Program Night: Washington’s Not So Common Loon

The common loon is well-known as the "Spirit of the North or the wilderness."  We invite you to join Ginger Gumm and Daniel Poleschook, Jr., who will present a program featuring common loon description, behavior, recorded calls, ecology and the necessary conservation required to maintain or increase its low-breeding population of less than 15 territorial pairs in WA. 

Daniel and Ginger have been nature photographers since the early 70’s, along with their previous professional careers in geology and nursing respectively.  From 1996 to present they have been specializing in capturing images of common loons and other waterbirds while conducting observations and doing research and conservation work on common loons in the Pacific Northwest.  They initiated "Get the Lead Out of Fishing and Responsible Fishing Practices in WA" and a pamphlet was developed in cooperation with the USFS.

Their presentation features beautiful photographs illustrating adult common loons on their summer territory, socializing, defense of territories, nesting, hatching of eggs, chicks, feeding behavior, fledging, migration to the winter territory, and winter plumage.  Daniel and Ginger will discuss the many disturbances, threats and contaminants, such as lead and mercury, which loons face.  They present their conservation message with enthusiasm and with incredible images of one of the most beautiful and charismatic North American birds. 

Daniel and Ginger’s articles and images have been used in many publications and they were the exclusive photographers for the recent book “The Call of the Loon.”  Daniel also operates Daniel Poleschook Nature Photography and a new venture, the Loon Lake Wildlife Gallery.  These companies specialize in publishing nature images and in sales of large limited-edition prints of wildlife, with emphasis on waterbirds and featuring the common loon, the trumpeter swan and the bald eagle as their signature species.

The book, "Call of the Loon," authored by Dr. David Evers, Biodiversity Research Institute in Gorham, Maine, with wife Kate Taylor Evers, Loon Preservation Committee in N.H., with photography by Ginger and Daniel will be available.  Proceeds will help contribute funds to "Keep the Gift Alive" for supplying small-fry for the Ferry Lake chicks.

Please join us Thursday, October 25 for Ginger and Daniel’s incredibly beautiful loon images and heartfelt conservation message.  Come at 6:30 for the social hour.  Enjoy a brief monthly meeting and refreshments from 7:00 to 7:45, followed by their presentation.

The social hour, meeting, and presentation are free and open to the public.  Invite a friend or anyone who is interested in seeing and learning about common loons.

Directions to Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church:  Take I-405 exit 18 (NE 85^th, Kirkland).  Drive west on Central Way to 3^rd St. (stoplight). Turn left (south) on 3^rd St. and follow it as it bears left and changes name to State St.  Turn left on 4^th Ave S.