The Common Loons of Northstar Lake will soon leave for warmer southern climates. However, after an entire summer of swimming and fishing with little flying, our loons are now making frequent flights to strengthen muscles in preparation for migration. For some reason, all of these short flights seem to mean a huge increase in yodeling frequency, both while in flight and on the water.  Over the course of the past few days I frequently kayaked out onto the lake to see if I could capture a take-off or landing, which is basically a controlled crash. Loons which land on wet blacktop (for instance mall parking lots) are not able to get re airborne. They need a runway.

Last Yodel and Take-Off of the Common Loon

And the resulting splash stream!