The Loons Have Called Me

THE CALLS OF THE LOONS

The first memory I have of northern Minnesota took place at the end of a long dock stretching into the quiet waters of Cotton Lake.

I was a small boy visiting my grandmother's resort, and early one morning I wandered down to the dock to see what I could discover. Before long, I spotted a loon gliding silently across the bay. Half submerged like a stealthy submarine, it moved through the water with an effortless grace that immediately captured my attention.

I had never seen anything quite like it. Its glossy black head shimmered in the morning light. Its ruby-red eyes seemed to see everything. Around its neck was a striking white band that looked almost ceremonial. Then it opened its beak and called. The sound stopped me in my tracks.

A few moments later, a second loon appeared, and together they performed what my grandmother called the "Dance of the Loons"—a ritual of diving, calling, and circling that seemed almost magical to my young eyes.

You'll find that story in A Call to Adventure.

That morning began a lifelong fascination with loons. I spent countless hours watching them fish, raise their chicks, defend their territories, and perform their mysterious water ballets. I even spent nearly twenty years trying to imitate their calls by cupping my hands and blowing into a small chamber I created between my palms. Eventually, I became pretty good at it.

Loons became woven into the fabric of my life. Their calls echoed across Cotton Lake during my childhood and continued to accompany many of my most treasured memories. Looking back, I realize they influenced me far more than I understood at the time.

So much so that decades later, I named my memoir series The Call of the Loon. The calls that echoed across Cotton Lake eventually became a metaphor for the calls that shape every life.

LOON LANGUAGE

Loons are among the most vocal and expressive birds in North America. Their haunting calls have become symbols of wilderness, solitude, and the northern lakes they inhabit.

Scientists have identified four primary loon calls. Each serves a different purpose.

The Wail. The wail is the haunting, mournful call most people associate with loons. It is often used by mated pairs communicating across long distances on a lake. When heard drifting across the water at dawn or dusk, it creates the unforgettable sound that has enchanted generations of campers, fishermen, and lake residents. And me, of course.

The Hoot. The hoot is a soft, intimate call used between members of a loon family.

Unlike the dramatic wail, the hoot is quiet and conversational, nurturing. Adult loons use it to communicate with their mates and chicks when they are close together on the water.

The Yodel. The yodel is given only by male loons.

This powerful call serves as a territorial warning to rival males and is often heard during disputes over nesting territories. When a male yodels, he is making it clear that he intends to defend his family and his lake. This is the first call I learned.

The Tremolo. The tremolo is often called the "crazy laugh."

It is a rapid, wavering call usually given when a loon feels threatened or alarmed. Loons may use the tremolo when confronted by predators, intruding loons, boats, or other disturbances.

For many people, it is the most exciting and recognizable of all loon sounds.