{"id":14283,"date":"2020-06-29T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=14283"},"modified":"2020-06-26T14:13:12","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T18:13:12","slug":"take-5-loon-back-rides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-loon-back-rides\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Loon-back Rides"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Known far and wide for their haunting, eerie calls, Common Loons are true water birds, venturing ashore only to mate and incubate eggs. In monogamous pairs, they raise broods of just 1\u20132 chicks per year, with a long fledging period of about 12 weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although loon chicks are capable of diving and swimming within a couple of days of birth, they are easy prey for predators like mink, eagles, snapping turtles, or even other loons. To increase their chances of survival, they often take shelter on their parents’ backs, going for rides around the lake until they are big and strong enough to survive on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are five adorable photos from our annual photo contest<\/a> of loon chicks hitching a “loon-back ride” with one of their parents. The 2020 contest is now open, so submit your beautiful nature photography today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Common
Common Loons \u00a9 Peter Christoph<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Common
Common Loons \u00a9 Brad Dinerman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Common
Common Loons \u00a9 Michael Phillips<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Common
Common Loons \u00a9 Michael Goodman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Common
Common Loons \u00a9 Michael Goodman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Known far and wide for their haunting, eerie calls, Common Loons are true water birds, venturing ashore only to mate and incubate eggs. In monogamous pairs, they raise broods of just 1\u20132 chicks per year, with a long fledging period of about 12 weeks. Although loon chicks are capable of diving and swimming within a couple […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":14290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[124,28,83,84],"class_list":["post-14283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-baby-birds","tag-birds","tag-photo-contest","tag-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/5957peter_christoph30108.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3In","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7829,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-loony-tunes\/","url_meta":{"origin":14283,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Loony Tunes","author":"Ryan D.","date":"June 21, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Loons are famous for their beautifully haunting, eerie calls, which echo across the waters they call home. They have a variety of calls for different purposes\u2014territorial, alarm sounds, mating, or to locate one another, to name a few. Loons are water birds, venturing ashore only to\u00a0mate and incubate eggs. They\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/2817Linda_MacMillan12922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/2817Linda_MacMillan12922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/06\/2817Linda_MacMillan12922.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4854,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-warm-and-fuzzy-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":14283,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Warm and Fuzzy Photos","author":"Rosemary","date":"February 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Tired of all the snow and cold? Take a break with these sweet photos\u00a0from our past\u00a0Photo Contests. They're all a little bit fuzzy\u2014in the best way.","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/02\/1260WilliamPowell4474-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/02\/1260WilliamPowell4474-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/02\/1260WilliamPowell4474-2012.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10849,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-splish-splash-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":14283,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Splish Splash","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Remember the simple joy of splashing in mud puddles or the bathtub when you were a kid? You may still partake of this simple pleasure, particularly if you have kids or grandkids of your own! Our wildlife friends may or may not splash about for pleasure, but it sure does\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Least Tern \u00a9 Dennis Durette","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/1117Dennis_Durette14945_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/1117Dennis_Durette14945_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/1117Dennis_Durette14945_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4889,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/last-month-in-birding-february-2015\/","url_meta":{"origin":14283,"position":3},"title":"Last Month in Birding: February 2015","author":"Rosemary","date":"March 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019re excited to announce a new blog feature that highlights some of the previous\u00a0month\u2019s most interesting bird sightings as suggested by our experts. Here are five discoveries from February. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) x Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) Hybrid A hybrid of these two species appeared\u00a0in the Annisquam River in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/03\/bohemian.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/03\/bohemian.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/03\/bohemian.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9903,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-clever-crows\/","url_meta":{"origin":14283,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Clever Crows","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Crows have long suffered under the reputation of being \"bad.\" Crows raid crops, frequently steal eggs and chicks from other bird nests, and have been known to steal shiny objects such as articles of jewelry from people. Yet, these vocal black birds are among the most intelligent. Crow are said\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crow \u00a9 Steve DiGiandomenico","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/4021Steve_DiGiandomenico16614_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/4021Steve_DiGiandomenico16614_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/10\/4021Steve_DiGiandomenico16614_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7184,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/last-month-in-birding-february-2016\/","url_meta":{"origin":14283,"position":5},"title":"Last Month in Birding: February 2016","author":"Rosemary","date":"March 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are five\u00a0incredible bird sightings from last month as suggested by Mass Audubon's experts. Yellow-billed Loon\u00a0(Gavia\u00a0adamsii) The largest loon species\u00a0in the world, this bird\u00a0breeds on the high Arctic tundra, farther north than our familiar common loon. Scientists still have much to learn about its\u00a0habits. Outside of certain Arctic and west\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/mystery-gull.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/mystery-gull.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/03\/mystery-gull.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14283"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14324,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14283\/revisions\/14324"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}