@sweetbriarnaturecenter: If you guessed a common loon yesterday, you were right. Few sounds in nature are as haunting and as beautiful. It truly takes a village. Strong Island Rescue League received the call about this incredible bird and quickly responded to contain and bring to us. They needed assistance removing fishing line and wanted to ensure that there were no embedded hooks. After a full exam, along with fluids, food, and an overnight stay at Sweetbriar, this loon was ready to return home. Grateful to be part of such a meaningful and successful outcome. One of the most fascinating things about loons is that, unlike most birds, they have solid bones instead of hollow ones. This allows them to be powerful, agile divers, capable of plunging 200–250 feet below the surface. That added weight makes them exceptional underwater hunters, but it also means they need a long stretch of open water—sometimes up to 600 feet—to take off. A few more incredible facts:
• They can fly at speeds over 75 miles per hour
• To take off, they run across the water for up to a quarter mile
• They can stay underwater for up to five minutes
• Their haunting calls—wail, yodel, tremolo, and hoot—can be heard from over a mile away
• Their striking red eyes enhance their vision underwater
• They are not ducks, but part of a completely different and ancient family of birds

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Thursday 16 April 2026 12:36:25 GMT