“Eccentric” Loon Behaviors
We receive many calls each season about a loon in distress. Fortunately, 99% of these sightings are just loons doing what loons do. The first photograph shows a very normal stretching behavior called the “foot waggle”! Our Loon Project volunteers love seeing this as it allows confirmation of a banded bird with its two individually colored bands on both legs. The bands also confirm the sex from our previous study of their feather samples, etc.
According to the loon experts at New Hampshire’s Loon Preservation Committee, “[T]he Foot Waggle is a behavior in which loons raise one foot above the water and shake it vigorously. There are many theories as to its function — it could be a comfort movement used when loons need to stretch, it could be used to help loons reduce their body temperatures, or it could have another purpose that we are not yet aware of.”
And if you look closely, you will see three distinct toenails on this webbed foot. Each toenail is about the same size as an adult human’s pinky toenail. But the reason for their toenails is another whole story which we’ll visit in an upcoming column!
Now, if you add the below example of “bathing” along with a “belly roll”, along with her four colored bands, you can easily understand how such activity can be misconstrued as a loon in distress and covered with clear monofilament fishing line and a bobber!
Well, we are right in the middle of our breeding season so keep your eyes peeled for an adult or two with their new offspring. And please, respect their space and keep a distance.
If you have a particular questions regarding our Belgrade loon population, please email your inquiry to , and we will try to answer your question either in this column or via email.
Dick Greenan is chairman of the Belgrade Lakes Association’s Loon Preservation Project.
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