Loon Magic/Loon Magic - Wayzata Technology (8011) (1993).iso/mac/pc_text/03closeg.txt

Text File | 1993-07-25 | 3KB | 50 lines

   Care of Feathers

   To date no enterprising graduate student has counted the feathers
on a loon, but researchers have estimated the number of feathers on
some birds. We know at least one whistling swan had 25,216
feathers and one house sparrow 3,500. The loon probably falls
somewhere in between the two in the feather count.

   Whatever the number, the feathers of the loon in large part
account for the bird's celebrity status. The stark simplicity of the
black and white design give this ancient bird a modern look. Unlike
loons, many bird species have separate dress codes for
males and females. Usually the plumchage differences, as with ducks
or pheasants, are permanent, but some birds like the scarlet tanager
or indigo bunting have seasonal differences. Creating much confusion
for researchers, loons have identical, not just similar, breeding
plumage. One loon is as beautiful as the next, which makes field
identification of individuals very tricky.

   To keep their feathers looking good, loons spend a lot of time
preening. Removing external parasites and distributing oil from a
gland at the base of the tail, preening is vital for survival. A few
avian species, including some parrots, pigeons and herons indulge in
reciprocal preening. This "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours"
behavior is most common with pairs that spend a lot of time together
at the nest site. Except for the short periods when trading incubation
duties, loons are alone at the nest, and they are solo preeners. In
winter, loons spend about twenty percent of their daylight hours
preening and performing other maintenance activity. During molt
periods additional time is invested in feather care. Surprisingly,
preening can be exciting to watch.

   I once spent a full day watching a pair of adults and an immature
loon on a northern Wisconsin lake which was small enough to allow
observation from a single position. (A twenty-power spotting scope
and tripod helped.) The birds went about their rather routine
feeding, resting and preening activities until mid-afternoon, when
the immature bird went totally berserk in an orgy of preening. The
loon repeatedly rolled on its back, kicked its legs in the air, splashed
with its wings and all the while preened aggressively. The show
lasted two hours but included a few well-deserved rest breaks.
Meanwhile the adults were also preening vigorously but without the
theatrics of rolling on their backs. After the performance I went to
the windward shoreline. With a stiff wind blowing, I didn't have long
to wait before a trail of feathers hit the beach. This was serious
preening. Apparently such wild preening behavior is not limited to
the common loon. Near Point Barrow, in northern Alaska, Jeri
Schwerin observed yellow-billed loons preening with the same roll-
on-the-back intensity.