Six species of loons nest below or above the Arctic Circle in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Finland and Scandinavia. There are several species of grebes, all resembling loons in many respects, but only the little Pied-billed Grebe frequents the Chicago region. Many of them raise their broods on the sloughs and ponds m our forest preserves. Among its many common names are Hell-diver, Water Witch and Dabchick. This is the familiar little ducklike bird that disappears in the water when alarmed and reappears far from where you last saw it.
Nothing can dive as slick as a dabchick.
Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Educational Programs, Harold Myron, Ph.D., Division Director.