8181-R1_LSLA_2022_WinterNewsletter_Web

A Loon Experience Gary A.

We were just returning to Banjo Cove from a great day cruising Little Sebago Lake when we happened upon an egg partially submerged just below the surface. It was a dark mustard color with brown specks. I have no background or experience with determining species type based on such evidence as this but was worried that, whatever the species, it was sad the egg would not mature. One thing I was fairly certain of was that one of the many bald eagles that frequent Banjo Cove would soon swoop into the cove and capture the egg in its beak and devour the egg. As we approached our dock I glanced at the entrance to the cove and noticed a humongous loon floating sentinel-style at the entrance of the cove. Once in the house, I looked out upon the

lake and noticed a loon, a twin of the one I saw at the entrance of the cove, posting himself, like a guard, at the exact spot we saw the egg in the water. The loon stayed stationary for hours and I kept returning to the window to witness the loon watching over the floating egg (at least the location of the where the egg was last seen). It did not move, flutter away or dive as we all know loons do so well. I am now convinced it was the same loon I noticed at the entrance. With the exception of the short time the sentinel guard moved to the entrance of the cove he then returned and remained on posted watch for days. I must confess that I do not consider myself much of a bird watcher or avid nature-lover but it could

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