This must be a good year for loons. Homer reported a while back seeing seven in front of his camp near the boating access, and Bryce Montgomery just called to tell us he saw in front of his place two adults with two chicks, much smaller than the one being raised at the other end of the pond. We've been told that Joe's Pond isn't large enough to support more than one nesting pair, but I guess like a lot other folks, the experts may get fooled from time to time.

We old timers know that Joe's Pond has had loons here for many years. The thing is, we weren't paying close attention to the wildlife, but I suspect loons have raised their families here for as long as there's been a lake. We've heard the calls and seen them, especially in the fall, for as long as I can remember. It figures that if they have always been here, they probably nested. Perhaps not as successfully every year as now with the nesting platform, but my bet is that they would keep coming back to try again. As for how many nesting pairs can fit on a pond - I guess as many as want to.