Monday, June 14, 2010

Minnesota Happenings!

The Loon nest that I have been watching since April will not be producing any chicks this year.  Today is day 40 or 38, depending on which egg is left on the nest, egg one or egg two. Normal hatch time is 28 days.  One of the eggs was rolled off into the water twice, one time Larry retrieved it and placed it back in the nest..the next time he did not replace the egg.  The remaining egg is ten to twelve days past the hatch date.  From what I have viewed with this set of loons they have been haphazard parents at best, in my opinion this is a first year set of parents, they have been nothing like the nesting loons from previous years.  I am convinced that if this nest was on shore a predator would have gotten the eggs by now.  Anyway, the nesting platform in the case of an old egg is not a good thing. The Loon doesn't know when to give up, and will not abandon it, there is a powerful bond between the Loon and it's eggs.  The likelihood of predators taking the old egg are slim.  Larry is going to remove the egg tonight about 11PM Central Time, so that it can be taken into the DNR, and so that the Loons can go on with their lives.  The State Bird of Minnesota is the Common Loon.
 Yesterday we checked on the Showy Lady's Slippers or Cypripedium reginae, the State Flower of Minnesota.  They are blooming very nicely, a week earlier than normal.  Today we hope to get to the big hillside at Snellman, Minnesota and another secret location to check out the blooms.
  I made some posters for Far Guy.  I guess he was in charge of the advertising for the Fire Halls annual fundraiser.  Every year on Father's Day they have a huge picnic, including homemade pies and roast pork. Since I am no good at pies, I made them posters:)
** Update, Thanks to my readers the mystery plant yesterday was identified as a Blackberry!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's too bad about the eggs. Your picture of the loon and the lady's slipper are so pretty. You did a great job with the fund raiser posters. Pie and BBQ sound delish to me!

Becca's Dirt said...

Too bad about the loons. Nature does weird things sometime. It will be interesting in the years to come how the oil spill could effect nature around the country. Have a good day. Wish I could come to the event. Becca

Patsy said...

That Lady's Slipper is beautiful.
Patsy

Maery Rose said...

Hopefully next time the Loon pair will do better.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

It has been interesting watching the loon cam in any case, but I'm hoping next year has a better outcome!

Peace Thyme said...

So, does the loon mate for life? Will they be better "egg sitters" next year? Did the female ever have live offspring before? I am sad about the eggs. And, having never seen or heard a loon, why they figure so much in literature? Is it the mystery? or because....I don't know.

DJan said...

One of the two eggs in the eagle's nest also didn't hatch. But the one eaglet left is HUGE. I just absolutely LOVE the picture of the lady's slippers, they really do look like slippers, don't they?

Far Side of Fifty said...

Mountain Thyme, Loons usually mate for life, they will choose a new mate if something happens to their mate. If this same pair comes back to the nest next year, I hope they are better nesters! Since there is no way to tell one set of loons from another, there is no way to tell if she has hatched eggs before.
Loons do have much mystery about them, their magical calls might have something to do with that.
I find them interesting creatures:)

Leah said...

Oh I was so hoping I would see baby loon chicks but maybe next year! I rec'd by email the firehall poster picture today --- it is making its rounds. Nice job with the poster - and it brings back memories (the burning of grandma/grandpas house)....

The Retired One said...

Gosh I love the loons! I am saddened that they didn't hatch..with one less loon, the world is a sadder place, for sure. Love your ladyslippers!

Lynda said...

Thanks for all the great updates. I, too, love the Lady's Slipper picture. It's gorgeous. That poster is clever - - rather than the typical picnic picture, you featured those who obviously have worked hard and need a break.

L. D. said...

My make cockatiel is doing the same thing. He has spent a month off and on sitting on five eggs. It just is not going to happen. I will start removing the eggs and maybe they can start over. You are the master artist of photography of the Lady Slipper. There should be an award for your work. I hope to see what you find at Snellman. Smiles and take care.

LadyFi said...

Oh the poor loons!

I'd much rather make posters than pie too!

Jenny said...

Sweet birds. THey may still be teenagers in birdland. My new little Zebravinks are sitting on their first eggs and we wonder if they'll hatch. Due this weekend.

Leah said...

The picture of the ladyslippers is fabulous!

West Side of Straight said...

Oh I've missed going ditch flower hunting with you! Spose I better wait til I heal up and not walk on uneven ground!

laurie said...

fascinating, being so in touch with loons' day-to-day lives. too bad about the eggs.

Lanny said...

Wow, that is a fantastic flower! So I guess I'll miss the picnic eh? Don't think I can get there in three hours. Nice poster though, if I saw it in time and didn't have to jump a plane, I'd go. And I'd bring a pie or two, not that I would have made them, I would have made Anna or Bet make them. Then maybe after the picnic you could have pointed me in the direction of those amazing flowers. Oh well, next time maybe.