Loons are falling from the sky in Wisconsin due to icy conditions

Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
20

Loons in northern Wisconsin have been falling from the sky due to the icy weather conditions, according to a wildlife rehab center in Antigo.

Raptor Education Group, Inc. posted to Facebook Thursday, alerting the public of the bird fallout phenomenon after receiving an elevated number of reports of loons on people's property the past two days.

A loon was rescued by the Raptor Education Group, Inc., after falling from the sky due to the weather conditions.
A loon was rescued by the Raptor Education Group, Inc., after falling from the sky due to the weather conditions.

The loons fall from the sky "when atmospheric conditions are such that the migrating loons develop ice on their body as they fly at high altitude and crash land when they are no longer able to fly due to the weight of the ice on their body or the interference with their flight ability," REGI said.

Loons are rescued by Raptor Education Group, Inc. in Antigo, after falling from the sky due to icy conditions.
Loons are rescued by Raptor Education Group, Inc. in Antigo, after falling from the sky due to icy conditions.

REGI reported discoveries in Wausau, Gleason, Stratford, Neva, Rice Lake and Drummond. What conditions were like for the birds prior to their fall is hard to tell, but parts of northern Wisconsin experienced near-freezing temperatures, with on and off rain, ice or snow, and unstable atmospheric winds over the past two days.

Marge Gibson from REGI said the loons are in good physical condition because they've been preparing to migrate from the Gulf of Mexico to as far north as Canada. Therefore, it has been easier on the staff to render aid, but some loons have suffered injuries due to the hard landing from the fall.

Gibson said the center has received at least 25 phone calls on Thursday and dozens of Facebook messages asking for help after a loon was discovered on the ground.

The event also happened in 2021, and at the time, Gibson said she had seen loon fallouts during spring migration twice previously over the last 25 years. In one instance, a loon was rescued seconds after falling and Gibson said "it still had a veil of ice around its wings."

Loon at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. facility after falling from the sky.
Loon at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. facility after falling from the sky.

Unplanned groundings are especially dangerous for loons because they can't walk. Loons leg positioning and body shape make it extremely difficult for loons to move across hard surfaces, and essentially become trapped on land.

"They are very vulnerable on land," Gibson said. "As tough as they are, they can't last long if they are in the middle of some field."

One loon reportedly landed in a cow pen of a farm this week before being rescued.

A loon fell from the sky into a cow pen on a farm in Tomahawk due to the icy weather conditions.
A loon fell from the sky into a cow pen on a farm in Tomahawk due to the icy weather conditions.

If the loon lands in water, it needs about a quarter-mile length in order to take off and continue migration.

It is not recommended that the public approach loons, as they can be dangerous because the birds' bills are like a dagger. If you find a loon on the ground or in a pond, it's best to contact REGI at 715-623-4015 or Loon Rescue at 715-966-5415.

Paul Smith of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Loons are falling from the sky in Wisconsin due to icy conditions