Loons, cranes having a tough time due to black flies

[johnhens]

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/ho ... ua0ClKc.01

[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.