Eagles and loons have shared territories but it is always is a bit concerning when an eagle sets its sights on a loon nest with eggs/chicks. Dad loon was incubating the eggs when he sees a large eagle flying over the nest and he instinctively dives into the water. When he emerges, he wails his alerting call to his partner and other loons that a danger is close at hand. Dad remains circling the nest area the entire time the eagle was a threat.
The eagle landed on the shore and stayed about eleven minutes. Notice the full crop on eagle - it had just recently had a big meal so it was not hungry. It also appeared to be a big eagle most likely a female. The eagle will fly off and veer towards the tall trees behind the nest. We have a good view of both of the beautiful eggs and then Dad loon returns to the nest and incubates the eggs remaining alert for any future threats. Thank you for watching!
To see the highlights below, please click on the timestamps to advance to that portion of the video.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 OPENING Dad loon on nest dives into the water as an eagle flies close overhead
00:46 Slomo of the eagle encounter
01:41 Dad loon in the water circling the nest defending wailing
07:13 Closeups of the eagle on the bank
14:25 Eagle flies off & lands in a tree behind the nest
15:32 view of eggs
15:40 Dad loon returns to incubate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The loons are identified by coded leg bands.
Female: Left leg: white stripe (white background with a horizontal black stripe through the middle) over blue
Right leg: Silver over yellow stripe (yellow background with a horizontal black stripe through the middle)
Male:
Left leg: Blue stripe (blue background with a horizontal white stripe through the middle) over orange dot (orange background with a black dot in the middle)
Right leg: Blue dot (blue background with a white dot in the middle) over silver
The female at the Cam 2 nest was banded in 2017. She's been on territory in recent years, with the exception of 2023. That year, she was seen in this territory and in neighboring ones, but no pair ever settled down to nest.
Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk
Courtesy of LPC Preservation Committee Loon Cam - many thanks on this camera! #loonpreservationcommittee #loons #looncam #LPC
LPC’s mission is to restore and maintain a healthy population of loons throughout New Hampshire; to monitor the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and to promote a greater understanding of loons and the larger natural world.
LPC Loon cam 1: • Video
LPC loon cam 2: • Video