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152 Hand-Rearing Birds

conserve heat and energy and to avoid predators. They stay in shallow water with one parent 24/7
for the first 3 days of life. After a few days the family moves to a “nursery” area of the lake and
doesn’t return to the nest. After the first 3 days, the chick may stay alone in the nursery area unless
summoned by the parent. Loons most commonly have one or two chicks, rarely three or four
(Timmermans et al. 2004), and the chicks often compete for food, leaving one smaller than the
other; siblicide can occur (Tischler 2011). Juveniles first start to fly at 11–13 weeks of age and
migrate between late‐September and freeze‐up of lakes (Barr 1996).

­ Criteria­for Intervention

Any chick with visible injuries should be brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. In the authors’
and other’s experiences (Diane Winn, pers. comm.), over half of the young loons presenting to
wildlife rehabilitation are ill or injured; less than half are healthy orphans. A chick should rarely
be alone on the shore that is not their nest. A grounded loon chick, other than during the first
24 hours after hatching, indicates possible illness, injury, or abandonment.
Exceptions are as follows:
Moving: Adult loons sometimes move their chicks overland from a nesting lake to a nearby lake
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that provides better opportunities for forage. The parents may be a bit ahead on the journey, so
the finder may presume the chick is alone.
Defecation: Occasionally, loons move onto shore and, when 2–4 m from water, they turn to face
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the water, defecate, and then return to water. This behavior has been observed in young loons
and adult loons. The function is unknown but may act as a territory marker (Evers et al. 2010).

Record Keeping

Loons are incredibly territorial during the breeding season (Evers et al. 2010); it is assumed this is
why, in the authors’ experience, parents will not foster a chick that is not their own. It is important
the exact location where the finder found the chick is recorded in case it can be reunited with the
parents. Detailed husbandry records should be kept including daily weight, diet offered, how much
was eaten, and any observations (e.g. behavioral changes). Regular physical exams out of water
should be conducted and details recorded weekly. The first indication of injury or illness is often
subtle, such as changes to appetite, weight, or physical exam (Kenow et al. 2014). See Appendix A
for a sample wildlife rehabilitation animal record.

­ Initial­Care­and Stabilization

Loons are generally a high‐stress species, so minimize handling and any interaction. A thorough
physical exam should be conducted on admission. Pay close attention to waterproofing, keel/hock/
foot injuries or pressure sores, attitude, and perform a thorough respiratory tract (lungs and all air
sacs) auscultation if possible. A visibly wet chick should be assumed to be hypothermic. If the
chick is hypothermic, offer warmth but monitor for hyperthermia. When a chick is able to ther-
moregulate and visibly dry, they should be removed from the incubator and placed in appropriate
housing (see below). Once warm, the chick can be rehydrated. If the chick is drinking readily from