July 4, 2025

Back to the cottage for the 4^th of July week, I was finally able to get a few photos of the loons when it wasn't windy.

We didn’t get back to the cottage till May 12^th. Certainly by then the loons would be on the nest. When I looked out with my binoculars I saw the loons swimming near the nest, but not get on.

Another year begins!

Things were a little different this year. Northern Michigan was hit with a severe ice storm in late March. Our cottage (and most of the area) lost power. So we opted to wait till power was back to go to the cottage. That was on April 23^rd.

We were at the cottage on the April 12-14 weekend.  On Saturday, April 13 a friend, Randy, and I put out the loon nest and the buoys.

Nov 11, 2023

I'll be at the MSU Winter Arts & Crafts Show on December 2-3, 2023.
Here is some info for you if you can make it..

July 30, 2023

Seeing the loon chicks recently, I found that not only are they doing well, they are growing up rapidly. Now at 6 weeks old, they are moving to the juvenile stage.

July 3, 2023

We were up to the cottage a couple weeks ago and I did two day searches for the loons – to see if they were OK. I never saw them. I wasn’t sure if I just missed them or the chicks had died and the adults left the lake, I did receive word that they were spotted while I was gone. What a relief!!

June 12, 2023

The loons finally hatched 2 eggs!

May 26, 2023

We didn’t get back to the cottage like I had planned, because I sprained my right knee and was in no condition to drive 4 hours. I was hoping that they like the revised nest and got on it, but I had to wait to see.

May 7, 2023

Info on MSU Craft Show Appearance

Nov 24, 2022 by Gene Klco

I'll be at the MSU Winter Craft Show on December 3-4, 2022. Here is some info for you if you can make it..

Sep 11, 2022 by Gene Klco

In the last blog, I told of finding a loon on a natural nest. I went back in August to see how they were doing.

Finding a Loon on a Natural Nest

Aug 28, 2022 by Gene Klco

When searching for loons on a wilderness lake in Northern Michigan, I came across 2 loons swimming peacefully in the reeds. A short while later one climbed on a nest that I hadn’t even seen.

What about Eagles?

Aug 14, 2022 by Gene Klco

How did I get those eagle photos? What it pure luck or was there a technique involved?

Loon ANP Problem in 2014

Aug 02, 2022 by Gene Klco

Even though I put the ANP in late this year (May 12, 2022), I was too early only a few weeks earlier in 2014.

Other Lakes with Loons

Jul 17, 2022 by Gene Klco

With no new chicks on our lake, I went to other nearby lakes to see what loons are doing there.

No Chicks This Year :(

Jul 06, 2022 by Gene Klco

Sadly, the loons abandoned the nest and checking the eggs, they proved to be infertile.

Jul 03, 2022 by Gene Klco

It has been around 6 weeks since the loons have been on the nest. And they are still on the nest, trying to hatch the eggs. Not a good sign! Usually, it takes about 28-30 days. So what is going on???

No Chicks Yet

Jun 13, 2022 by Gene Klco

I went to our cottage for a family gathering and also to check on the loons. The loon pair were faithfully sitting on the eggs, but by Sunday, June 12^th, no chicks have hatched.

Loons Nesting

May 28, 2022 by Gene Klco

A couple weeks after putting out the ANP, we went to the cottage and saw that the loons were indeed nesting on it.

Loon ANP In!

May 14, 2022 by Gene Klco

I was later than usual getting the loon ANP in this year. Cold weather and too many conflicts at home delayed the installation. We finally went to the cottage on Thursday, May 12 and I got the nest in.

Another Female Loon

Apr 30, 2022 by Gene Klco

For many years I was the only one on the lake that could get close to the loons and their chicks. They knew me and knew that I was no threat. That changed a couple years ago when one of the loon pair decided I was not to be trusted. What happened?

3 Eggs!

Apr 16, 2022 by Gene Klco

We were surprised when in 2020 our nesting pair of loons laid 3 eggs. Unfortunately, none of the eggs hatched. They sat on them till the 4^th of July with no results. Maybe 2021 would be different.

Apr 02, 2022 by Gene Klco

Buoys, buoys, buoys! I made 3 buoys to put out around the ANP to let boaters know to stay back from the nest – especially when the loons are setting on the eggs. I didn’t have any plans on how to make them, but knew they needed to be durable and large enough to be visible and of course had to float and be anchored in place.

ANP?

Mar 12, 2022 by Gene Klco

What is an ANP and why do I use it? An ANP stands for Artificial Nesting Platform (Sometimes called an ANI – Artificial Nesting Island). Loons will not nest on land as they are concerned about predators. They nest on islands – either natural or man made - away from shore.

First Loon Photos

Feb 26, 2022 by Gene Klco