Loons are aquatic birds that spend most of their time on the water. However, they do come onto land for certain activities like nesting and raising their young. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at loon behavior to understand when and why loons come onto land.
Do loons spend any time on land?
Yes, loons do spend some time on land, though they are much better adapted for life in the water. Loons come onto land to breed and nest. Their nests are usually close to the water’s edge, allowing for a short walk to and from the nest. Adult loons will also come onto land when caring for their chicks. Once the chicks hatch, the adults will lead them from the nest to the water.
Outside of the breeding season, loons spend very little time on land. They may occasionally come to shore briefly to preen, rest, or walk around. However, they never wander far from the water. If a loon finds itself stranded on land away from water, it will be in danger as its body is designed for swimming, not walking.
Why do loons nest on land?
Loons nest on land because it allows them to be close to freshwater lakes and ponds where they forage. Building nests directly on the water would expose the eggs and chicks to waves, wind, and predators. Loon nests are usually very close to the water’s edge, often within just a few yards. This allows the adult loons easy access between the nest and water.
Being on land protects the nest and provides the eggs and chicks some safety from aquatic predators. However, land-based predators like raccoons, foxes, and eagles will sometimes raid loon nests. The adults loons aggressively defend the nest from intruders. An ideal loon nesting site has water on one side and a hillside, tree, or vegetation on the other sides to provide cover.
How do loons walk and move on land?
Loons have legs placed far back on their bodies, which provides good propulsion in water. However, this makes them ungainly on land. Loons have a clumsy, waddling walk and often prefer to slide along on their bellies rather than walk. Their legs are not well suited for supporting their body weight out of water.
When taking off from water, loons require a long runway over the surface to gain enough speed for flight. On land, they also need an open area to run along the ground flapping their wings to become airborne. Their wingspans are large, ranging from 4.5-5.5 feet, so they need ample space for takeoff.
Overall, loons are remarkably awkward on land compared to their grace and speed swimming and diving underwater. Their adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle make land a challenging environment. This is why they limit their time out of the water.
Do loons ever venture onto beaches?
It’s rare to see loons on open ocean beaches. The waves, lack of food, and exposure make beaches poor habitat for loons. However, loons may sometimes rest or walk along more sheltered shorelines of lakes, rivers, or inland bays. They avoid areas with lots of people, boats, pets, etc.
Beached loons are often injured or ill and unable to make it back to the water. Well-meaning people will sometimes try to rescue beached loons, but this is usually not recommended. Transporting stressed loons can result in further injury. It’s best to give a beached loon space and contact wildlife authorities to assess its condition. With time, an uninjured loon will likely be able to walk or flap back into the water.
Do loons ever perch or nest in trees?
No, loons do not perch or nest up in trees. As waterbirds built for swimming, loons are quite clumsy out of the water. They always nest right along the shoreline, never up in trees. Loons will use tree stumps close to the water’s edge as nest sites if available. Their nests consist of grasses and vegetation piled directly on the ground very close to the water.
After hatching, loon chicks may briefly climb onto the backs of their parents, but they do not climb up into trees. Loons’ legs are set too far back on their bodies to allow for perching or climbing. On land, loons stay low, walking or sliding along the ground. The only time they will elevate themselves is during takeoff flapping their wings to become airborne from land or water.
Unique adaptations for life on water
Loons have many anatomical and physiological adaptations that make them exceptional swimmers but compromise their mobility on land:
Dense bones
Loons’ bones are solid rather than air-filled. This reduces buoyancy, allowing loons to dive quickly and freely without floating back up. However, it also makes them less agile on land.
Leg placement
Loons’ legs are located far back on their bodies, near their tails. This provides more power and thrust when swimming. But it means loons have to drag themselves upright in an awkward, upright posture on land. Their legs are only suited for pushing off from land into the water.
Webbed feet
Loons have fully webbed feet with flattened toes. The webbing provides surface area to propel them swiftly underwater. But it makes their feet ill-suited for walking on land. Their toes are not designed for grasping or perching.
Dense plumage
Loons have thick, dense layers of waterproof feathers that trap air and provide insulation. This buoyancy and warmth serves them well underwater. But on land it causes them to overheat more easily during summer.
Giant primary feathers
The primary flight feathers on loons’ wings are very oversized compared to their body size. These huge feathers act like paddle blades underwater and enable loons to “fly” swiftly beneath the surface. They also facilitate takeoff from water. But they make loons cumbersome and inefficient fliers in the air.
Adaptation | Aquatic Advantage | Terrestrial Hindrance |
---|---|---|
Dense bones | Quick diving without floating | Less agile movement on land |
Rear leg placement | Powerful swimming stroke | Awkward upright posture on land |
Webbed feet | Provides propulsion underwater | Poorly suited for walking |
Thick plumage | Insulation and buoyancy in water | Overheats more easily on land |
Large primary feathers | Maneuverability and speed underwater | Inefficient flying in air |
Time spent on land for breeding
The one time loons spend extended periods on land is during breeding season. Their nesting behaviors require them to live on land briefly:
Nest building
Loons build their nests on land very close to freshwater bodies where they feed. Both male and female loons gather grasses, twigs, leaves, etc. and form them into a mound on the ground. Nest building may take 1-2 weeks.
Egg incubation
Once eggs are laid, adult loons take turns incubating them in the nest 24/7. Incubation lasts about 28 days. One adult will incubate while the other feeds in the water. They exchange roles each day.
Rearing chicks
Newly hatched chicks remain in the nest on land for their first 1-2 days before the adults lead them into the water. The chicks ride on their parents’ backs regularly their first 2 weeks. The adults continue protecting and feeding the chicks on land and water for 10-12 weeks until they fledge.
Defending territory
Adult loons aggressively defend their nesting territories on land and water. They will fight any intruders that get too close during breeding season. Much of this territorial defense occurs in the water near the nest.
Breeding Activity | Weeks Required on Land |
---|---|
Nest building | 1-2 weeks |
Egg incubation | 4 weeks |
Chick care at nest | 1-2 days initially |
Continued chick rearing | 10-12 weeks near water |
Defending territory | 12+ weeks nearby nest/water |
So during breeding, loons spend 12-14+ weeks regularly on land tending to nests, chicks, and territories. This represents the only extended time adult loons live on land during the year.
Other reasons loons come ashore
Loons do occasionally come onto land outside of breeding season for reasons like:
Resting
Loons may float into shallow water near shore to rest. They can then walk onto land to sleep and preen their feathers before entering the water again.
Predator evasion
Loons can escape from predators like eagles by quickly running/flying onto land from water. They may briefly rest on land before returning to the safety of water.
Migration stops
During migration, loons may stop on land briefly to rest and feed. These terrestrial migrations stops break up long nonstop flights.
Injury/illness
Sick or injured loons sometimes get stranded on land away from water. Most often they can work their way back to water over time unless severely impaired.
Disorientation
Rarely loons, especially young birds, become confused and landlocked on small ponds or pools that lack an aboveground outlet. They may survive briefly on land before finding a path back to larger lakes.
So in limited circumstances not related to breeding, loons will temporarily inhabit land. However, they always seek to return to open water as swiftly as possible.
Time spent on land by season
The amount of time loons spend on land changes significantly across the seasons:
Spring
In spring, loons spend several weeks on land mating, building nests, and laying eggs. They begin defending breeding territories in April/May. Nesting and egg incubation continues through May and June.
Summer
Summer sees the highest land activity as adults rear chicks and defend territories. Chicks hatch in June/July and stay near the nest initially. Parents continue teaching chicks to swim and fish into early fall.
Fall
Land visits decrease markedly in fall as migration starts. Adults abandon territories and lead fledged chicks back to larger bodies of water in late fall. By October, most loons have left their summer breeding areas.
Winter
In winter, loons vacate inland habitats almost entirely. They migrate to coastal areas where bays and inlets remain unfrozen. Loons are rarely ever on land in winter months.
Season | Time on Land |
---|---|
Spring | 4-6 weeks for nesting and mating |
Summer | 12+ weeks for rearing chicks post-hatching |
Fall | 4-6 weeks until migration is complete |
Winter | Extremely rare on land in winter |
So spring and summer are the busiest seasons on land as loons nest, mate, and raise young. Land time decreases as chicks mature and migrate in fall. By winter loons abandon land entirely.
Habitat conditions that bring loons ashore
Certain environmental factors prompt loons to visit land:
Nesting habitat
– Still freshwater areas like small lakes, ponds, marshes
– Areas protected from wind and waves
– Vegetation or slopes provide cover
– Nearby clear paths for water entry
Favorable weather
– Warm, calm, sunny conditions
– Light wind allows for easier landings
– Clear skies help when navigating between land and water
Food availability
– Abundant nearshore fish populations provide ample food
– Allows adults to catch fish nearby when eggs/chicks are on land
Minimal disturbances
– Low presence of boats, pets, noise, pollution
– Lack of predators like foxes, eagles, etc.
Ideal loon habitat provides shelter, safety, and fish density near undisturbed shorelines. This enables loons to easily transition between caring for eggs/chicks on land and foraging in adjacent waters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, loons are highly adapted for swimming and diving underwater, which compromises their mobility on land. However, they do make regular land visits for essential breeding activities like nesting, rearing chicks, and defending territories. Outside of breeding season, loons spend as little time as possible on land and remain almost strictly aquatic. Their exceptional swimming skills allow them to forage successfully with minimal need for terrestrial activity. So while loons occasionally do enjoy a brief shoreline respite, they are ultimately highly water-dependent birds that interact with land only out of seasonal necessity.