Expert: Miguel Rodriguez - 8/25/2007

Question
Two times this summer I've observed a common loon stalking, then chasing a mother mallard with her chicks.  On both occasions is grabbed one of the chicks, took it under the water, came up with it in his mouth, dove down with it again and then resurfaced about 100' down empty mouthed.  I've never seen nor known loons to do this before.  Is this a common occurance.  I live on a lake in central Minnesota  

Answer
I have never heard of this before, so it is quite interesting. Probably a lack of fish in those waters is the cause for this. Nonetheless, I have almost no experience with such northern birds. My area of knowledge is mostly limited to birds of the Southern and Eastern U.S. and the Caribbean.