Grundy County Loon — yes, loon

Admission Date: 4 April 2016
Outcome: Released, 14 April 2016 at Swan Lake State Park
Location of Rescue: SE Grundy County
Cause of Admission / Condition: Grounded in road ditch, unable to fly out
Patient Status: Patient Archive, Success Stories

This is Iowa… we might see a common loon during migration or if we vacation in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan. To receive a call that someone has rescued a loon, wow, really?

The loon was rescued by concerned citizens in SE Grundy County from a dry road ditch. Our guess is that the ditch looked like water for the loon to land. Loons need to be in water to be able to take off.

Learn more about loons from Cornell Lab’s All About Birds site and the Minnesota DNR.

Updates:

11 April 2016
Yeah... the loon has gained a pound and now weights 5 lbs 4 oz this morning.

5 April 2016
Kay gets a weight on the loon, barely 2000 grams and references list weight ranges on loons from 2500-6100 grams. 1000 grams is the same as 2.2 pounds. Boys, on average, weigh more than girls. Regardless, this loon needs to pack on a pound at least!

Kay uses a horse leg wrap with Velcro straps to keep the loon still while weighing.