This is a story of unrequited love—or so it seems.
The story starts with an unexpected and distant sighting of a Common Loon. What was it doing here? This is the breeding season and loons don’t breed on Kootenay Lake as the springtime changes in waterlevel would drown their lakeside nests. And from that point on, the story got more interesting.
(Note: see Rick Howie’s alternative explanation in the comments).
This one-year old Common Loon is not in its breeding plumage. It will not breed until next year and so can hang out on Kootenay Lake even though all the breeding loons have left for smaller adjacent lakes. This apparently left it somewhat lonesome.
About the time I saw the loon farther out on the Lake, a family of geese happened to be heading out into similar waters.
The loon promptly took an interest in them and made a friendly approach. The geese separated: the chicks huddled around the (female) goose while the gander positioned himself between his family and the loon.
Then both adults brought their heads forward in a threatening posture.
Almost simultaneously, the loon dove (to escape) and the gander attacked.
Amazingly, after this confrontation, the loon continued to seek anserine company, sometimes swimming behind, sometimes infront of them. That is one lonesome loon.
There is also a lonesome swan which I saw again this morning. Have you seen it?
Nice sequence Alistair: although the loon’s motives in this case are unclear, there has been lots of documentation of adult loon attacks on waterfowl broods, resulting in deaths to ducklings and goslings. In at least one case, an adult Canada Goose was killed by a Common Loon. An offence attack by the goose may have been a prudent move in case your young loon just wanted to practice some territorial moves in advance of some future tryst on a lonesome lake.
Rick, thank you for this insight. That’s what fun about doing this; one speculates based on observations, but then someone with more experience hones your thinking.
Alistair, I love your photos and presentations. (your slide show was amazing). There is only one question in my mind about the geese. I read somewhere that the gander has nothing to do with rearing the family. It is a “sister” goose who is helping Mom to raise and protect the brood. Am I wrong or was the article correct?
Jana