A yellow moon peeks out behind a silhouette of trees
The yellow moon hides behind the silhouette of the trees in this photo by the author (Randy Fredlund.)

Loon on a lake

The sun provides illumination. The author has used it to capture these photos.

The loons often cry out under the moon. Their haunting songs travel well across the water at nighttime when the only other birds who give a hoot are owls.

 

Loon family on a lake
The family may be able to relax after dark when eagles are not looking for a tasty meal. Photo by Randy Fredlund.

 

It is unusual for both chicks to live to adolescence and be able to fly to the Carolina Ocean for the winter. We wish them luck.

 

Flying loon
Non-parenting loons often fly to a “gathering lake” for a summer night. Photo by Randy Fredlund.

 

Built for “flying” underwater, loons need a long stretch of water for takeoff. It’s a treat to watch them struggle to take off over open water longer than a football field.

Every year a few are stranded by an iced-in runway when they do not “get outta Dodge” early enough. They make headlines if saved.

 

Moon sets over a lake
The moon sets over a lake in this photo by Randy Fredlund.

 

Human eyes and visual systems do a good job of capturing moonlit nights. The limited dynamic range of a camera will capture the details of the sunlit moon or the moonlit sparkling lake, but not both.

 

 

A yellow moon peeks out behind a silhouette of trees
The yellow moon hides behind the silhouette of the trees in this photo by the author (Randy Fredlund.)
Moon
This image was captured by the author in September just after the “super blue moon.” He believes that all moon images are super. And rarely blue. Photo Credit: Randy Fredlund.

Note the crater shadows on the lower right.

While some research does not bear out the claim that the full moon affects behavior, the author is not so sure. Additional research needs to be conducted which includes feedback from human service workers who are quite certain due to their contact with those they sometimes call “loons.”

 

Pair of loons and a full moon over a lake
This image is provided by Canva which is not limited by reality.

And also from the real loons, singing in the night.

 

Photo at top: Daytime image by the author, who does not have the capability of capturing loons in song at night. Photo Credit: Randy Fredlund.

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