Dive into Life and Surround Yourself with Beauty

The Common Loon is found in every province and territory of Canada.  They are water birds and can be spotted on and around lakes. During the non-breeding season, they may be seen along North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts. 

Loons are water birds and they only go ashore to mate and to incubate eggs.  Their legs are placed far back on their bodies.  This allows them to swim efficiently but it makes for awkward movement on land. Loons are agile swimmers and they can move pretty fast in the air too.  Migrating loons can fly at speeds greater than 70 mph.  

Loons typically sleep in the water because they are not well built for life on land. They take short 15 minute naps and in order to sleep a loon will turn its neck and fold its head down to rest on its back. 

Common Loons are powerful, agile divers and can catch small fish in fast underwater chases. Propelling itself with its feet, the Common Loon swims underwater to catch fish swallowing  most of its prey underwater.  The loon has sharp projections on the roof of its mouth and tongue that point rearward.  These help the loon keep a firm hold on slippery fish.

Loons are known for their wail which is often compared to a wolf’s howl.  The wail is heard during the night chorus.  They also can yodel and hoot.  The hoot is a soft, short call that is used for short range communication between members of a loon family unit or to communicate with rival loons while interacting in their territory.  Adult loons can be very aggressive towards each other.  They fight so fiercely that they sometimes cause serious or fatal injuries.

Adult loons are rarely prey for other species but their eggs and chicks are eaten by raccoons, ravens, bald eagles and other birds and animals.

Common loons are not social birds.  They are usually by themselves during the day and at night while they sleep they sometimes stick together in groups called flocks.  

Loons are easily disturbed during the nesting season and like to nest on lakes where there is little human activity.  They may abandon their nest if there is too much disturbance.  A young loon chick is able to walk upright on land.  They can swim immediately after hatching but chicks will spend a lot of time riding on their parents’ backs during the first several days of their lives.

Loons need to do daily preening to maintain the waterproofing of their feathers and to keep them aligned.  

In Canada, our one-dollar coin is called a loonie.  It gets its name from the image of a Canadian loon bird on one side of the coin.

These are the sayings on the bookmark called Advice from a Loon. 

• Spend time at the lake

• Enjoy a good swim

• Call your friends

• A little colour goes a long way

• Surround yourself with beauty

• Enjoy time alone

• Dive into life!

Here are my comments about each of these sayings.

• Spend time at the lake - I live across the street from Henderson Lake and this piece of advice speaks to me.  I like to ride my bicycle around the lake on the bike and walking path. I was there yesterday and hope to go again this afternoon. Yes, I saw Loons on the lake. 

• Enjoy a good swim - growing up I learned to swim at Banook Lake in Dartmouth, NS.  Today is warm enough to have a swim in the pool in our courtyard.  I plan to go for a swim in a few minutes.

• Call your friends - Yes.  Call your friends.  Hurricane Fiona struck havoc in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada this weekend.  I have family in NS and several calls were made by family and friends. 

• A little colour goes a long way - Wear some colour and brighten up your day.

• Surround yourself with beauty - There are so many beautiful things in our world.  Get out and enjoy nature.

• Enjoy time alone - Take time to be alone and use that time to think of all the blessings you have.

• Dive into life! - Loons dive and swim underwater to chase fish.  Dive into life and enjoy all the opportunities that come your way.

Have a great day everyone.  Dive into life and surround yourself with beauty. 

# living life abundantly  # published author   # travelling tuesdays