June 10’th – The Finale – So Far
The final 48 hours of the 2026 season on Looncams 1 and 2 delivered an unforgettable mix of bittersweet farewells, soaring hope, and absolute heartbreak.
Looncam 1: A Bittersweet Goodbye to the Lake The peaceful waiting game on Looncam 1 has officially come to a close. After weeks of watching the new loon pair tentatively explore the territory, the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) intern, Mariah, confirmed that the loons successfully nested in a private, off-camera location. Because the lake isn’t large enough to support a second breeding pair, the decision was made to pull the camera offline on the morning of June 10.
The chat community was thrilled for the loons’ success but deeply saddened to lose their beautiful daily view. Watcher @finbladez captured the collective mood, stating, “my whole heart aches – we’re supposed to say goodbye in July after a successful hatching”. Before the feed went dark, viewers were treated to one last stunning sunset and a final overnight visit from “Fierce Mama” wood duck, who tucked her seven growing ducklings safely onto the empty raft before swimming off into the early dawn.
Looncam 2: From Elation to Devastation Over on Looncam 2, the drama reached a fever pitch. On June 9, watchers were thrilled to see the brutal black fly swarms finally subsiding, allowing the loon pair to return to the nest to spend the day cooing and preparing the bowl. The anticipation paid off just after midnight on June 10, when the female successfully laid a highly anticipated egg at 00:06:23. The late-night chat erupted in celebration, offering joyous congratulations to the resilient “little mama”.
However, the immense hope was short-lived, quickly turning to horror. Just over an hour later at 01:47:04, a mink invaded the unattended raft and stole the freshly laid egg. Watcher @shepqherd5803 recounted the horrific moment to the chat: “I heard the CRUNCH! saw it leave with egg,” adding in frustration, “if it ain’t otter its mink – that stink!”.
The morning chat was left completely shell-shocked and heartbroken over the loss. Veteran watcher @tailfeather6317 admitted, “I don’t even have any words,” while @GailMNLakeGal expressed absolute disbelief that the loons’ instincts didn’t drive them to immediately incubate and guard the nest. After surviving a destructive otter invasion, weeks of agonizing black flies, and now a thieving mink, the community could only mourn as these dedicated parents were put “through the ringer” once again.
Mariah, LCP Intern, returned to the chatroom in the morning to offer a glimmer of hope of a fourth egg within 60 hours. We will wait and see.
