Almost everyone in Maine has thrilled to the sight of a live loon, and many of us have heard their haunting songs. In spite of our fascination with loons, we really don't know much about them.
Loons are one of the oldest groups of flying birds still living.
These birds have become masters at adapting to climate and environmental changes. If you have ever heard the cry of the loon, it is not hard to envision the primitive world they once lived in. Its wings stretch 50 inches from tip to tip, and its body is over twenty-eight inches long. It has a strong black bill for catching fish, crayfish, insects and even snails. Its bright red eyes are capable of seeing at depths below fifteen feet, and its strong legs are located far back on its body for maximum speed in the water.