A True Work of Art !

This is a loon's nest that was built this past summer after the mother loon was forced to abandon her old nest, mid-summer, because that nest could not withstand the effects of wave action and the varying water levels. We had tried to repair the old nest support last year by weaving a basket beneath it made from thin pieces of driftwood , but our repair didn't hold. This nest is much more substantial and is on a solid tree trunk that is firmly anchored to the lake bottom. This nest is about twelve inches in diameter and three  inches deep. It is made from twigs, driftwood pieces, mosses, and mud. The construction is very similar to that of a beaver dam and what is remarkable is the manner in which the mud is applied. The loon brings the mud from the lake bottom in it's beak and while it is facing away from the nest, it will suddenly snap it's head backwards, throwing the mud onto the nest. It's a very time consuming process, but it is very effective. While there are still a few small pieces of egg shell left in this nest, the mother loon has cleaned it out in preparation for next year.