I’m afraid to say we don’t really know much about loon winter behaviors, especially in New England. Weather challenges and lack of funding prevent any serious research.

That said, it’s all about survival, especially as a newborn, alone, in a pretty threatening environment. I suspect those who survive, maybe half on average, are good at navigating the social hierarchy of loons, avoiding danger, and cozying up to other loons in a bit of a buddy system, perhaps. Must be kind of like a young child being dropped at the curb in Manhattan, with no adult parents to hold onto for safety and sustenance.

Great Egret in autumn marsh

Where the path closed

down and over,

through the scumbled leaves,

fallen branches,

through the knotted catbrier,

I kept going. Finally

I could not

save my arms

from thorns; soon

the mosquitoes

smelled me, hot

and wounded, and came

wheeling and whining.

And that's how I came

to the edge of the pond:

black and empty

except for a spindle

of bleached reeds

at the far shore

which, as I looked,

wrinkled suddenly

into three egrets - - -

a shower

of white fire!

Even half-asleep they had

such faith in the world

that had made them - - -

tilting through the water,

unruffled, sure,

by the laws

of their faith not logic,

they opened their wings

softly and stepped

over every dark thing.