The common loon is one of my favorite waterfowl, especially when I spot one during summer breeding season while kayaking on Pickerel Lake near Newaygo.
Loons are both solitary and social birds. They nest on quiet lakes and large ponds from the 45th to the 48th parallel, including those in central Michigan and northward. Typically there’s only one breeding pair per lake. Loons are also more intelligent than most waterfowl. An average adult loon can swim up to 20 miles per hour, dive up to 200 feet in depth, and hold their breath between five and 10 minutes!
I’m largely a self-taught photographer and enjoy kayaking in my sit-in kayak (most of these types range from 12 to 14 feet). Along for the ride is my DSLR and 200-600mm zoom lens, and I either shoot my camera freehand or with the assistance of a small monopod.
Photographing birds in a kayak requires considering a lot of factors: balance, posture, camera settings, wind, sun direction and intensity, other boats on the lake — and, of course, the bird’s behavior. It’s an activity I do repeatedly because of the peace it brings. Every paddle is a different journey that I look forward to.
A typical morning paddle starts before sunrise so I can be on the water as the sun comes up. Most often, the wind is calm at this hour, there’s no boat traffic, and the only noise heard is the haunting call of the common loon from somewhere across the lake, giving me an idea of where my morning destination should be.
Predicting the loon’s behavior so I can anticipate a wing flap or a fish catch is usually how I try to capture my images, and this comes from the experience of observation. Having the camera ready is critical, although holding a 7-pound camera makes your arms sore pretty quickly! That’s why I started using a monopod for support underneath. The biggest challenge is wind, because it will blow the kayak. Then I have to set the camera down and paddle into a different position, and by then the loon may have decided to dive back underwater.
Jenifer Selwa, of Newaygo, showcases her loon photography at jenselwa.com.
P.S. Pickerel Lake is a 318-acre natural lake in southern Newaygo County, approximately 2 miles north of Newaygo. The lake is irregularly shaped, with five different basins. Each of the basins is at least 37 feet deep; the deepest is approximately 73 feet deep. To learn more about the common loon, visit nwf.org or michiganloons.org.
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