Fascinating Birdlife on Dutch Lake

I never thought moving to 'town' from the wilderness of living so close to the park would be possible!  We haven't started building yet but I just can't tear myself away from the lake!  There is always something happening out there!  To sit on the end of the pontoon and just ....be!  Oh, and have you heard the call of the loon!?  I just LOVE it!!!!

This was where we sat for our morning cup of tea this morning - and I don't know if you can see it but we had a bowl of freshly picked organic BC cherries!  Yum! 

A little family of ducks swam by the pad of water lilies on our right. 

and then a pair of loons.  Not sure if this is a parent and young one or a pair.  Nearly two months ago there was a loon nesting on a tiny island just off our pontoon.  I took a picture of her on her nest.  Just look at the painted turtles also sharing the island!!!  The poor loon doesn't look real does she!? 

 

 A few interesting facts about Loons!    They have to run across the surface of the water for 18m (60 ft) or more to become airborne!  They can dive to 60m (200 ft) and remain below for nearly a minute.  They mate for life and use the same nest site annually!  Great news!  So May/June next year they should be there again!  Both parents incubate (27 - 30 days) and care for the young.  So that might be the Daddy sitting there on the nest whilst the mother was out having a girly lunch! They fly at 99 kmh (62 mph).
They are the national bird of Canada.  They are on the $1 coin and that is why the coin is always called a 'loonie'!  Incidentally, a $2 coin is called a toonie!! :)

I love Loons so much (and of course, it could be said that I am married to one, tee hee) we actually tried to think of a name for the new house that incorporated Loons - but we just couldn't.  It just doesn't have that ring to it!!!

 

 Of course we have other wonderful birds on the lake.  Here is the Killdeer performing his mating dance.  Very attractive to a lady Killdeer - and to me too!  I loved watching him! The Killdeer is the most widely distributed and well known North American Shorebird.  The name comes from their loud cry - and it is!!

 

I wish I could make this picture bigger!!! It is a group of Canada geese with their goslings!  I had no idea they swam around together like this!!  I took this picture just over a month ago.  Just could not believe my eyes as they swam past!  Again they nest in the same area every Spring (Spring is later here than in Europe - sort of May and June is Spring) They are one of the only birds with strong family bonds.  The family stays together for a year.  Their lifespan is 20 years!  I didn't tell you the others as it is a bit sad - only 6 to 7 years for the birds mentioned so far :(

 

The Great Blue Heron.  These big guys (up to 1.3M in height) live up to 21 years and nests, which are used annually, can reach 1.2 M across (4').  A rather yucky fact about them is that the defensive action of the young is to regurgitate food down on an intruder!  Eeeoow!

The dear little Northern Shoveler ducks.  As you may guess, they are named for their shovel-shaped bill.  This bill has comb-like 'teeth' to strain food from the water!  Their courtship involves repeated bobbing of the head by the male when near a female! I am trying to work that one out.  Maybe it is sort of 'You are up for it aren't you' nod, nod, nod and in the end she gets mesmerised and nods back!!

Next I must show some Hummingbirds and chat about these fascinating little birds - but right now I should do some real work!!!