Sadly, no one has spotted Carlin's loon chick for several days. I think all of us out on the water during this hot holiday weekend have been trying to see our exciting little loon chick.
But, on our pontoon floats, we could spy only two adult loons swimming together--no chick--and other neighbors have reported exactly the same thing.
Ann Swift tells us that the rate of chick survival is not high. In Northern Wisconsin, expected breeding success is only 42%. But still, what a disappointment if our chick did not make it!
And, if you have been in Presque Isle over the weekend, you were probably shocked to see that the south pond at Pipke Park is almost completely drained. Apparently, the dam between the two ponds has "sprung a leak," and the town is trying to figure out how to fix it. I was told that retired engineers from the DNR, who designed the original dam, have been asked to help with information about the construction.
In more distressing loon news, two young loons---they appeared to me to have only brown coloring, no black and white yet---seem stranded in the middle. Hearsay says that efforts are begun, to find a way to rescue them.
But, when I was walking there this morning, an eagle and then an osprey were circling overhead, which felt pretty negative to me.
The two brown spots in middle of this photo are the juvenile loons. You can also see how much the pond itself has shrunk, with the pontoon boat behind the American Legion beached there.