Loon attacking another loon...

garysanfran · 06-04-2016, 08:07 PM

An amazing attack of one loon against another. I first saw them when one had the others beak and was trying to drown it. The battle ensued, from my view, for over 40 minutes.

They traveled from Stonedam to Fish Cove and back and then I lost sight of them. And then they came back to Stonedam. Boats were stopping and videoing the scene. This was a definite attempt of one loon trying to kill another...An incredible sight.

Sorry, this is the best photo of that encounter I could get.

Sorry

Greene's Basin Girl · 06-05-2016, 12:47 AM

This happens when one loon wants to break up a pair of loons. I called the Loon Preservation Committee when this was once happening in Green's Basin. The biologist said you have to let them fight it out and you should not try to break the fight up.

tis · 06-05-2016, 06:44 AM

I have seen them fight but never for 40 minutes!!

upthesaukee · 06-05-2016, 07:26 AM

Other species have similar behaviors such as two bull moose fighting over territory, caribou doing the same thing, deer likewise.

Interesting though, because in our time on the lake where we have spent countless hours watching loons, I have never seen a loon "fight". Survival of the fittest, I guess.

Thanks for posting.

Just Sold · 06-05-2016, 08:14 AM

When floating around in Fish Cove about 10 years ago I saw 2 Loons fighting and going all over the cove but it did not last 40 minutes.

jeffatsquam · 06-05-2016, 09:24 AM

Saw this on Squam about 20 years ago and it went at least 15 rounds very impressive

noreast · 06-05-2016, 09:31 AM

Me too, about 30yrs ago at Massabesic when they were extremely rare. Tough little SOB's.

MOXIE · 06-05-2016, 10:02 AM

I lived on Moxie Lake in Northern Maine for 10 yrs and witnessed this many times. Loons mate for life, so how does a young loon find a "single" mate??
Most often their first choice is a "taken" mate, who will resisit the advances of a youngster. An older male will protect his mate from an intruder.
It happens all the time, you just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Peace My Friends, MOXIE

06-04-2016, 08:07 PM	#1
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,552 Thanks: 658 Thanked 668 Times in 342 Posts	Loon attacking another loon... An amazing attack of one loon against another. I first saw them when one had the others beak and was trying to drown it. The battle ensued, from my view, for over 40 minutes. They traveled from Stonedam to Fish Cove and back and then I lost sight of them. And then they came back to Stonedam. Boats were stopping and videoing the scene. This was a definite attempt of one loon trying to kill another...An incredible sight. Sorry, this is the best photo of that encounter I could get. Sorry Attached Images __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

06-05-2016, 07:26 AM	#4
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,596 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,449 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	Similar behavior to other species.. Other species have similar behaviors such as two bull moose fighting over territory, caribou doing the same thing, deer likewise. Interesting though, because in our time on the lake where we have spent countless hours watching loons, I have never seen a loon "fight". Survival of the fittest, I guess. Thanks for posting. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

06-05-2016, 08:14 AM	#5
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	When floating around in Fish Cove about 10 years ago I saw 2 Loons fighting and going all over the cove but it did not last 40 minutes. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

06-05-2016, 10:02 AM	#8
MOXIE Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 27 Thanks: 1 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Loons I lived on Moxie Lake in Northern Maine for 10 yrs and witnessed this many times. Loons mate for life, so how does a young loon find a "single" mate?? Most often their first choice is a "taken" mate, who will resisit the advances of a youngster. An older male will protect his mate from an intruder. It happens all the time, you just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Peace My Friends, MOXIE

The Following User Says Thank You to garysanfran For This Useful Post:
KPW (06-04-2016)

06-05-2016, 12:47 AM	#2
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	This happens when one loon wants to break up a pair of loons. I called the Loon Preservation Committee when this was once happening in Green's Basin. The biologist said you have to let them fight it out and you should not try to break the fight up.

06-05-2016, 06:44 AM	#3
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,685 Thanks: 750 Thanked 1,448 Times in 1,006 Posts	I have seen them fight but never for 40 minutes!!

06-05-2016, 09:24 AM	#6
jeffatsquam Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: moultonborough/sandwich Posts: 187 Thanks: 173 Thanked 77 Times in 50 Posts	Saw this on Squam about 20 years ago and it went at least 15 rounds very impressive

06-05-2016, 09:31 AM	#7
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	Me too, about 30yrs ago at Massabesic when they were extremely rare. Tough little SOB's.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MOXIE For This Useful Post:
ApS (06-05-2016), garysanfran (06-05-2016)