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The Common Loon, a paragon in every sense of the word. I have been inspired by this mystical, magical
water creature. To know the loon is a privilege. In working around them, I have found them to be fascinating,
and I have the upmost respect for these beautiful water birds.
I
believe they still hold many secrets that man has yet to discover. They have never been raised successfully
in captivity and are still living wild and free. A true survivor living in a modern day world.
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| A PROUD FAMILY ( note the parents keep the chicks in between them for protection) |
A LOON STORY WITH A HAPPY ENDING
KIZZY AND KONG WERE GROTON PONDS FIRST
DOCUMENTED NESTING PAIR OF LOONS, IN THE YEAR 2000.
IN JULY, A
FEW DAYS BEFORE THEIR EGGS WERE READY TO HATCH, KIZZY SOMEHOW ENDED UP TRAPPED OVER THE BACK SIDE OF THE DAM IN A SMALL
POOL OF WATER. SHE COULD NOT GET OUT BY HERSELF AND WAS NETTED UNHARMED AND RETURNED TO THE POND BY DARLENE,
(A VOLUNTEER FOR THE VERMONT LOON RECOVERY PROGRAM ) WITH THE HELP OF TOM BOUFFARD AND DWAINE SMITH.
(DWAINE'S SON DARREN HAD DISCOVERED THE TRAPPED LOON THE DAY BEFORE AND REPORTED IT)
MEANWHILE
KONG HAD DUTIFULLY ATTENDED THE NEST IN KIZZY'S ABSENCE. A FEW DAYS LATER AFTER HER RETURN,
THE PAIR HATCHED TWO BEAUTIFUL CHICKS. (IF THE DISCOVERY AND RESCUE OF THE LOON HADN'T TAKEN PLACE THAT DAY,
THE LIKLIHOOD WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LOSS OF THE LOON AND THE TWO EGGS), SO THIS WAS INDEED A HAPPY ENDING TO WHAT COULD HAVE
BEEN A SAD ONE)
THEY RAISED SEVERAL OFFSPRING AND REMAINED AS THE REINING NESTING PAIR
FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. THEY WILL ALWAYS BE GROTON POND'S " FIRST LOON FAMILY".
A STORY WAS PUBLISHED IN, THE TIMES-ARGUS NEWSPAPER ON JULY 23, 2000 REGARDING
THIS RESCUE.. WITH CAMERA IN HAND, SUSAN PELKEY SMITH DOCUMENTED THE EVENT.
 Left (Dwaine holding the net)
Center (Darlene holding the loon so it would not thrash in the net before release)
Right (Dock
holding the loon's beak so it could not spear anyone)
This was done very gently, carefully, and
quickly in order to not stress the loon more than necessary
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| KIZZY AND KONG |
NOTE OF INTEREST
THIS SUMMER WILL MARK THE 10th ANNIVERSARY, THAT THE LOONS HAVE NESTED ON THE POND.
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