Wilderness Icon: The Northern Loon

Early mornings on a mountain lake with fog drifting over the water are made perfect with the call of a loon. A loon swam over to get a closer look at Max and me as we walked along the shore last summer. It was one of those perfect moments I will always remember.

a beautiful bird on a beautiful lake

a curious Northern Loon on a mountain lake

I have met other loons while I was canoeing. The wind was trying to steer me into the middle of the Kootenay River a few summers ago. I had seen a loon a few meters away but I lost track of it as I concentrated on staying close to shore. I looked down at my paddle just in time to see the loon swimming under the canoe – a very, very cool moment. I have seen loons with their young on their backs and I have seen them on their nests. They do not tolerate much human presence – especially motorboats. Large waves wipe out their shoreline nests. But there is still space for both loons and people and people are the better for that.

I may live where I see loons on the nearby lakes, but seeing or hearing a loon will always be very special to me.

all writing and photos copyright Joanne Siderius