Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 491 



4. LOON 



GAVIA IMMER (Brunnich) 



The Common Loon or Great Northern Diver is not a very com- 

 mon spring and fall migrant at this lake. We have noted it in the 

 spring on the following dates : 



May 20, 1885 ; March 28 and 29, April 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16, 

 18, 19, 21, 24, 28 and 29, May 9, 27, and 31, and June 8, 10, and 

 14, 1901 ; and April 23, 1909. In the fall we have observed it on 

 the following dates: September 23, October 10, 17, and 18, No- 

 vember 7, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22 and 23, and December 2, 4, 6 and 17, 

 1900; October 20, November 2, and December 21, 1902; October 

 27, 1904 ; October 15 and November 5, 1906, and October 14 and 28, 

 1907. The extreme spring dates are March 28 and June 14, and 

 those for the fall are August 8 and December 21. Though our 

 fall records are the more numerous, it is probably no less com- 

 mon in the spring. Between the extreme spring and fall dates 

 given, one or more, usually a pair, may be seen on the lake on al- 

 most any suitable day. It does not nest at this lake although it 

 probably did so formerly, as it is still said to do at some of the 

 lakes in northeastern Indiana. 



The Loon is never seen in flocks; it occurs singly, sometimes 

 in pairs, or, very rarely, 3 or 4 together. It does not frequent 

 shallow water near shore but most delights to stay well out in the 

 open water far from shore. 



Its behavior in the water is interesting. On April 24, four 

 were seen far out on the lake flapping their wings, raising their 

 bodies out of the water, and stretching their necks. Then they 

 would swim around one another, at the same time bowing, making 

 strange sounds, and preening their feathers. Sometimes, par- 

 ticularly in muggy weather, or when the sky is lowering and rain 

 is approaching, they utter the wild, delirious laughter for which 

 they are famous. There is nothing else like it, so wild and wierd 

 and startling in its explosive suddenness. 



The Loon is the prince of divers. There is probably no other 

 bird of our inland waters that dives so promptly and so gracefully 

 on approach, or which will remain under water longer or swim 

 farther than the Loon. It is difficult to put a Loon to flight ; they 

 almost invariably depend on diving as the proper method of escape. 

 Rarely is one seen on the wing, but occasionally one has been seen 

 usually flying low over the lake. 



The Loon is one of our largest birds. One examined October 

 28, a young bird, was 29f inches long and weighed 6 pounds, 12f 

 ounces. 



