Before 2023 I didn't know that the American Birding Association had a Bird of the Year, but they do! In 2023 it was the Belted Kingfisher and last year it was the Golden-winged Warbler. This year they have just announced that they have chosen the Common Loon. (At that link you can see the beautiful illustration that Ojibwe artist Sam Zimmerman did of it for the cover of Birding magazine.)
The podcast I listened to about the choice and the article on the ABA website both emphasize the fact that this bird is most known for its sound. The Wikipedia article on the Common Loon includes a list of movies that used its call for maximum creepiness, including many set in places where this bird definitely does not live. (Scroll all the way down to the Popular Culture section.)
I chose this wonderful poem to honor the Common Loon today. I especially like these lines: "Their wails like wolves, their/ calls like an echo without origin, their/ calls like an echo of lake, or what makes lake/ lake."
8 comments:
Using the loon call for “maximum creepiness,” even in places where it does not live, made me smile. I had the sound in my mind, but your post made me go out and find a video to hear the sound of loon calls. The video also talks about the call and response between loons and how they can continue their conversation into the night. It is a haunting sound. Thank you for the prompt to learn more about loons!
I sat with my students on one of our trips & we listened for the loons, something one of our guides had offered to show us on an evening walk. I did see the choice on my Audubon feed, Ruth, but thanks for the poem about them. Don't you love that ending, starting with "How nice"?
My goodness. That movie sound effect has been lost on me all these years. (I just googled it.) I've always thought it was a wolf or predatory big cat/dog. I didn't realise it was a bird! Our bush stone curlew (also called a murder bird) gives spine chilling night shrieks. And even though you know what it is, it can still be very creepy!
I learned about loons when spending time in Canada. I learned to find their calls peaceful and lovely. I like how this poem is grounding and uses facts like that last line with tremelo. Great post, Ruth!
I fell in love with loons on my first trip to northern Minnesota in 1983. I had never seen one, only knew of them from the movie, On Golden Pond. I loved that they mated for life and built their nests together. I have never seen one since, but dream about them sometimes. I'm going to canoe in the Boundary Waters this summer. I hope to reconnect with them there.
Nothing common about the common loon! :) Oberman's poem is beautiful and I love these simple but evocative words:
or what makes lake
lake.
Thanks, Ruth!
Gotta love a poem that both fills our hearts AND teaches us something new (that last line!!!).
Lovely post Ruth, Loons are beautiful in all aspects. I like the lines you mentioned too, and the Sam Zimmerman's loon, thanks!
Post a Comment