The weather in New Hampshire has been off the chart, ranges from hurricanes to early snow storms so who knows what to expect this winter to be. Guess will get a lot of carving done, but back to the loon.
Did you know that loons are large birds weighting in at 9 pounds with wingspan up to 4 feet. In the water they have a low profile with a curved neck, summer their neck and head are a glossy black with a green sheen. They range from Canada and the Northern States n the summer and in the fall they migrate along the coasts of North America and the Gulf of Mexico. Loons preferred diet is fish and occasional crustaceans such as crayfish. Loons locate fish by sight, underwater diving as deep as 60 feet to chase down their prey. The female lays two brown eggs, the first one larger than the second and are incubated for 30 days by either the male or the female depending upon the time of day. Once they hatch the chicks leave the nest almost at once to avoid predators.
One of the biggest threats to the loon populations is man as we drive our boats too close to nesting sites and continue to use lead in our fishing equipment. The first eliminates the nest while the second takes the life of the loon from lead poisoning. I have fished in my float tube while these birds swam within 10 feet plus I have laid in bed and listened to their mournful calls at night. In short all water fowl is pretty cool but loons may be the coolest of all.
Remember to keep those lines tight and to measure twice and cut once. Much peace
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| Wood burned feathers head and neck |
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| Base coats-trying to get sheen on head |
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| Starting to Add Details |
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| Side view finished product |
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| Top View finished product |
Nelson (papa)
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