August 2 – 8, 2024Vol. 26, No. 8

Myths and Half-Truths

An adult just moving away from a threat or preparing for take off!

by Pete Kallin

I thought we would have some fun with this week’s column of the Call of the Loon! There’s been so much discussion, myths, and half-truths, etc. regarding our feathered friends so let’s set the record straight today! For the answers, see the end of this article. (No cheating!)

Myth #10: The Chippewa Native Americans believed that the cry of the loon was a harbinger of death. True or False?

Myth #9: Loons lose and then grow all their flight feathers pretty much all at once, instead of one or two at a time. True or False?

An adult swims underneath a school of fish to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Myth #8: Loons have hollow bones like seagulls? True or False?

Myth #7: Do both adult male and female loons have red eyes? True or False?

Myth #6: Are the loon legs sold at the Sunset Grill real loon legs? True or False?

Myth #5: Only the female adult loon uses the Yodel as a mating call. True or False?

Myth #4: What is the lifespan of a loon: A. 5-7 years, B. 10-15 years, or C. 20-30 years?

Accompanied by a chick, an adult holds a captured dragonfly inside its beak. Photo by Alex Wall.

Myth #3: How many pounds of fish and aquatic life does an adult loon eat each day: A. 1 lb., B. 2 lbs., or C. 5-7 lbs.?

Myth #2: How fast can a loon swim underwater: A. 8-10 mph, B. 20 mph, or C. 30 mph?

Myth #1: How fast can a loon fly: A. 30 mph, B. 40 mph, C. 50 mph, or D. 70 mph?

Bonus: And now our favorite myth: Do loons mate for life? True or False?

Show Answers

If you have a particular question regarding our Belgrade loon population, please email your inquiry to info@blamaine.org and we will try to answer your question either in this column or via email.

A banded adult male doing the “super slinky,” while trying to be invisible!

Dick Greenan is chairman of the Belgrade Lakes Association’s Loon Preservation Project.

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