Nothing beats the cuteness of a newborn animal. It seems like every day, a new video of a cute baby animal goes viral online. One recent example is of a newborn loon baby riding on its mother’s back in the water. The adorable video was posted to Instagram by @harrycollinsphotography. Read here to learn more about the video and how adorable baby loons are.
A baby common loon (Gavia immer) rides on mother’s back on a lake near Haliburton, Ontario, Canada.
©BRIAN LASENBY/iStock via Getty Images
The video linked above beautifully captures newborn loon chicks riding on their mother’s back as she floats in the water. The babies still have their soft, light feathers, which make them look like little puffs as they rest on their mom’s back. The gentle rocking of the water is perfect for the babies, lulling them into a nap. Watching them nap on the water is a rare and fascinating sight that most people do not often witness in person. While this behavior is undeniably adorable, there are important reasons why baby loons sleep on their mother’s back.
Sleeping on their mother’s back is essential for their development. In the first few weeks of life, baby loons are extremely vulnerable to a variety of threats. For example, cold weather can be harsh, and predators pose a constant threat, so staying close to their mother is essential for their safety. By sleeping and resting on their mother, they stay warm and bundled up under her wings. Given their tiny size, swimming alone can be dangerous, as predators such as turtles may target them. Because of this, during the first two to three weeks, the babies mostly rest on their mother’s back. This behavior also supports their growth, allowing them to use their energy to become stronger and larger instead of merely surviving. Nevertheless, the video above is adorable and truly one of the cutest things you will see all week.
