A Second Season with the Loons. Photographing 2 Loon Families in the North Woods.

This is the sequel to my previous video, which you can find here    • A Season with the Loons: Healing From...  

Record Rain. Nest Flooding. Rogue Loons. Would my loon chicks make it this year?

This was a very different season, for me and the loons. I had healed very much and thought I would be in for another peaceful year observing the loons and their environment. I did have many peaceful moments of discovery and hope the film brings you peace, but I became witness to the very real struggle to survive in nature. The same nature that has beauty has brutality. That is the duality of life. Even our lives.

To view a photo gallery from this project on my website
   • A Season with the Loons: Healing From...  

My website www.jwelchphoto.com
Instagram @johnwelchphotography

*Important: Notes on ethically observing and photographing loons*
I photographed this season using 800mm equivalent focal length and abided by ethical guidelines. You should not simply paddle right up to loons. Not all loons will be tolerant of humans and learn to read their behavioral signals. The loons in my films are tolerant.
Please educate yourself on loon behavior and the ethics of observing loons before attempting to observe them in the wild. Some guidelines can be found here. In summary, loons have various state and federal protections, and harassing them can be a criminal offense, carrying fines and even jail time. You will be watched on lakes by other boaters and homeowners on developed lakes. While loons are on the nest, they are particularly vulnerable to human disturbance, including kayakers and photographers. I personally chose not to even photograph them at this time, and if you must, keep your visit very brief and from a far distance. Once the chicks have hatched, loon’s tolerance for human presence will vary from individual to individual. Do disrupt their ability to hunt and feed the chicks. General guidelines for how far to stay from them is 100 feet to 100 yards. However, it is allowable for loons to swim up to you on their own (though you must be mindful that you are not drifting into them), which is what happened in some of the close-up footage and photos as two of my loon pairs were very tolerant. In the first season, two other pairs I observed started to show some signs of agitation, (making calls, etc) even at several hundred feet so I backed off and chose not to return to them for their welfare. In this age of social media photography, I urge you not to turn loons into “the next thing.” Please do not tag or share locations. This will result in having these protected birds mobbed, disturbed, and may prompt authorities to take actions to bar people from observing them, as has been the case with snowy owls, barred owls, and coyotes in New England.