Loons, cranes having a tough time due to black flies

Questions regarding the Flora and Fauna on the island.

Moderator: johnhens

Post Reply
johnhens
Forum Moderator
Posts: 1993
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:10 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 34
Location: Big Rock, IL
Has thanked: 56 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Loons, cranes having a tough time due to black flies

Post by johnhens »

User avatar
Midwest Ed
IR Expert
Posts: 1355
Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 1:25 am
Isle Royale Visits: 8
Location: Quad Cities, IL
Has thanked: 42 times
Been thanked: 82 times

Re: Loons, cranes having a tough time due to black flies

Post by Midwest Ed »

I didn't know that when a nesting pair abandons their nest they will sometimes re-breed shortly thereafter.

Also about the flies, the 80 degree kill-off is news to me:
The good news is there is only one generation per year, the flies living about a month. They like the same warm, sunny, windless days you do, but typically die when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. They thrive when it rains a lot.
We've had a substantial number of 80+ days here. They must re-hatch new replacements when it gets wet again.
8 trips, 1975 x 2, 1976 x 2, 1978, 1985, 2000, 2013
Post Reply