Iced-in Rescue on First Lake
Photo by K. Gardner
On Wednesday, December 14 the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation received a report of an iced-in Common Loon on First Lake in the town of Webb in Herkimer County, NY. Overnight the water froze further and the ice surrounding the loon thickened. While these changes might seem bad for the loon, the cold night made conditions safe for a rescue effort.
On Thursday, December 15, volunteers and staff from the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation went to rescue the loon early in the morning. The group included Cody Sears, Jay Locke, Gary Lee, Don Andrews, and Kurt Gardner.
The loon was stuck in a small patch of open water about half a football field from shore. After carefully trekking across the ice, the rescuers attempted to extract the loon using a canoe and large net. The loon stayed free by diving quickly underwater, so the team switched up their tactics. Using a gill net to cover part of the hole in the ice and the canoe in unison, the loon was finally captured.
It was a healthy juvenile that was subsequently released to a larger ice-free lake to get another chance at successful migration. The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation is very grateful for the hard work of the rescue team. Good work guys!
If you see an iced-in loon, please report it by calling (518)354-8636 or emailing info@adkloon.org.
Jennifer Denny, ACLC Communications Coordinator