Within 24 hours of hatching baby loons begin their life long relationship with water. They have brown downy coats that allows them to float like corks. But they still need to get out of the water now and then. They find refuge on the backs of their parents where they sleep , relax and dry out.

Feeding the babies takes constant fishing and feeding. At first babies have trouble grasping food and often drop it. But eventually the young age the hang of it. Because of the high protein diet of small fish the babies quickly reach 6-8 pounds in three months. Growing up as a baby is fraught with pitfalls. Every predator from eagles to snapping turtles and large northern pike wants to eat them. On average only one of two chicks survive to adulthood.

Information drawn from

Our love of loons, by Stan Tekiel