I am back for a third year with loons! In this episode we find out that there is a problem at my loon pond this year. As a result, I am scrambling to find a way to complete my project, which leads to me witnessing something almost no one has even seen!
To catch up view season one here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH9Bv1s4Khg&t=972s and season 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOLSqe5ToQ
To view a photo gallery from this project on my website https://www.jwelchphoto.com/gallery.html
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**Important: Notes on ethically observing and photographing loons**
Drone shot notes: I shot the drone footage in April well before any loon nesting in an area it was legal to do so. Further I did not launch the drone until the loons where nowhere close and there were no people on the pond at all at that time either. If loons are around, or nesting, I would urge you not to fly a drone and certainly never intentionally near them.
I photographed this season using either a 600mm or 800mm equivalent focal length and abided by ethical guidelines. You should not simply paddle right up to loons. Not all loons will be tolerant of humans and learn to read their behavioral signals. The loons in my films are tolerant. Please educate yourself on loon behavior and the ethics of observing loons before attempting to observe them in the wild. Some guidelines can be found here. In summary, loons have various state and federal protections, and harassing them can be a criminal offense, carrying fines and even jail time. You will be watched on lakes by other boaters and homeowners on developed lakes. While loons are on the nest, they are particularly vulnerable to human disturbance, including kayakers and photographers. I personally chose not to even photograph them at this time, and if you must, keep your visit very brief and from a far distance. Once the chicks have hatched, loon’s tolerance for human presence will vary from individual to individual. Do disrupt their ability to hunt and feed the chicks. General guidelines for how far to stay from them is 100 feet to 100 yards. However, it is allowable for loons to swim up to you on their own (though you must be mindful that you are not drifting into them), which is what happened in some of the close-up footage and photos as two of my loon pairs were very tolerant.