A Second Season with the Loons. Photographing 2 Loon Families in the North Woods.
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- Опубликовано: 17 янв 2024
- This is the sequel to my previous video, which you can find here • A Season with the Loon...
Record Rain. Nest Flooding. Rogue Loons. Would my loon chicks make it this year?
This was a very different season, for me and the loons. I had healed very much and thought I would be in for another peaceful year observing the loons and their environment. I did have many peaceful moments of discovery and hope the film brings you peace, but I became witness to the very real struggle to survive in nature. The same nature that has beauty has brutality. That is the duality of life. Even our lives.
To view a photo gallery from this project on my website
• A Season with the Loon...
My website www.jwelchphoto.com
Instagram @johnwelchphotography
*Important: Notes on ethically observing and photographing loons*
I photographed this season using 800mm equivalent focal length and abided by ethical guidelines. You should not simply paddle right up to loons. Not all loons will be tolerant of humans and learn to read their behavioral signals. The loons in my films are tolerant.
Please educate yourself on loon behavior and the ethics of observing loons before attempting to observe them in the wild. Some guidelines can be found here. In summary, loons have various state and federal protections, and harassing them can be a criminal offense, carrying fines and even jail time. You will be watched on lakes by other boaters and homeowners on developed lakes. While loons are on the nest, they are particularly vulnerable to human disturbance, including kayakers and photographers. I personally chose not to even photograph them at this time, and if you must, keep your visit very brief and from a far distance. Once the chicks have hatched, loon’s tolerance for human presence will vary from individual to individual. Do disrupt their ability to hunt and feed the chicks. General guidelines for how far to stay from them is 100 feet to 100 yards. However, it is allowable for loons to swim up to you on their own (though you must be mindful that you are not drifting into them), which is what happened in some of the close-up footage and photos as two of my loon pairs were very tolerant. In the first season, two other pairs I observed started to show some signs of agitation, (making calls, etc) even at several hundred feet so I backed off and chose not to return to them for their welfare. In this age of social media photography, I urge you not to turn loons into “the next thing.” Please do not tag or share locations. This will result in having these protected birds mobbed, disturbed, and may prompt authorities to take actions to bar people from observing them, as has been the case with snowy owls, barred owls, and coyotes in New England.
Your look on life is inspiring and your photos are amazing thank you for your love of loons and nature
Thanks I try to share that! Nature has given me a great space to reflect on life.
Another fascinating video (and great photos!) Always amazing to see the strong maternal instincts of birds and other mammals.
I watched your first one. So wonderful! To find this, I subscribed! Thank you for your love of the precious Loons.
Thanks for watching, subscribing, and for your kind feedback! I appreciate the support! I am back out with the loons again this season and putting together more!
Another fascinating video (and great photos!) Always amazing to see the strong maternal instincts of birds and other mammals….and John, nice ending
Thanks Fred! Yes, the parental instinct across species is interesting and thanks for watching until the end. I try to reflect on my experiences in nature and tie them to the rest of life, which aren't as separate as we might think.
Hello, a very nice documentation and detailed story of these Loons and wonderful to see!!! I will take your advice and the end of the movie.... Greetings Gijs
Thank you so much for watching and leaving a kind, thoughtful comment. I have to remind myself of the hard-earned lessons at the end from time to time still!
My favorite animal😊😊😊
Definitely top of my list too!
Extremely well done, beautiful and deeply touching to watch. Thank you.
Thank you for this kind feedback and for taking the time to watch!
Your video captured beautiful nature and the narration is inspiring. Thank you and hope you can continue the loon episode in this 2024.
Thank you! Yes I will be out with the loons again this year! Who knows what the new year will bring.
John, what a spectacular video! The loons are such magnificent birds. I also loved the warblers, especially the chestnut-sided. I was fortunate enough to see a chick with its parents this past summer, though just after it stopped riding on their backs. Hopefully this summer I get to see them while they are younger, and if you choose to do season three, they are more successful this time!
Thanks Harris! Hard not to love the loons, right? The riding behavior is usually confined to the first 10-14 days after hatching, which could be late June or early July, although it really depends when the hatching occurs of course. And yes, the warblers! I did a ton with them and had to resist the temptation to put more in so as not to sidetrack the main story more. Good luck this summer with loons too.
Oh wow 😮This certainly was a different year! What a difference a year can make. I feel so bad for picky 😢 Nature can be cruel. I was happy to see the other chicks.
Your footage captures the beautiful patterns on the loons, it's incredible to see them so close up! Your project is really amazing. It's amazing how much this looks like Voyageurs in Minnesota. I also loved seeing all the other birds. I really hope you are able to go back again this year and see how it goes.
I could go on and on about your film, it was really great!
Thanks that is very kind of you to say! Yes, poor picky :( It doesn't Suprise me to hear that MN is similar. Both were heavily glaciated and are the boreal forest. Thanks again!
@@johnwelchphotography will you return this year?
What a great video! The joy and the sadness of life, all on display! You really took us along on your journey and I am grateful. Just like with your first video I love that you are so respectful of wild animals. The still photos are almost better than the videos-such wonderful details!
Thank you so much! I consider myself a better photographer than videographer, so I feel the same. Trying to shoot video from a kayak is a real challenge to stabilize shots because its always bobbing and moving to some degree. Thanks again for taking the time to watch and leave this kind feedback.
Really enjoyed the video! The production is top quality! I have always loved loons. They are so special. I get to see them along the Pacific Ocean but have never seen one in breeding plumage. My dream is to photograph them once at least. Until then will enjoy the RUclips videos, so thanks again!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching. I believe the loons can be found in the Pacific Northwest states inland during breeding season, so maybe one day you can catch them out that way if you are from the West coast. Hope you get to fulfill that dream some day! The boreal forest and tons of lakes and ponds we have a result of the past ice age make my area especially good loon habitat so I am lucky.
@@johnwelchphotography Yes, I live California. I am doing my research but yet to find a good place where I can reliably spot these guys! You are really lucky. Maine is such a beautiful place.
Absolutely amazing, John! Such incredible footage of a beautiful bird in such a cool landscape. Really makes me want to head out that way one of these springs 😁 Keep up the great work! P.S. Love the ethics, it always pays putting the animal's needs first, great job.
Thanks for checking it out Jimmy! The northern parts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine are surprisingly wild and mountainous, more so than anything east of the Rockies, and it is the start of the boreal forest with boreal species you would find in Canada or even Alaska (or similar to certain elevations out west too of course). Early July is peak for loon chicks. Let me know if you head out this way ever. And ethics wise, yes definitely each loon pair is different. Some aren't tolerant and if that is the case I don't even return to them. One of the pairs in the film is very tolerant and I have worked with multiple seasons. So that helps!
Beautifully done! Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you very much for checking it out and leaving your kind comment. I appreciate it!
Nicely done
Thank you for watching this second season!
Great video is this N.H?
Thanks for checking it out! Yes we are a great state for loons!
Loved this, fantastic photography and really enjoyed learning about the loon success and drama that you documented. Heartbreaking but so glad you got to share, especially the 2 healthy chicks! Hope you and they have a great 2024.
Thanks! I never expected to see such an attack firsthand up close, it hit harder than I expected such a thing would. I hope you have a good New Year as well!