On July 12, 2026, joy at the LPC loon nest turned into heartbreak. The LPC loon chick hatched on the evening of July 11 but died only hours later, leaving its parents beside the motionless chick and one remaining egg.
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The tiny loonlet had appeared active after emerging from its shell. It lifted its head, moved beneath Dad’s wing and pushed through his feathers for small looks at the world around the nest. After everything this loon pair had endured, the hatch felt like the moment their season had finally changed. By the next morning, however, the tiny movements that had marked its first hours were gone.
LPC Loon Chick Died Hours After Hatching
Dad remained on the nest through the night, covering the chick while continuing to incubate the second egg. Nothing visible hinted at how quickly the night would change. When Mom returned in the morning, she removed part of the empty shell from the nest. She then checked the motionless chick before settling over the nest bowl and the egg that remained beneath her.
The video is difficult to watch, not because the scene is loud or violent, but because the loss unfolds in near silence. Only hours earlier, the little loon had been stretching upward and trying to look beyond Dad’s wing. By morning, the chick had died. The cause remains unknown.
One Last Egg Remains in the LPC Loon Nest
Even after losing their chick, the adult loons have continued taking turns on the nest. Beneath them rests the second egg from this clutch. This egg was laid on June 14. By July 13, it had reached day 29 of incubation. Loon eggs often hatch after about 27 days, although later hatches can happen.
As of publication, no confirmed pip had been reported.
Each nest exchange briefly reveals the shell, offering another chance to spot a small opening, a crack or any movement from within. The egg has moved beyond the average incubation period, but a hatch may still be possible.
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This Loon Pair Has Laid Five Eggs This Season
The loss of the LPC loon chick carries even more weight because of everything this pair endured before one of their eggs finally hatched. Their first egg was destroyed by otters on May 24. The female laid another egg that same evening, but a severe and persistent black fly swarm repeatedly drove the loons from the nest. Without steady incubation, the egg was no longer viable, and the Loon Preservation Committee later removed it. After the black flies eased, the pair nested again. A third egg was laid on June 10, only to be carried away by a mink while the nest was unattended.
Three eggs were gone, yet the loons returned to the nest and tried once more.
A fourth egg arrived on June 12, followed by a fifth on June 14. After weeks of loss and disrupted nesting, the pair once again had a full clutch beneath them. Then, on July 11, one of those eggs finally opened, and a tiny chick emerged beneath Dad’s wing. For a few brief hours, it seemed the season had finally turned in their favor. But by morning, the new beginning that had taken weeks to reach had become another loss.
The Pair Continues Incubating the Final Egg
This pair has faced otters, black flies, a mink, the loss of multiple eggs and now the death of the first chick they managed to hatch. Yet the nest has not been abandoned. One loon settles over the remaining egg. Later, the other returns and takes a turn. The careful rolls, exchanges and quiet hours of incubation continue, even with the lost chick resting nearby. For those who have followed this nesting season, this loss has been devastating. The joy of the hatch lasted only a few hours, leaving behind a nest that looks almost unchanged but now carries an entirely different weight.
The final egg is the pair’s last remaining chance to raise a chick from this nesting effort. It may hatch, or it may remain silent. After so many losses, no one watching can know what the next nest exchange will reveal. Still, the loons continue to incubate. Until the shell opens or the nest falls quiet, every remaining hope for this hard-fought season rests inside one small egg.
This live cam is provided by the loon preservation committee. YouTube video captured by Lady Hawk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the LPC loon chick?
The LPC loon chick died hours after hatching on the evening of July 11, 2026. The chick passed away overnight, and its cause of death is currently unknown.
Is there another egg in the LPC loon nest?
Yes. The adult loons are continuing to incubate one remaining egg from the clutch.
Could the second loon egg still hatch?
A hatch may still be possible, although it becomes less likely as the egg moves beyond the average incubation period. The egg reached day 29 on July 13.
Has the second egg pipped?
As of publication, there has been no confirmed pip in the remaining egg.
Why have the loons left the deceased chick in the nest?
Loon pairs sometimes keep a deceased chick in the nest while continuing to incubate another egg. LPC has seen this behavior at other nests.
Will the loon chick receive a necropsy?
LPC plans to collect the chick after the adult loons leave the nest. A necropsy may reveal the cause of death, but it is also possible that no clear cause will be found.
How many eggs has this loon pair laid in 2026?
The pair has laid five eggs this season. Earlier eggs were lost following an otter attack, disrupted incubation caused by black flies and a mink entering the nest.