Almost everyone in Minnesota has thrilled to the sight of a live loon, and a few of us are lucky enough to hear their haunting songs on a regular basis. But in spite of our fascination 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. The Common Loon of today is a fairly large bird, averaging eleven pounds. 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.