The Morgan's; Ed, Helen, and Peter birded Rural Retreat Lake this morning in
Wythe County, Virginia. The lake was frozen with about a one or two inch layer
of ice. There were very few birds present but a common loon was sitting on the
ice in about the middle of the lake. When I approached the area near where the
bird was sitting it flapped its wings and fluttered but did not take off. I am
not terribly experienced with loons, common or other-wise, but it occurred to
me that the bird may not be able to take off from that location. Does anyone
know if these birds require a distance of open water to take flight? The air
temperature was in the mid-forties today and I am hopeful that there may be
some melting in the next few days and perhaps can enable the bird to take
flight if in fact it is in a predicament. I will confess it was a sad sight to
see the bird sitting alone on the ice and hear it calling. any thoughts? On a
brighter note: As we were driving through down town Abingdon today my son,
Peter, pointed out a sharp shinned hawk eating a pigeon on the front stoop of a
Main Street house just a short distance from the Washington County Court House.
Ed Morgan Abingdon.
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