Pleasant Lake Loon Chicks at Five Weeks of Age

A number of loons continue to drop in to visit Mother and Father Loon. Some of them stay to fish for a few hours, but most of them leave the lake after socializing. The biggest threat this week has been visiting eagles. Two, sometimes three eagles have been spotted cruising overhead, as well as perched in trees along the shoreline. Ping and Pong are better divers now, but if an eagle really wanted to catch one of them, he probably could. Mother and Father Loon are ever vigilant and try to never put the chicks in danger. Hot July days have been good for Ping and Pong as it has forced them to spend more time underwater. The down covered chicks actually start panting in the heat and then dive to keep cool. Ping and Pong are discovering their underwater world. And they are molting! The first gray contour feathers are beginning to replace those downy feathers on the upper back. Flight feathers are also appearing along the leading edge of the wing. Ping and Pong stretch their wings with pride, mimicking Father Loon and his mighty wings. Sending all the best, Kittie

(Photographs by Kittie Wilson)