Anxiously Waiting for the Loons to Return to the Lake

Photo by author

I love the Common Loon and am looking forward to its return.

We live on a small lake in Northern Wisconsin. I’ve become enamored of Common Loons. These formal-looking water birds with their black and white plumage return to our lake year after year.

The lake still has ice on it, however. The loons cannot return until the ice is gone. The reason is that loons need to be in the water to land or take off. They are not birds that can live on land.

Their feet are placed far back on their bodies; they are not adept at walking on land. In fact, they only come onto land to nest and lay eggs. This activity takes place somewhere near the shore.

Once the loons return, we’ll hear them call. It means they’re home with us.