View all of the titles in the
NatureSmart Bookstore
by Stan Tekiela
© NatureSmart
September 2, 2024
I find it strangely comforting that there is still many things we don’t understand in nature. I’m not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing. And perhaps it is just the way it is, and we will never understand. We often make assumptions about the kinds of behaviors we see or witness in nature. We often incorrectly attribute a specific animal behavior based on what we humans would think or do in a given situation.
I was thinking about this the other evening while leading a group of photographers to capture images of the Common Loon (Gavia immer). Each June I offer photo tours for serious amateur and professional photographers to see and capture images of loons and their families. In particular adult loons with baby loons riding on their backs. During these photo tours I help with camera settings, lighting, angles of photography but most of all, I explain the behaviors and natural history of these amazing birds.
For example, when a male loon is swimming around its territory, taking care of its babies, sees another loon flying over its territory, he belts out a loud “yodel” call that echoes across the lake. I explain that only the males make this call. This can be one way to tell the males from the females.
It is very common for loons to go for a “fly about” early in the morning or late in the day just before sunset. One evening we were photographing a male loon with one chick. The water was calm, and the group was capturing some great images when I noticed a pair of loons flying towards us. I let the group know and we all got ready to try and capture some images of flying loons.
But when the two flying loons got close to us, they did something that I have seen many times before, but I still can’t figure it out. The two birds moved closer together, while flying, almost touching, and then started to glide with their wings held over their backs in a deep V shape.
They flew together in this highly stylized glide for a long distance. Like I said, I have seen this many times before and naturally I thought it might have something to do with a mated pair reestablishing their pair bond. I pointed out this stylized gliding behavior to the group, who all thought it was super cool to see, but I lacked any evidence based or study-based explanation of this natural behavior.
We watched as the pair glided along for a long distance then broke apart. One of the loons continued flying straight ahead and up and over the tree line. The other loon banked sharply and was heading straight for us. It landed near us and immediately started swimming towards the male loon and the chick we were photographing. Clearly it was the female mate of the male we were working to capture images. She was out flying around and gliding with another loon.
Giving it some thought I knew the stylized gliding wasn’t a pair bond thing, because clearly the female wasn’t flying with its mate but another loon. Could this be aggression displayed in flight? Could it be something just fun to do? There were so many questions.
Later I spent some time trying to research the stylized gliding behavior and wasn’t able to come up with any explanation. I did find all sorts of webpages that falsely claimed that loons need to continually flap their wings because they are not able to glide or soar, but nothing addressed the gliding behavior. Some webpages described the gliding behavior but offered no evidence based to explain what was going on.
So, there you have it. Another animal behavior that goes unexplained and not understood. The point is, there is so much going on in nature that isn’t understood. Much of nature is still a complete mystery to those of us who have spent an entire career trying to learn, understand and help educate about it. Until next time…
Stan Tekiela is an author / naturalist and wildlife camera man who travels extensively to study and capture images and video of wildlife. He can be followed at www.facebook.com and www.instagram.com. He can be contacted via his website at www.naturesmart.com.
The nationally syndicated NatureSmart Column appears in over 25 cities spanning 7 states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. It is a bi-weekly column circulated to over 750,000 readers.
Black Bear
We could see it moving through the tall, dull green grass of late summer, and it is moving in our direction. I told the group that we better move back and get our cameras ready. It looks like it will be walking directly towards us, and it was a big one. Next, I told the group, “For this...
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
I spend a lot of time improving the habitat on my 30-acre lake property. The goal is to provide nesting opportunities for as many bird species as possible. For example, I have put up a Great Horned Owl nesting platform and low and behold, I have had a pair of Great Horned Owls nesting on my nest...
California Condor
It has been 17 years since I last wrote about the largest bird in North America. A bird that was almost killed off and is being brought back from the brink of extinction through some heroic captive breeding and reintroduction efforts.
The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is a...
Elegant Trogon
Going to Arizona in the middle of summer doesn’t seem like a smart thing to do. The heat can be stifling and pushes any wildlife to be active only during the early mornings before the sun comes up or late in the day at sunset. The middle of the day most wildlife lays low and tries to stay...
Each year, during June and July, Stan Tekiela offers two world-class wildlife photography tours. Here's your chance to learn some tricks of the trade from a top professional.
View all of the titles in the
NatureSmart Bookstore
Check out Stan's latest photos at
NatureSmart Wildlife Images
Do you have any interesting wildlife in your backyard? Any nesting birds, deer, turkeys, reptiles, amphibians, or other unique wildlife? Or maybe a fox or coyote den?
If so, contact Stan at stan@naturesmart.com with your backyard wildlife. If he can get a good photo of the subject, he will send you a print of the photo to hang on your wall.
Order Prints and posters of Stan's photos at
» Prints & Posters
Hear Stan on radio stations all across the Midwest.
» More Info
When he's out in the field, Stan relies on his Vortex Razor binoculars and Vortex Razor spotting scope to help find the subjects for his award winning wildlife photography.
For thirty years, professional wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela has counted on Hunt's Photo and Video to provide him with professional photography equipment.
From tripods to camera bodies and lenses, Hunt's has been Stan's place for everything that he needs. Personal service and prompt shipping means Stan can count on Hunt's to support his professional wildlife photography career.
Professional Wildlife Photographer Stan Tekiela always uses Feeder Fresh in his seed feeders to help keep the feeders and food dry, clean and mold free.
He also uses Feeder Fresh Nectar Defender in all of his hummingbird feeders. It safely keeps nectar fresh longer.