This particular individual has a special history because it returned to the same spot -- about a half-mile offshore my hometown of Pacific Grove -- for six consecutive years from winter to winter It would appear each year in November in full breeding plumage as in this photo and would always be first spotted by Richard Ternullo from his fishing boat. Then the loon would molt into basic plumage for the winter but would change back into breeding plumage by the time in left in March.
Loon migration is impressive, and one also needs to learn the i. The basic-plumaged Red-throated Loon below has a very thin bill, comparatively small feet, a pale plumage and a prominent white flank patch.
There has been much study of the breeding biology and ecology of the Common Loon right [called the "Great Northern Diver" in the Old World]. It is the "state bird" of Minnesota and its weird echoing cry on the breeding grounds is a classic sign of wilderness there and elsewhere in the forested northlands. Because the use of motor boats on northern lakes negatively impacts breeding populations, there has been much concern for its protection recently it also used to nest in northeast California long ago.
Now it but has broadened its interest and support of research to all species. Check their web site home page for many more details, including links to introductory biology of all American species. The plumages of loons change dramatically from the wintering Common Loon at upper left to the summer dress at right.
Individuals change at different paces perhaps related to where they nest ; oddly, the photos at top left and at right were taken on the very same day in the Monterey harbor where it is great fun to watch their molt during late winter and spring.
Note that even in this plumage the nape and back of the neck are paler than the dark sides to the neck, another feature useful for separating Pacific from Arctic Loon.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the current controversy about the relationship of loons to other groups of birds. Traditionally, loons are considered one of the oldest groups of birds and placed near the front of the taxonomic order near grebes, penquins, and procelarids.
The most recent A. Check-List AOU considers the latter arrangement "highly controversial" and prefers to "retain [loons] in their current position i. The breeding-plumaged Yellow-billed Loon G. The flying Red-throated Loon G. But when Joshua trees were formally described by scientist William Trelease in the 's, he noted that Joshua Trees are "the most attractive of all the Yuccas.
I, for one, adore Joshua Trees, with their whimsical shapes and great ecological significance! If you struggle with plant identification, the iconic Joshua tree, hallmark of the Mojave Desert, is a good place to start. With densely spiked tufts protruding from the ends of gangly arms stretched towards the heavens, this looks like a plant straight from a Dr.
Seuss book. Read more. July 10, Coots are not ducks. That's probably one of the first lessons in waterfowl taxonomy you ought to learn. In fact, they're not even kind of sort of related to ducks.
American Coots Fulica americana belong to the Rail family Rallidae , along with rails naturally and gallinules. Going one taxonomic step above family, they belong to the order Gruiformes, which also includes the crane family. Ducks, geese and swans, however, are members of the order Anseriformes, quite a different branch of the avian family tree. So, the next time someone inquires about an all-black "duck" with a white bill and funny-looking feet, feel free to kindly share with them that the coot is not a duck at all, but actually more closely related to Sandhill Cranes!
They're al. August 21, Throughout South Carolina's Low Country, winding tendrils of water wend their way through a sea of grass, rising and falling with each new tide. Low-lying intertidal areas immediately inland from the coast, salt marshes and tidal creeks form the interface between upland forests and urban areas, and brackish estuaries where freshwater and saltwater mix.
Tidal creeks are, to a first-time visitor to the South Carolina coast like myself, absolutely beautiful, mysterious, enthralling places where silvery ribbons of water meander seemingly aimlessly through a vivid green matrix. They give the impression that there is water everywhere , a foreign concept to someone from arid, drought-stricken Mediterranean California.
Paddling along the refuge's coastal plain reveals how oil development threatens one of the nation's last truly wild places. Oil from the S. Jacob Luckenbach has killed over 50, birds. Latin: Gavia arctica. Latin: Gavia immer. Latin: Gavia stellata. Latin: Gavia adamsii. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazine and the latest on birds and their habitats.
Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. This loon is hardly 'Pacific' in summer -- its breeding range extends across northern Canada as far east as Hudson Bay and Baffin Island.
However, the great majority of these birds head west to the Pacific Coast to spend the winter. Photo gallery. Feeding Behavior Forages by diving from surface and swimming underwater, propelled mainly by feet.
Eggs 2, sometimes 1, rarely 3. Young Leave nest shortly after hatching, return to nest for resting and sleeping during first few days. Diet Includes fish, crustaceans, insects.
Nesting May mate for life. Climate threats facing the Pacific Loon Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. More News. A Journey Into the Heart of Alaska's Pristine and Imperiled Arctic Refuge News Paddling along the refuge's coastal plain reveals how oil development threatens one of the nation's last truly wild places. Explore Similar Birds.
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