34
THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, February 11, 2010
lOOns from 40 behind until their flight chicks do not leave their ers to fly with, a process ing to their very own birth
three months after their feathers become long birth lake until just before called “molting.” Loons lake. Loons will typically
chicks hatch and after enough to support their it freezes. Biologists do lose all their feathers at arrive on New Hampshire’s
their beautiful black and weight—this time also al- not know exactly how the once, instead of losing one lakes and ponds just after
white feathers have been lows the chicks to become young loons know where or two at a time like most ice-out, sometimes on the
replaced by plain brown- capable of surviving on to go—this is one of many birds, because they need a very next day!
ish-grey feathers. Adult their own before they fly to mysteries. Chicks won’t complete set of flight feath-
loons leave their offspring the ocean. Typically, loon return to their birth lake ers to hold up their heavy The groundhog saw its
until they are approxi- bodies. If a loon were to shadow as I wrote this
mately three or four years try and fly with just a few article, indicating that
LACONIA HIGH SCHOOL SACHEMS
old, and they won’t be able missing feathers, its wings we should expect at least
to reproduce until they are wouldn’t be big enough to six more weeks of winter.
LACROSSE FUNDRAISING EVENTS six or seven. hold up its body. During While it will be at least a
The Laconia High School Lacrosse teams
this approximately two to few more months before
What Do Loons Do three week molting period, the loons return to New
are in jeopardy of not being able to play this
During The Winter? loons are unable to fly and Hampshire this spring, I
spring unless the Lacrosse Booster Club Once they reach the are in great danger—they know that many of us are
raises enough money to purchase State
ocean, loons must adapt must expend a lot of en- looking forward to their
conforming Helmets for the Boys team and
to life in salt water. For- ergy to grow new feathers return, as it is a signal
Jerseys for the Girls. Currently the Booster
tunately, loons have salt and they have less energy that warmer, sunnier days
glands in their skull be- to fight off illnesses or tox- out on the lake lie ahead.
Club need to raise well over $6,000 to meet
tween their eyes that re- ins stored in their body In the meantime, to learn
these requirements. Please join us at the move the salt from the fat. Make no mistake—life more about these fasci-
following events and show your support!
water and fish they eat on the ocean is not easy nating birds, you’ll want
and excrete it from ducts for these creatures. They to check out the Loon
in their beak. The ocean must not only adjust to Preservation Committee’s
Thursday, Feb 18th 5-8 – Tilt’n Diner( Tilton)
provides very clear, deep the stress of molting and website at
www.loon.org.
Spaghetti Dinner
open water for the loons to a different diet, they must
dive and fish. They group also endure the stress of
NH LAKES is a statewide,
Sunday, Feb 21st 11am-10pm – Uno’s (Tilton)
together riding the waves rough coastal waters and
nonprofit, member-supported
and hunting in the shallow
organization dedicated to
These local restaurants will be donating a portion of
stormy weather, marine
waters trapping schools of
protecting New Hampshire’s
their sales back to the Lacrosse Booster Club.
pollution and parasites.
fish and filling their stom-
lakes, which are integral to
achs. In late-winter, their When And Where Do
the quality of life and eco-
If you would like to make a donation, please mail to:
nomic health of the State.
dull winter coat is replaced The Loons Return?
For more information on the
Laconia Lacrosse Booster Club
by their beautiful black Biologists suspect that
organization’s lake protec-
c/o Nila Morrison
and white breeding coat, loons return to the same
tion efforts across the state
replacing their worn out general area where they
and how to help, please visit
11 Beaman St • Laconia, NH 03246 feathers with strong feath- were born, often return-
www.nhlakes.org or contact
(603) 226-0299. To receive
NH LAKES’ free monthly e-
news blast, Shorelines, full
Bear Island Mail Call
New Limited Edition Print by Local
of interesting lake-related
information, sign up on the
Artist Peter Ferber. Only 500 Prints Available! website.
Available At These Also Available www.TheWeirsTimes.com:
Area Businesses... A very limited number of artist’s proofs and first run prints.
$
150.00+S&H
metzleR from 9
The Art Place
tions. On the one hand
9 N. Main Street
the “controlled openness”
Wolfeboro, NH
allows Avatar and other
603-569-6159
25”
x
19”
$100.00
+S&H
current Western block-
busters. This satisfies
Brock Roberts what the people want.
140 Court Street On the other, the ruling
Laconia, NH Communist party is still
603-528-1829
all about control, and is
especially nervous about
The Weirs Times Newspaper Office
nascent freedoms in the
515 Endicott St. N.
arts and mass entertain-
(Rte. 3 next to Funspot)
ment. Thus, just to be
Weirs, NH
safe, China has widely
603-366-8463
restricted cinema screen-
ings of the popular “Ava-
Or purchase online at…
tar” in the countdown to
the Lunar New Year cele-
Bear Island Outfitters
brations. Some habits are
www.BearIslandOutfitters.com
after all very predictable.
The Weirs Times Newspaper Online
John J. Metzler is a Unit-
www.TheWeirsTimes.com ed Nations correspondent
Pictures the summer residents of Bear Island preparing for the departure
covering diplomatic and
of the Sophie C. after its daily delivery of U.S. mail.
defense issues.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40