May 25-26
The story of LPC’s Looncams from May 26 to May 27 is a tale of two very different lakes. One defined by anxious waiting and harsh environmental realities, and the other defined by serene nature watching and community connection.
The Story of Looncam 2: The Battle with the Black Flies
- May 26: The day begins with a growing sense of dread as watchers realize the loons have not been on the nest to incubate the new egg for over 16 hours. The culprit is a colossal swarm of black flies. A viewer named Sue, out on her kayak, reports to the chat that the flies are terrible on the water. Later in the afternoon, a loon (likely the female) finally gets on the nest and is seen panting heavily, which veteran watchers note is a cooling mechanism. Viewers hold out hope that this means proper incubation is beginning or that a rare third egg is on the way.
- May 27: Hope begins to wane as the loons continue to leave the egg largely unattended, while crabby beavers frequently swim by and slap their tails near the raft. Mariah, the new Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) outreach intern, joins the chat and gently delivers the hard truth: if the egg remains unincubated in the coming days, LPC biologists will follow protocol and remove it. By the end of the day, the chat community begins to accept that the unbearable black flies have forced the loons to abandon the egg, though they remain hopeful the pair might try re-nesting later in the season once the flies die off.
The Story of Looncam 1: A Peaceful Sanctuary Restored
- May 26: Over on Cam 1, the day is marked by excitement for a technical triumph. The Loon Cam Operator (LCO) arrives by boat, easily identified by his signature tie-dye shirt, and successfully fixes the broken microphone. Viewers are thrilled to have the crisp, clear audio of the lake restored, spending the day listening to the birds and watching turtles sunbathe on the empty nesting raft.
- May 27: The serene atmosphere continues. Mariah, the LPC intern, introduces herself to this chat room as well. The highlight of the day occurs when an actual lake resident (@user-wi5oi3qw1b) joins the chat. They share “insider” information with the viewers, confirming that the loons have been incredibly vocal at night because there are eagles frequently present in the area. The resident also confirms that the male loon from last year passed away, making this a new pair that is still figuring things out.
Changes in Viewer Count and Tone
- Viewer Count: Cam 2 consistently draws a much larger audience due to the high-stakes drama, peaking at around 59 viewers during the day on May 26. However, as it becomes apparent that the loons are not incubating the egg, the numbers slowly drop and stabilize in the 20s and 30s by May 27. Cam 1 maintains a smaller, quieter audience, ranging from single digits overnight to peaking at around 33 viewers during the day.
- Tone: The tone on Cam 2 noticeably shifts from the frantic panic and celebratory highs of the previous days into a state of anxious waiting, culminating in reluctant resignation. The community is heartbroken over the likely loss of the egg but remains deeply empathetic to the loons having to endure the miserable fly swarms. Conversely, Cam 1 remains a relaxing haven. With the microphone restored, the tone is highly appreciative, peaceful, and focused on the broader beauty of the ecosystem.
