Today Randy Hill arranged with his friend Steve from Moses Lake to go out on
Priest Rapids Lake in Steve's fishing boat to search for the Arctic Loon. I
was able to ride along with Randy, Steve and Terry, Steve's wife (sorry I
didn't catch the last names).

We did not find the loon. We did not get close to any loons. Loons, it
seems, do not like boats. We would spot a loon, motor towards it, slow to a
crawl and try to creep up on the birds. Invariably, before we got within
200 yards of a loon it would dive and never be seen again. Is it possible
that a loon can do an imitation of a turtle - lying low in the water with
just its eyes and nostrils above the surface? That would account for it
appearing that the loons could either stay down indefinately or could swim
incredible distances underwater.

Andy Stepniewski and Bob Flores scanned the lake from the dam for a while
and then drove north to Road 26 SW (I think) where they were joined on the
shore by a group of birders from B.C. When we got there in the boat, Andy
pointed us towards several loons across the river including one with more
white on the sides than the others. We cruised up the river on the east
side, went across, cut the motor and drifted downstream towards the loons.
The group on shore watched the loons keep just about the same distance in
front of the boat the entire time. Drifting didn't seem to work at getting
us any closer.

Here is a revised plan of attack for seeing the Arctic Loon:

Have between five and ten boats spread across the river at about Road
24 SW. Let them drift downstream herding the loons south towards
the dam. On-shore birders could be spread out on both sides of
the river where access is available or could just stand near
the dam waiting for the herded flock of loons to get there.
Everyone except the people in the boats should be able to get a view
of the Arctic Loon. It is the old rule that someone has to make a
sacrifice for the good of the group.


Well, it does sound a little far-fetched. Perhaps someone will get lucky
and see the Arctic Loon quite close to one of the observation spots on the
east side of the river.

See you tomorrow in Walla Walla.

Denny Granstrand - a frustrated looner!
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* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* osprey at nwinfo.net *
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