BirdNote; Red-throated Loons at Deception Pass

BirdNote®

Red-throated Loons at Deception Pass

Written by Todd Peterson

This is BirdNote.

[Rushing water and waves on rocks]

Stand on a rocky headland above the turbulence of the tidal surge flowing like a river. Loose groups of Red-throated Loons in flight, perhaps a thousand altogether, stream past. The tide has turned at Deception Pass at the north end of Whidbey Island in Washington State.

[Call of a Red-throated Loon]

The loons gather here in winter. The once great salmon and steelhead rivers still carry nutrients from the Cascade Mountains to feed the marine life of northern Puget Sound. In some years, forage fish such as surf smelt abound. They’re caught in the irresistible tug of the tide, pulled out to sea through the granite defile of the pass. The loons fly to the throat of the pass and feast as the current carries them down.

[Sounds of rushing water and waves on rocks]

The loon’s name derives from the Old Norse word for “lame.” Because their feet are so far back on their bodies, the birds cannot walk on land. But in flight, they’re graceful, and under water, swift in pursuit.

Some creatures with which we share the world have been diminished almost to disappearance. But if we look, we can still find great natural abundance. As we have today.

[Calls of Red-throated Loons]

For BirdNote, I’m Michael Stein.

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Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Calls of Red-throated Loons [61483] recorded by W.W.H. Gunn. Flight of loons taking off [137572] recorded by G. Vyn; waves recorded by J.R. Storm.

BirdNote's theme music was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.

Producer: John Kessler

Executive Producer: Chris Peterson

© 2019 Tune In to Nature.org March 2019 Narrator: Michael Stein

ID# RTLO-01-2013-03-05 RTLO-01b