https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/ Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:37:22 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5037 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:37:22 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5037 The last thing I ever want to do is to tangle with a live, irate, loon. They are actually a little scary up close. And I’ve worked amongst the lions and hippos…Also, I don’t use barbed hooks, and I avoid lead.

]]> https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5036 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:32:32 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5036 Actually Loons aren’t able to get the difference between a minnow and a lure and are regularly hooked. A close friend of mine “caught” a loon on a small spinner while trout fishing near La Ronge Saskatchewan, resulting in a heck of a process to retrieve the loon and remove the lure.The other fishing connection with loons the poisoning of loons by lead fishing jigs/lures. One study has pointed to that poisoning as the leading cause of death among Common Loons.

]]> https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5035 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:30:31 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5035 I have seen two males fight to the death. It took about two days. I watched off and on, and it just happened that I saw the last few hours. The loon that lost simply went under and never came back, and of course, the fighting stopped.I have to say, though, that I assumed that they were males because they fought to the death and because of the difference in the individuals of resident pair in the way they acted during this drama. I could be wrong.

]]> https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5034 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:19:56 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5034 Coincidentally, I heard a report about loons yesterday on the CBC radio science show “Quirks and Quarks”. It appears that loons are more territorial than previously thought. Apparently both males and females are territorial, but males will actually fight to the death in defense of their territory. (More details: http://www1.chapman.edu/~wpiper/index.html).

]]> https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5033 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:00:13 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/03/09/the-loonacy-must-stop/#comment-5033 This isn’t really a joking matter, and I think it is cool that you are a “loon whisperer” and all; but I still couldn’t help but wonder if anyone has tested the loons for autism.I’ll be here through Thursday, tip your bartenders and waiters.

]]>