Together is Important - Jeff Cummings Photography

The warm afternoon sun glistened on a small mountain lake in Okanogan County, Washington. Camera at the ready, Roxanne and I paddled our kayaks along the shore’s edge enjoying observing the wildlife and relishing in the peaceful ambience.

It was a satisfying moment we shared together. A 600mm lens is mounted to my camera for telephoto photography, and with a new set of binoculars, Roxanne could enjoy the close-up wildlife action with me.

We were slowly making our way across the lake toward a family of loons. I learned they were one of the few resident loon families in the state of Washington when I had photographed them a few times earlier in the year. I have observed them from sitting on the nest, to the hatching of their two loonlets.

Both loonlets appeared to be thriving under the meticulous nurture of their parents as now the babies were nearly as big as the parents. Their plumage confirmed that they were juvenile / immature Common Loons. Although they are called a Common Loon, my experience observing them has led me to conclude that there is nothing common about them. They are unique, amazing birds that are more closely related to the penguin than the duck.

When we got within range, I began shooting photos as Roxanne observed their interactions through her binoculars.

Juvenile loon

I was mostly focused on shooting one of the juveniles who was close to me and distant from its sibling and parents.

But my attention turned to the other three loons when I noticed the parents seemingly helping the other young loon. Paddling a bit closer and zooming in I was surprised to observe this young loon attempting to ingest a rainbow trout that looked to be about 14 inches long and much too large to swallow whole. The parents were offering their support by staying close and nudging the fish when it slipped out of the young one’s spear-shaped bill. It was a humorous moment to say the least.

Sibling number one must have noticed the event at about the same time and curiously swam over to join in this family activity.

I was getting exhausted just watching the young loon trying to manage this fish. After what seemed a lengthy time, the family of loons suddenly abandoned the fish and began swimming away.

Scanning the sky for danger

This sudden change of determination was a curiosity until a short distance from the floating trout both parents sounded a chilling alarm that echoed across the lake. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a sudden movement closing in fast from the sky above. A white-headed bald eagle, with piercing eyes and talons out was diving fast toward the family of loons! So much seemed to happen all at once! I chose the eagle as the focus of my camera as I quickly swung it upward to capture him.

As the parents sounded the alarm, the loonlets responded by diving to safety underwater. While they were submerged, both parents continued their warnings and arose on their tails, wings beating ferociously, necks outstretched toward the descending eagle daring any attempt to harm the young ones. A canopy of water enveloped the loon family as the parents continued splashing. The eagle swooped in and snatched the drifting trout in its sharp talons and began to ascend out of range of the splashing defiance.

The young ones popped back to the surface, and all seemed to be calm again.

In the distance we could see the eagle glide down behind some trees on the mountain above the opposite side of the lake. Shortly after it disappeared, we could hear other eagles rejoicing in the stolen lunch. I can only guess the eagle delivered the fish to his family.

Still in awe at what we had just experienced, the eagle shortly appeared again and came swooping down toward the lake landing on the bank at the water’s edge. Even though it was on the opposite side of the lake, the loon parents were not going to stand by with the nearby threat. I turned my kayak toward the eagle, who was now drinking, and began paddling for a closer view. The two loon parents outpaced me and were quickly between me and the eagle as they aggressively attempted to dislocate the eagle from his refreshment by again furiously splashing and making a ruckus.

Loons making a splashing ruckus to dislodge the eagle

The eagle calmly finished his drink and flew up to a nearby limb as if to taunt the loons and flaunt who was king of the lake.

With the threat abated, the loons resumed their family meal plans, but instead of fish, they settled on crawdads.

In the beginning, God made a statement that it was not good for a human to be alone. So, God made Adam a partner and joined them as a family. We were created for togetherness – with God and one another. I could not help but contemplate this important value and significance of this as demonstrated by the loon family. We all provide and receive benefit from being in the flock. The reality is provision, protection, fellowship, and fulfillment come through social commitment and engagement. Often, for various reasons, we remain isolated to the detriment of ourselves and others. The recent isolation imposed upon us worldwide has taught us the unfortunate adversity and suffering it creates.

In the kingdom of God, we are called family and TOGETHER we are the life, love, wisdom and ultimately, the presence of Jesus in the world. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy life. Jesus came to bring abundant life. He has adopted us into His family to preserve life and bring life to the perishing. And this we are and do TOGETHER.

I have published a book about this story! You can order it here!