Loon ICU Success Story

Thankfully, injuries to breeding loons are relatively rare, but when they do occur, it isn’t often that we’re able to report favorably on their outcome. Loons are notoriously difficult to capture, and birds generally don’t fare well in captivity. However, thanks to vigilant volunteers and a network of dedicated rehabbers, successful recoveries do occur. Eric Hanson’s following account of a “Loon ICU” effort highlights one such success story.

Friday, July 1st
As I’m heading out the door for an all day search and attempted night capture of an injured loon on Harriman Reservoir near Whitingham, I receive a call about another injured adult at Whitecaps Campground on Lake Willoughby. The bird has already been carefully placed in a box, thanks to Barry and Doug’s background in rehab. I head straight over.

A quick check on the loon reveals fishing tackle to be the culprit. Doug and I snip two sets of fishing line and remove a hook from its bill. The bird is thin but alert, so I am hopeful of a full recovery. Just to be sure, I transport the loon back to Craftsbury and release it on Page Pond, a 15-acre pond with plenty of minnows, where I can monitor its recovery.

Sunday, July 3rd
I stop at Page Pond to check on the loon, which I suspect to be a female because of her small size. I observe her swimming and peering in the water, but do not see any attempted dives. She is likely trying to fish because she is hungry, a good sign, but her lack of diving is cause for concern. I debate trying another capture, but decide to continue monitoring her.

Wednesday, July 6th
I quickly stop at Page Pond, but the loon isn’t in sight. Has she flown away, or was her condition more compromised than we thought? I sincerely hope the former.


Thursday, July 7th
I receive a call from a slightly distressed Deborah Baskin. She has found a loon in the road 100 yards from Page Pond. Did the female try to fly? Did she crawl out? How long has she been on solid ground? I hasten there and collect the bird.

A quick call to Kappy Sprenger, an extremely dedicated loon rehabber in Bridgeton, Maine, and I'm on the road with a very weak loon.

Early that evening, I arrive at Kappy’s. The loon perks up when she is released into one of Kappy’s pools. Kappy tries feeding her by hand and by dropping capelin into the water. The loon clearly wants to eat them but has difficulty figuring out how to handle a dead minnow. Finally she eats one, but then stops. Kappy thinks that another hook and/or line may be lodged in the bird’s throat. Usually loons keep on eating once they figure out the process. I head back to Vermont knowing the bird is in excellent hands.

Later that night, Kappy e-mails that close examination revealed a smaller-than-dime-size hole in the skin of the loon’s neck and a cut in the left corner of her mouth, presumably from fishing line. She has inserted a feeding tube and will monitor the loon.

Friday, July 8th
I receive a hopeful e-mail from Kappy. The loon is eating on her own and her energy level is much improved. She is in the pool and content!

Monday, July 11th
Kappy reports that the loon is doing well. She is eating 50 – 60 capelin per day, and her wounds are healing. The greatest concern is some dried blood in her feces. This is a sign of possible internal bleeding, perhaps another hook ingested. An x-ray would confirm that, but there isn’t anything we could do except hope the hook dissolves or the body isolates it.

Thursday, July 14th
Kappy happily reports that the loon’s feces now look normal – the internal issue seems to have resolved itself. She is still eating well, but is now intolerant of her captivity. She is restless, attacking the pool sides, emitting alarm calls and leaping toward the top of the fencing. These are good signs!

We decide it is time to release her back into the wild. Ideally, we would return her to Lake Willoughby, but Kappy thinks the stress of the drive back and the risk of further injury argue for a release in Maine. I agree.

Kappy liberates the loon at a friend’s beach on Long Lake. The release is uneventful and ten minutes later, another loon arrives. Soon the two birds are swimming together and diving for fish in a favored feeding area in the cove.

All signs point to a complete recovery. Thanks, Kappy!