Loon in Waldwick
April 25, 2007
A common loon caused a bit of a commotion -- and delight -- in Waldwick this week.
The migratory bird, typically seen in North Jersey only in fleeting views overhead in the spring and fall, parked itself at the base of the dam by Whites Pond off Hopper Avenue.
In full breeding plumage with red eyes and an iridescent black/green head, the loon caught the eye of passersby, local fishermen and photographers.
Occasionally, he'd make a brief yodeling call.
[For more on loons, including vocalizations, try this link: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Loon.html]
Loons can scarcely walk on land and can’t take off without at least 100 feet of open water. So when the loon did not fly away by Tuesday morning, several people grew concerned -- even though the loon was a photographer's dream.
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