Among the many seabirds that have graced Sarasota Bay this week has been a solitary common loon. Staying close to the seawall behind our condo, this winter resident has remained in the area for the past several days and does not appear to be joining his fellow loons at night.
Breeding across Alaska, Canada, New England and the Upper Great Lakes region, common loons winter primarily on coastal bays and estuaries of North America; some may spend the winter on large inland lakes and reservoirs. While they often gather in loose flocks to roost on the open water, wintering loons usually feed alone and are often solitary when encountered. Diving repeatedly to catch small fish, invertebrates and aquatic larvae, they are rapid and agile swimmers, propelling themselves with their webbed feet; our visitor has often stayed below the surface for a minute or more but common loons are capable of remaining underwater for 5 minutes. As I have noted this week, they seldom return to the surface with prey in their bill, preferring to consume their victims while still underwater.
Built for an aquatic lifestyle, common loons have solid bones to aid diving and their feet are placed far back on their streamlined body; indeed, they find it difficult to maneuver on land and come ashore only to nest. Converting from their striking summer plumage to a duller, two-tone outfit in winter, common loons molt their flight feathers in mid winter and are unable to fly for a month or so; this may explain why our lonesome loon has not moved on to join his fellow migrants. For now, we'll enjoy watching his aquatic skills but, unfortunately, will not be treated to his yodeling or eerie wail; those calls, reminiscent of northern lake country, are rarely delivered on the loon's wintering grounds.
