The Cruelty of Nature

 I have often spoken here about how cruel nature can be, and today Barbara Chase called to with one more example.

Our three ponds have been frozen over except for a spot along the east shore that seems to have a warm underwater spring that make it the last spot to close in. The folks on that side of the pond, Jane Milne, Ted and Barbara Chase, and David and Caroline Porter, noticed that a young loon - we assume it is the one raised here this summer, but I suppose it could be one that was heading for the coast with others but stopped here to rest - was in that small area of open water. Our weather turned colder a few days ago, and nights have been especially frigid. As the ice closed in, the young loon found itself trapped, with too little open water to be able to take flight. This has happened before, and sometimes the weather warms, extending the open-water "runway" and the bird is able to finally leave.

This was not the case for this unfortunate young loon. Trapped and unable to take flight, it was literally a "sitting duck" and easy prey for not only one, but two hungry eagles. Sadly, there was nothing anyone could do to prevent this tragedy, but we are all feeling the impact.  This photo is of two eagles eating and one (hard to make out) flying overhead. Barbara Chase sent this photo, taken from her house on North Shore Road.

We fiercely protect our loons all summer, providing a nesting platform and keeping the "nursery" safe by warding off boaters and jet-skiers; but a few years ago we began to see young eagles in the same area as the loon nest in the third pond. We knew they were a serious danger that we humans had no control over - nor should we, probably. Still, it seems unfair. Until you think about it. Is a loon more precious than a bald eagle? Both have been on the Endangered Species List in the past, but both populations have recovered sufficiently so they have been removed from the state's list of threatened wildlife. Both, in their own way are predators - the eagles prey on the loons that prey on our fish population. And so it goes. It is the nature of life in the wild.

Our world became more closed in and quiet overnight, with snowfall of about two inches and temperatures in the teens again, completing the freeze-over of all three ponds. We could still have a warm spell that would open things up again, but most of us anticipate we've seen the last of bare ground and open water until at least late April. It looks like we'll be getting significantly more snow by the weekend, and that will likely assure us of a White Christmas! Let the sleigh bells ring!