water.

The Loon's ancestors date back to 65 million years ago.

Loons have a lifespan of around 30 years in the wild.

The Aja Chipa Indians called the Loon 'mang,' or the most handsome of birds.

The Loon's plumage and deep red eyes are highlighted by the sun's light.

Witnessing the Loon family's life is described as 'Loon Magic'.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Music]

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[Music]

the incubation period of a common Lon

egg is around 27 days today is day 28 I

received a call from my friend Gary

informing me that one of the two l eggs

had hatched the day before so this

morning on a beautiful June day in

northern Wisconsin I decided to try and

capture the hatching of the second Lun

egg taking in the sights and sounds of

the early morning I eventually turned

the camera to see and capture both

parents and the chick swimming to and

around the nest checking on the egg and

then swimming out to open

water

the next 45 minutes were a Learning

lesson for the young chick one of the

adults teaching it to look at the tip of

the beak for food the other diving and

returning to the surface with what

looked like a small leech when the leech

was presented to the chick it anxiously

ate and in a short time caught on to

this

lesson one of the adult loons returned

to the nest as the other followed slowly

behind with a chick resting on its back

this is another lesson they learn early

so as to avoid Predators like snapping

turtles and large fish as well as

climbing aboard to avoid cold water or

when they're just

tired loons are clumsy on land because

their feet are so far back but the adult

climbs into the nest rotates the

remaining egg and then watches as the

chick makes its way to the

nest the chick then crawls under the

nesting loon's Wing as the other adult

circles the nest then retreats to deeper

water

[Music]

in an instant the eagle took flight and

the commotion began the chick scrambling

for cover the adults doing a penguin

dance to W off the eagle and the

remaining egg now fully

exposed I couldn't help but stand up

myself which probably scared the eagle

and avoided the attack

the adults now circling the nest and

surveying the damage one of the parents

then climbing back into the nest and

again rotating the egg but I could not

see the young chick

anywhere with a nesting loon now seeming

calm I see the other Adult Swim by as if

still looking for the chick as it

circles the nest I finally see the young

chick appear from the brush another

early lesson of

survival without looking safe I captured

the swimming adult passing right by me

since coming back to the nest the chick

has awakened three times this time

pecking at the ground as the adult

nesting loon watches its mate swim by

and

dive the chick eventually turns and

works its way back toward the nesting

loon it again starts pecking at the

parent wing and within a short time

works its way back under

the sun is now starting to cast its

warmth directly onto the nest my

thoughts now are of how nice it would be

to have the second egg hatch under such

beautiful

light coming back towards the nest now

the adult Lon circles the nest and swims

close by continuing to look for food and

waiting like me for the birth of the

second chick the nesting Lon now takes

notice and for some reason decides to

leave the nest as you can see in this

slow motion replay the chick awakened

and startled and the the egg again

exposed the young chick quickly worked

its way off the nest and into the water

and soon has taught another quick lesson

from one of the parents this time on

swimming and to use your

feet the sun is now coming over the

Treetops and with the eggs still exposed

the family of loons head to Open Water

one of the adults with the chick on its

back the other slowly swimming close by

another 15 minutes pass when eventually

the parent and the chick swim back to

the nest the adult again climbs up on

the nest checks the egg and is followed

by the

chick the weight continues one adult

close by the other laying on the egg and

the chick once again resting under

wing I pour myself another cup of coffee

and wait as

well the lon's ancestors roam the Earth

65 million years ago today the lon has a

lifespan in a wild of around 30 years

and they are known to make for Life the

ajua chipa Indians called the lon mang

or the most handsome of birds and as the

sun now rolls over the nest and lights

up the nesting Moon's tuxedo likee

plumage and deep red eyes I can see why

the description of man came to

be food again seems to be the morning

plan this time and to my surprise the

adult loon brings a Minn rather than a

leech to the nest the chick quickly

emerges and attempts to take the meal

unsuccessfully at first until realizing

that The Minnow needs to be swallowed

head

first the proud parents look on with

approval before the adult leaves again

to

forage 10 minutes have passed and the

adult continues to hunt the chick

remaining out from underwing pecking at

the grass and

bugs again the adult arrives this time

from around the nest and brings yet

another minnow to the chick to

eat head first and Down the Hatch the

chick make swallowing this time look

easy the adult leaves to go fishing

again the nesting loon still laying on

the remaining

egg in what seemed like just another 10

minutes the adult arrives once again

with yet another minnow this time a

bigger

one the chick attempts to reach and grab

the minnow

but not with the enthusiasm it had shown

with the last

meal with the adult continuing to

present the minnow the young chick must

have a full stomach and eventually

refuses the adult giving in and

retreating from The Nest eats the minow

himself the chick now full looks tired

and works its way under the wing once

more the nesting loon remaining on the

egg just minutes pass and the adult loon

arrives again with an even bigger

minnow the chick reaches to grab the

larger meal and quickly works it head

first to swallow eventually losing its

balance during the process as it tumbles

down from the nest I laugh to myself as

the chick regains composure and follows

the adult out into Open Water this time

the nesting Lo staying on the nest I'm

hoping that this is for a reason the egg

may be hatching soon the adult and chick

did not stay out long and soon returned

to the

nest the chick again working its way

under wi for another rest period the

nesting loon obliging and keeping

watch the lon chick didn't rest long as

it soon worked its way out from

underwing once again pecking at the

ground the nesting loon looking M the

other adult Lon is close by the nest and

Diving for more food when it surfaced I

noticed it had a small leech and not a

minnow odd because it had just brought

the chick three minnows in a row a short

time earlier the chick just worked its

way underwing again when at the same

time the adult Lon arrived with the

leech something was different as it

stuck its beak close to the nesting

lon's Wing the chick came out passing on

the leech and pecking at the grass then

just for a second I get a glimpse of the

new hatchling taking the Lee

both parents staring down to see the

accomplishment the adult has left again

for open water and begins to search for

food once more the chick working its way

under the nesting loon's Wing again this

time with a

sibling it's been about 15 minutes now

and the older chick is now sitting at

the front of the adult's Wing pecking

for food and seeming a bit

Restless the chick then started working

its way back under the front of the

nesting loon's Wing the adult fidgeting

and at times lifting its wing it

continues to keep watch for danger as is

the other swimming

adult the nesting Lon watches and

continues to fidget as the two chicks

pop in and out from under its

wing the adult has not come back back

with another leech and looks for the new

arrival the oldest chick appears

first the adult tightens its grip on the

leech and Bobs and weaves trying to

avoid the Elder chick from grabbing the

leech the persistent parent continues

its efforts in hopes of feeding the

other chick but the Elder chick now well

aware of where to find food eventually

grabs the leech and eats the offering

the adult loon then Retreats again to

open water

as I continued to watch the nesting Loom

she suddenly lifted her Wing I didn't

notice the smallest of the chicks behind

the weeds until the Elder chick popped

out and started pecking at its younger

sibling each fighting with all they have

and trying to establish

dominance the adult lifted her Wing even

further as the fight Contin both chicks

now standing and continuing to fight on

two

legs the chicks then started pecking at

the nesting lon's wing and each

other the adult soon came back with

another leech again trying to make sure

that the youngest of the lon chicks

receives the

meal that didn't happen as the two

chicks again sparred with each other

eventually falling into the water still

fighting along the

way little did they both know that this

would be the last time in the nest never

to

return as I watched the battle continue

the other adult loon came swimming back

to the

nest the nesting Lon working its way off

the nest as it was time to

leave it has been 28 days and the pair

of eggs for these nesting looms have

successfully hatched both parents were

now trying to gather the chicks close to

them both teaching them immediately to

stay close before swimming off to Open

Water I begin to pack up my camera gear

and watch as the lon family swims off

I'm anxious to see the footage but more

importantly thankful for witnessing a

little Lon

[Music]

Magic

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