Terry--
        As Dave Hochadel pointed out, loons are still around Ohio in several
places. This is normal. Every year a few will even stay all summer;
these birds are almost never in breeding plumage. Here near Columbus a
few years back we had a pair of adult-plumaged loons all summer, as well
as a report they were seen with young: this would have been a first Ohio
breeding record had it been confirmed.
        Of course a bird that's injured and cannot fly will stay put, too. As
long as there's open water and food it will survive, but if it
doesn't heal nature will take its course. Wounded loons, it is said,
typically more often resort to dry land on shore, even though they are
very awkward there. Loons trapped in a small pond have been known to
half-crawl for long distances to reach larger take-off areas.
        There is a third possibility. Loons are heavy, and comparatively
short-winged, with feet placed way back on their bodies; this requires a
good distance in which to patter along the water's surface--preferably
into the wind--to get airborne. They apparently cannot take off from
land, and in the water can't just spring into the air and fly off, like
a mallard. Palmer says they require a minimum of 20 yards, into a stiff
breeze. The literature reports that in other circumstances they may need
as much as 200 yards to get airborne, and high enough to clear trees,
etc., along the way.
Bill Whan
Columbus

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