On a recent trip to Sawyer County in Northern Wisconsin, I had the opportunity to watch and enjoy Common Loons with the chicks. These chicks were already very big, while I also came across an adult sitting on a nest. Also present and something I see every year were groups of 3-8 Common Loon adults gathered at sunrise as if they were having coffee. Then they split up and go out their separate ways an hour or so after sunrise. Another observation was an adult, just one adult present at this time, lays low in the water. Moments later I hear the sound of wings from behind me, I look up, 3 adult loons fly over the area in front of me. No loons in sight, they have all disappeared under the water, even the chicks. 15-20 seconds later, they all surface. A couple minutes later and adult loon flies in and joins the 3, now were have 2 adults and 2 chicks. What just took place?? I keep learning new things about these magnificent birds while a spend time watching them. Images were taken during the last few days of June and a couple of days in July 2016.
![](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4725_cr.jpg)
Common Loon adult with chick
Common Loon
Binomial name: Gavia immer
Category: Loons
Description: Black head with black and white checkered body in summer for breeding season; brown and white body in the winter. Blackish-blue bill that is held horizontally and black feet.
Size: 24″-40″ long, 4′ – 5′ wingspan
Weight: 4 lbs. – 8 lbs.
Habitat: Large lakes and shorelines
Diet: Fish (perch, trout, sunfish, bass, crayfish)
Nesting: Usually nests on small islands or other locations safe from land-based predators. The nest may be made out of thin sticks, dried grasses, or a depression in mud or sand. Typically 1 to 3 eggs will be laid at one time and will be incubated by both parents. The parents aggressively protect their nests and share the responsibility of feeding the young. Baby loons may be seen riding on the back of either parent in the water.
Notes: The Common Loon has legs positioned in the rear of its body. This makes for excellent diving and graceful swimming; however, it also makes for awkward landings and clumsy walking. In fact, Loons require a “runway” spanning 30 yards or 1/4 mile for take-off and landing AND it can only be done in water. Loons have actually been stranded in small ponds, icy lakes, or even a parking lot without a suitable runway and must be rescued.
![Common Loon adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_7874_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![Common Loon, chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_9015_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick
![Common Loon, adult on nest](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_9486_cr-736x1024.jpg)
Common Loon, adult on nest
![Common Loon, adult on nest](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0517_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult on nest
![Common Loon, adult on nest](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0508_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult on nest
![Common Loon, adult on nest rolling over eggs](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0623_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult on nest turning eggs over
![Common Loon, adult on nest](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0561_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult on nest
![Common Loon, adult on nest, view of nesting site](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0842_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult on nest, view of nesting site
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_1372_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![Common Loon, chick stretching](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4856_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick stretching
![Common Loon, adult with chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4905_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult with chick
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4685_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4429_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick, adults bring the chicks to a sandy shoreline area for the walking on land. Common Loons only walk a short distance and that occurs at nesting time. Their nests are typically 1 foot or less from water.
![](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4450_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chicks at the shore
![](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4338_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick, one reason a chick needs to learn how to walk is to walk on shore for nesting
![Common Loon, chick need to learn to walk a short distance for nesting](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5051_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, a chick walks on shore
![Common Loon, chick need to learn to walk a short distance for nesting](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5055_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, a chick on shore
![Common Loon, chick, walking on the beach](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_8005_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, a chick walks on shore
![Common Loon, chick, walking on the beach](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_8004_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, a chick walks on shore
![Common Loon, chick training time on the beach](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_7980_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick walking back into water
![Common Loon, chick eating a worm](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5057_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick eating a worm on shore
![Common Loon, chick heading back out into the water after a short walk on shore](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5065_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick heading back out into the water after a short walk on shore
![Common Loon, chick stretching](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5144_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick starting the stretch
![Common Loon, chick stretching a leg](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5098_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick stretching a leg
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5187_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![Common Loon, adult stretching](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5316_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult stretching with chicks nearby
![Common Loon, chick preening](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4696_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick preening
![Common Loon, chick preening](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4691_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick preening
![Common Loon, chick preening](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4635_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick preening
![Common Loon, chick preening](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4525_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick preening
![Common Loon, chick preening](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4620_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick preening
![Common Loon, chick stretching](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4737_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick stretching
![Common Loon, chick with fish](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5569_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick with fish
![Common Loon, chick with fish](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5571_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick with fish
![Common Loon, chick with fish, gulp!](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5777_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick, gulp!
![Common Loon, adult taking off](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4008_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult taking off
![Common Loon, adult taking off](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4009_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult taking off
![Common Loon, adult taking off](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4010_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult taking off
![Common Loon, adult with chicks](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_9226_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult with chicks
![Common Loon, adult with chicks](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_9208_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult with chicks
![Common Loon, chicks](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_9105_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chicks
![They are always watching!](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_7195_cr.jpg)
They are always watching!
![Common Loon, adult stretching](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_8928_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult stretching
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_6994_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![Common Loon, chick in search of food in shallow water, just like the adults taught them them](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_1431_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick in search of food in shallow water, just like the adults taught them
![Common Loon, chick in search of food in shallow water, just like the adults taught them them](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_1365_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick in search of food in shallow water, just like the adults taught them
![Common Loon, chick in search of food in shallow water, just like the adults taught them them](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0955_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick in search of food in shallow water, just like the adults taught them
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0958_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![Common Loon, chick getting the catch, you can do it as the adult watches](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_1017_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick getting the catch, you can do it as the adult watches
![Common Loon, adults](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_6958_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adults
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_6771_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_6977_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![They are always watching!](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_5532_cr.jpg)
They are always watching!
![Common Loon, adult bringing a fish to the chicks](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_1046_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult bringing a fish to the chicks
![Common Loon, chicks](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_1000_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chicks
![Common Loon, chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_1327_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick
![Common Loon, chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0940_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick
![Common Loon, chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0947_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick
![Common Loon, chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_0985_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick
![Common Loon, adult stretching](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4106_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult stretching
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4355_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult
![Common Loon, chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4410_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, chick
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4469_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult watching a chick search for food
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4471_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult over sees the chick getting food
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_4632_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult with chick
![Common Loon, adult with chick](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_9194_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult with chicks
![Common Loon, adult](https://www.windowtowildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rIMG_8022_cr.jpg)
Common Loon, adult