Loon Left To Die On Frozen Private Pond Rescued By Howard County Bird Watchers

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Birder Ryan Salsman with the Howard County Bird Club noticed a loon hanging out on a private pond that seemed to be too small for him to take off from several days ago.

A few days later, club member Russ Ruffing saw the loon was still there and the available water in the pond was shrinking thanks to nonstop freezing temperatures.

According to the Howard County Bird Club, loons cannot walk on land or, in this case, ice.

Local bird watchers said the watery area of the pond went from 50 feet across the first night to 20 feet across on Saturday as temperatures plunged below freezing. By Sunday, there were only 3 feet of open water left and on Monday, they found the loon sitting on ice, since the pond had completely frozen over, WTOP reported.

Val Swan, vice president of the Howard County Bird Club, and her husband, Jeff, decided to intervene and help the stranded bird, which was vulnerable to an attack from a fox or bald eagle. Jeff Swan used the soft fabric cover of his Corvette and gently dropped it on top of the loon, scooped him up, placed him in a plastic bin and took him to Springdale Quarry where the loon would be safer since the water there never freezes.

As soon as the loon hit the water it let out a cry, called a yodel and began swimming and diving all around, the Swans said.

"Great job to everyone involved, including those members of the Maryland birding community who were also trying to get help for this bird," the Howard County Bird Club stated.