Last week the Hardwick Gazette ran a story about two loons caught at Lake Eligo in Greensboro. (See my blog posting on December 18th.) One bird was miraculously able to become airborne and escape from the nearly completely frozen over pond, but the second, probably younger loon, remained trapped within a small area of open water. For eight days residents at the pond watched and hoped the youngster would somehow be able to leave. Finally, on the 9th day, the lake completely enclosed by ice, Dan Goodrich, who lives in Greensboro spotted the loon, alive but exhausted from unsuccessful efforts to take off from the ice.

Eric Hansen from the Vermont Wildlife Department was called to the scene again, the loon was captured and taken to open water on Lake Champlain where there is sufficient open water for the bird to manage a take-off.

Our thanks to Ross Connolly, editor of The Hardwick Gazette for his initial story, to Dan Goodrich for the follow-up, and to Eric Hansen for his help in making this year-end story one with a happy ending. We trust the loon will be at some point well south of Vermont as the New Year begins, reunited with family, somewhat wiser and warning other loons of the dangers of hanging out too long in the face of Vermont winter weather.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!