I haven't seen it started in any other threads....Loon Plate Appreciation Days are this weekend. Got a Loon Plate? State Park admissions are free for you..
http://www.thevalleyvoice.org/2010/0...y-17-18/20333/
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I haven't seen it started in any other threads....Loon Plate Appreciation Days are this weekend. Got a Loon Plate? State Park admissions are free for you..
http://www.thevalleyvoice.org/2010/0...y-17-18/20333/
Sheesh! What an excellent idea! Thanks, state of Maine! You finally got something right. :D:D
(Trouble is, I'll be in Boston all weekend! :( :()
As some of you know, we live on 3 Mile Pond and one of our favorite things is enjoying the abundance of wildlife that we see almost everyday. We have 3 pairs of eagles on the lake and probably a dozen or more of loon families. The baby loons are now about 8 inches long and not riding on mom's back.
Well, this weekend and again today I watched the huge male eagle try to grab one of the baby loons! The mom did a great job of protecting her baby and I banged a stick on my dock that scared the eagle, somewhat, but an hour later he was back again. As near as I could see he didn't have loon for dinner but he sure wanted it!
So, I told Di that I shouldn't interfere with "nature's way" and she suggested I use one of my many shotguns to "frighten" the eagle." That won't happen because eagle's are chewey, like owl and I know I'd go to jail if I happened to hit the eagle.
So what would you all do? And for those who care, my computer crashed, we're leaving for vacation tomorrow, so any emails to dubord@fairpoint.net will never get there.
Week or two ago, I had the privilege of watching an eagle hunting while kayaking for about a half hour. Absolutely was captivating for me. Last year while camping on the east side of Azicohos Lake, I had the privilege of kayaking just after daybreak and having a young loon follow alongside the kayak. Again, absolutely captivating. I'd say, let's nature take it's course.
Eagles are special...........and we were blessed to have one soar over Amara's 3rd Birthday party on Monday.
Natures way... eagles are not chewy. I think owls have a great almond flavor. Eat what you catch and all is well.
It's funny how the human element is often taken out of "Nature's Way". If it's human nature to protect what we like, then shouldn't it be nature's way to protect? Isn't it natural for you to want to protect the loon? Why is it when any other animal destroys property or other living beings it is considered nature, yet when humans do it we are threatening nature?
I agree it'd not be a good idea to shoot toward the eagle, but if a gunshot is going to scare it away, it would scare it away from any direction.
I prefer turkey vultures. Unlike eagles or loons, they can float on air currents for hours with minimal effort, enjoying the view as they go along. Yeah, I'd eat roadkill to be able to do that...
There isn't much to mice. Not even wort the effort. The raccoon however is a lot like bear. Very good flavor.
Now getting back to plates... There are a ton of them now. It would be hard to make a day for each, but with a bunch of effort you could get one.
I'm wondering about a geocaching plate and day. That would be really cool.
already have one ;)
http://img.geocaching.com/track/disp...16107227b0.jpg
I've been worried about loon chicks and eagles too. Many eagles around here, but not the pair that was closest last year. I like to watch them but I hope they don't eat any loon chicks (although I know they would). We did have plenty of goslings for them to eat but this week there was much game warden activity and they said they were doing "The Great 2010 Goose Round-Up" and I haven't seen a goose since! I also found a nesting loon and need to go back (quietly) and see if the eggs have hatched, if there are any chicks and if the eagle has them on it's menu. And the other day when I was swimming the loon was coming down the lake, calling and diving, and it popped up about three feet away from me. I stayed really still and it never knew I was there. Talk about a close view. I love loons!
And of course, I have a loon plate! But I'm so old I get into state parks free anyway...;)