Dustin

[|Picture Source] [|source] [|source] The common loon:
 * // The Common Loon // **
 * The scientific name for the common loon is " Gavia Immer ".
 * The common loon prefers to live in bodies of water (fresh water) were there are islands or shelters which provide safe nesting and nursery for their chicks. Also some rivers fulfill their needs.
 * Their diet consists of fish, crayfish, snails, leeches, frogs, salamanders,and some aquatic insects.
 * The common loon needs a thick small area for there nests. Mainly for good protection for them and their chicks.
 * Loons really like the north country, so there adapted to the colder weather but they still fly south for the winter.
 * The loons biggest prey is the bald eagle, because the eagle will take and kill there babies.
 * The main cause of death for the loon is poachers, bald eagles and oseprays.
 * Loons breed in june, and take 28 days to hatch and by 8 weeks the chicks are fully developed and are independent. Also the Female loons breed 1 to 3 chicks, and breed every year until they become to weak.
 * Loons return north in late april and breed in june. then their average day consists of flying from water locations until they find a comfortable place for the night and they end up communicating with other loons at dusk.
 * Loons are mostly solo animals besides raising their chicks, every so often you might see two or more on the same body of water but that is just because they happened to land in the same area.
 * The loons make a very loud mysterious noise that is very unique and sounds almost like a wolf.
 * Loons are mainly endangered because when it is time for an average bird to migrate, the loons are known for being very stubborn and they try to stay on the bodies of water as long as possible and they end up getting caught in the ice or end up freezing to death.
 * If an organism is becoming endangered or threatened it is due to the fact of a loss or change in habitat, over exploitation, predation, disease, disturbance, or contamination.
 * There is an estimation of a little over 1,300 loons per northern region.
 * There are many things being thought of and already done to make an effort in saving the loon population, like in some areas states are banding motor boats on specific bodies of water. Also there is no hunting season for the loons and it is a very expensive fine if caught killing one. These efforts that are being made are helping slowly every day.