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by Bob and Kim Moe, Loon Committee
The best time to determine the number of loon chicks hatched is the last week of June and first week of July. During this time the loon chicks are still small and will stay with their parents. It is easy to count family groups and numbers of chicks. When the chicks are very small the family will tend to stay in an area called the "nursery". This is usually near the nest in protected areas of the lake. The parents can be noted catching small fish to feed to their hungry chicks. The chicks will, at times, ride on the backs of the parents for the first week of life - this is for protection, rest, and warmth.
On Ten Mile we have several loon chicks this summer:
 | on 6/6/04 one chick was hatched on flower pot bay (nest platform) |
| a late hatch (after 6/20) with 1 chick at the Boy River area (nest platform) |
| a late hatch of 2 chicks at the mouth of Long Bay (natural nest) |
| another late hatch of 1 along the south side of the causeway (nest platform) |
| possibly 1 or 2 chicks hatched along the north side of the causeway (nest platform) |
Both parents feed the chick for the first three weeks. Chicks begin diving within 10 to 13 days of life. By the third week the parents will drop an injured fish in front of the chick so it can catch it and learn to feed on its own. By the eighth week the chick is fully feathered and the feet and legs are almost adult size. By the eleventh week the chick will still try to get food from the parents C even though they can fish independently. Young loons are able to take their first flight when they are 70 to 77 days old.
Predators of loon chicks include:
| eagles |
| gulls |
| snapping turtles |
| large fish |
| rogue loons |
Studies reveal that about one loon chick in four survives its first three months of life - let's hope that the survival rate on Ten Mile is better!
