MORE IMPORTANT BABY LOON NEWS
URGENT REQUEST FOR HELP

This came in tonight about the baby loon rejected by its parents:

Hi Jane,

Well, this is going to be quite an adventure. Ray and I have a request. We have spoken to Eric [Hansen] several times and also now to a rehab center in Bridgeport ME. It seems that it will not be advisable to re-join the family now that they have rejected our chick. This lady, (a licensed rehab center) has advised that we keep the little guy in rehab until after Labor Day. He will then be able to fend for himself and then migrate from Joe's, if he rehabs here. Of course the option is to also ship him to Maine if it becomes too difficult to handle. She admitted that she has never taken a chick in at 3 weeks old... she has had them since day one... through release... but taking them in at this stage is a bit difficult. Okay, that being said, we also got the thumbs up as far as our "facility" goes. She said we actually have a better set up than she has for him. So she is confident that we can keep in touch and work our way through this together. Technically we would be holding the chick until it can be sent to rehab in Maine (bottom line)... She is not ready to receive the chick at this time.

Now... the issue is FISH!!!! Ray spent the entire day "fishing" for minnows for this guy... but we now have him willingly accepting them from us... and can introduce larger fish to him... We need help with this... if we buy the fish it would be too expensive... what we really need is for those that have minnow traps and would like to help... to put them out at you dock... (baited with dry cat food or dog food or even dark bread) Dump your catch into a pail... and if you could bring it to us here at Sandy Beach Road (last house on the left)... I know it sounds like a lot... but this guy needs to eat 2 pounds of fish daily at his present size. When he gets bigger of course he can then fish for himself and we will need more fish (larger ones) to dump in our "rehab pond"...

We as a community could do this I think... but Ray and I alone will not be able to supply him with the proper amount of food... it is way too time consuming just now... we are very happy to take on the challenge... but request some help, PLEASE... to save this little guy... He seems stronger today than yesterday... and his head feathers are filling in a bit to help his appearance some!

The best size fish are from 2" to 5" long... (crayfish are acceptable too!)

Well, gotta go the sky is rumbling... Blessings, and thanks for posting our requests on the JP Blog... Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! Evelyn and Ray

Please, all fishermen and women get out there and catch whatever you can, however you can. If you don't want to fish, donate a minnow trap or some money so Evelyn and Ray can purchase what is needed until our JPA members can get together enough fish for a hungry little loon.
Again - contact Ray and Evelyn at 563-3083 or e-mail: rloonnest@fairpoint.net
(they couldn't have picked a more appropriate e-mail address!)