Loon Pair in Residence

 Gretchen Farnsworth let me know today that the loons have come back to the nesting platform. This is excellent news, and if all goes well, we should have an announcement of a chick or two by around Father's Day, according to Gretchen. She will keep us posted. In the meantime, she and Jim put out the caution signs to help people remember to stay clear of the nesting area. 

Jamie Dimick was out setting up the remaining markers and buoys this morning and reports there was a loon couple in the middle pond, as well. We should have good loon watching this summer. Please remember to give the loons (and other wildlife) plenty of room when you are boating - keep a sharp eye out for them, especially when they have chicks in tow. We will also remind everyone, please, do not feed the ducks. We know it is tempting and they are fun to watch up close, but wildlife experts tell us it is not good to feed them so they begin to trust humans. Then, come hunting season, they have no fear; and also, they are inclined to hang out too long in the fall and sometimes can become frozen in place, literally, unable to free themselves from the ice and they perish. Let them find natural food and then join others in their seasonal migration.

Such beautiful weather today - marred only by black flies and ticks. We hope the black fly season is a short one, although it seemed to me it lasted all summer last year! I think ticks hang out here all year. They are both irritating pests, but some of the ticks carry serious diseases and we need to be especially careful to examine pets, children and ourselves after we have been outdoors. They will be wherever there is wildlife, and that includes small creatures such as squirrels, chipmunks and rodents. The larvae may be found on birds, but also, birds are one of nature's "controls" as they will find and eat the ticks, either when grooming or on the ground and vegetation as they forage for food. It seems like only a few years ago ticks were relatively uncommon here; now they are a real bothersome pest.

Enjoy the nice weather we have in store for the next few days! We will see trees popping with color, either leaves or blossoms, and everything will be spring to life again after the long winter.  It is a lovely season.