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LESSER LOON

Other common names: Diver; Great Northern Divers Loon.

The loon, so often appearing in prose and poetry, is ever associated with things uncanny, with diabolical screams on some wilderness lake; and there is generally a storm approaching! To the student of nature such is not the case, rather a bit of quiet, graceful animation on still clear water. The loon is a strong, powerful swimmer and diver, and in spring plumage, a very handsome bird.

At one time these birds must have bred commonly on the mountain lakes of the Cascade and Olympic Ranges, but now their numbers are greatly reduced. The resident of the "sticks", with his powerful deer rifle, surely helps to destroy them, so that even under international protection there is no marked increase. Like many other birds, they have a homing instinct and return year after year to breed in the same waters. Once shot out they just "aren't" any more.

The loon has a handsome coat in the spring and a correspondingly plain and dull one for winter use. In the breeding season its resplendent back - black with rows of white spots - shows plainly, as do the two black and white collar bands against the black neck and head; the underparts, below water, are pure white. In winter the gay costume is changed to a dull brown on the back and on top of the head and neck. The throat changes to white like the underparts.

Nesting time is in May about the 15th. No material is used - two large, greenish-brown eggs spotted with darker shades, are just laid on the ground at the water's edge. In the west they make use of partially submerged moss-covered logs, which make an ideal and much safer nesting site. Mt. Rainier National Park may never have a nesting pair as its lakes are still snowbound during their breeding season. Our only record is of a single bird that spent three days, July 12 to 14, 1938, on Lake Louise. It was still in its breeding plumage.

The 1931 A.O.U. Check List made a sub-species of our western bird, which is supposed to be slightly smaller than the eastern race; hence the name Lesser Loon.

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WESTERN GREBE

Other common names: Swan Grebe.

Museum Specimen - Reflection Lake. (5100')

The western grebe can readily be distinguished from others of its kind by the long, swan-like neck and the black and white plumage. The black extends over the top of the head, down the back of the neck and over all the back; sides of head, throat and underparts are white. It has a way of raising the crest on each side of the head, giving an ear-like appearance. The neck is not carried like that of the swan, but is held straight up with the black-capped head at right angles. The immature bird shows a gray mouse-color on head and neck, darker on the back. In the multitudes of sea birds wintering on Puget Sound, the western grebe perhaps exceeds any other variety in numbers. It feeds well off shore, in deep water mingling with the loons and other deep-water divers. In April they can be seen rafting together apparently waiting for a given signal or a clear moonlight night to start their journey over the Cascades. At this time mated pairs are seen courting on the water. They have, to us, an absurd way of standing while treading water, facing each other, then advancing until their breasts touch - an embrace without arms. Today they may cover the bay, tomorrow not a bird will be seen; the whole brigade has left for their summer home. Western grebes nest in colonies, making a floating nest among the reeds at the edge of a lake. They lay four or five chalky white eggs that soon become stained and dirty, almost a mud color. After a summer of torrid heat and mosquitoes, when the young have grown strong enough to make the journey, all hands are back again to salt water for the winter. We have one record in the park for the western grebe - an immature bird at Reflection Lake in the fall, perhaps too weak to continue the journey to salt water in one night.

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PIED-BILLED GREBE

Other common names: Hell-diver; Dab-chick.

Museum Specimen - Reflection Lake (5100).

Why this little diver is found in the park is more or less a mystery. They belong at low altitudes, in some fresh-water swamp, or reedy lake. Nevertheless, in August or September they are occasionally seen at Reflect ion Lake, diving and feeding. It's no secret why they choose this lake - the fat fingerlings from the fish hatchery is the answer. But they do not stay long and do little damage, even from the fisherman's point of view. We have, of course, no spring records, and no records of them breeding within the park boundaries. Pied-billed grebes nest early, fresh eggs being found the first week in April. The nest is a bulky affair, made chiefly of decayed vegetable matter from the swamp, all of which is sunk below waterline - a floating mass with just the muddy top above the surface. In this mud cup are usually laid five to seven chalky-white eggs that become badly stained from the mud in a short time. There are generally two broods a year. When hatched, the little black 'grebelings" have a way of riding on the parent's back - a pretty sight - and one hums "Here comes the Show Boat" as she glides through the reeds with her deck load! It is doubtful if these grebes migrate in winter from western Washington. During a cold spell, when their freshwater haunts are frozen, they may be found in salt water, swimming along the shore line in a some what half-hearted way. The new menu of small hermit crabs and other marine life seems not to their liking.

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Descriptions continued...