LOONS: Family Gaviidae [ 65 ] 



the State, and it is as a fall migrant and winter resident of the coast that 

 we have the best opportunity to know this fine bird. 



The wild cry of the loon has long furnished a theme for poets and 

 writers, and when heard in the misty light of early dawn on some lonely 

 little mountain lake, it thrills one as do few other wilderness sounds. The 

 pair of Lesser Loons at Devils Lake called most fiercely and continuously 

 in the early mornings of foggy or rainy days, at which time the wild 

 ringing laugh echoed and reechoed from shore to shore. Despite the fact 

 that this lake is a somewhat popular summer resort, these birds were not 

 particularly shy and often allowed a boat to come within easy gunshot 

 range. Several times, as Gabrielson sat quietly in a boat, both birds 

 approached within thirty yards, making a wonderful picture as they 

 floated gracefully on the lake's surface with their black and white check- 

 ered backs showing conspicuously against the water. At the slightest 

 movement of the boat's occupants they disappeared almost instantane- 

 ously beneath the water, usually to reappear above the surface at an 

 astonishing distance. On several occasions, when they were being 

 watched from the shore, one bird, for no apparent reason, took suddenly 

 to the air and swung in great circles about the lake before alighting again. 



Rising from the water on a still morning is a laborious task for these 

 heavy-bodied birds, and they cause almost as much commotion as would 

 coots under similar circumstances. When the wind is blowing briskly 

 they can rise from the surface much more easily. Once in the air, their 

 flight is strong, rapid, and direct, the short, powerful wings beating the 

 air rapidly to thrust the long neck, extended bill, and plump body on an 

 arrowlike line of flight. They are much more at home in the water than 

 in the air, however, and few birds are able to outswim or outdive them. 

 In diving, the wings are usually held close to the body,, while the big 

 feet drive the birds through the water at a rate of speed more than suffi- 

 cient to overtake the small fish on which they feed. 



Two Oregon stomachs have been examined. One, collected by Jewett 

 at Netarts Bay (November 9, 1915), contained one fish, Leptocottus armatus; 

 the other, taken by J. W. Fry at Klamath Falls (November 16, 1912.), con- 

 tained two Leuciscus and fragments of another fish. Curiously enough, 

 both stomachs were examined by Gabrielson while a member of the 

 Biological Survey Division of Food Habits Research, long before he 

 became a resident of Oregon. These data are insufficient to serve as a 

 basis for judging the food habits of the Lesser Loon in relation to food 

 and game species of fish. Loons are too uncommon in Oregon, however, 

 to be any factor in the abundance or scarcity of game fish, even though 

 they subsisted entirely on such forms, and their wild cries, wonderful 

 diving performance, and general appeal are more than enough to pay for 

 any fish they may consume. 



