Young Loons

In late August, we were out on Redstone Lake, Haliburton County, Ontario and came across a bird we didn't recognize at first. When we got closer and watched it for awhile, we could tell that it was a young loon. It tipped its head back in a typical loon fashion, which helped to confirm it for us. The young loon still has some of its down, and does not look like it could fly. It wasn't afraid of us, and stayed in one spot while we went past in our boat. 

We were further down the lake when we saw another one. This one acted about the same. They aren't very pretty looking at this age. 

I checked on the Internet and saw other pictures of young loons that look like this. We don't get to see any young ones on our lake. We do have about 4 or 5 loons on our lake, but we have not seen any young ones in years.

When I checked, it sounds like the young loons are left on their own at about 12 weeks old. They migrate later than their parents, and they actually stay south for the next two years, then return to within 10 miles of the area where they were born. Amazing - how do they know where to migrate to? How do they know to wait until they are ready to breed in their third year? How do they know where "home" is, so they can return so close to it?

Through Him (God) all things were made; 

without Him nothing was made that has been made. 

John 1:3