A Bittersweet Closer Look at a Red-throated Loon

I have seen Red-throated Loons in the winter diving way out in Hamilton harbour. The simple colours of the wintering birds blend well with the steel-grey waters (Hamilton–steel–did you notice how wittily I wrote that?).

Late this May, I heard an adult Red-throated Loon in its breeding plumage was seen at the Desjardins Canal. It was an injured bird, though, that had been brought there by a human rescuer. So I went to see it, feeling the bittersweetness of seeing the bird up close but knowing it was likely going to die.

Photo of Red Throated Loon Right on NaturalCrooksDotCom

How Common Are Red-throated Loons?

The Loon I am familiar with is the black and white Common Loon that summers in Ontario’s southern lakes, making the haunting calls used in many movies. I knew that Red-throated Loons and Arctic Loons also breed in Canada but I wasn’t sure how abundant they are. So I went to the Cornell University website to look it up.

The website says there may be about a quarter of a million Red-throated Loons worldwide. They are found in Europe and parts of Asia as well as North America.There are about 5 times more Common Loons.

Photo of Red Throated Loon Head on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Do Red-throated Loons Need a Running Start?

If you’ve watched Common Loons, you’ve probably seen that they have trouble getting airborne. They start flapping and “running” across the water before they actually take off fully.

According to the Cornell Website, though, Red-throated Loons can spring into flight more like some ducks. That means they can use small ponds safely unlike larger Common Loons.

Photo of Red Throated Loon Neck on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Unfortunately, the Red-throated Loon I visited had an injury and was not even diving for food, much less flying.

Hoping for Happier Encounters

As I walked through the park beside the Desjardins Canal, I saw many other birds including Hooded Mergansers, Yellow Warblers, and Tree Swallows defending their nesting boxes. It was cheering to see them. I hope the next Red-throated Loon I see is in good health, even if it means it won’t be an “up close and personal” encounter.

Photo of Red Throated Loon Front on NaturalCrooksDotCom

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1 thought on “A Bittersweet Closer Look at a Red-throated Loon

  1. so called nature lovers and so called conservationists abandon a red throated loon left to die a lonely death.

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