The lakes are opening, and 4 May (Saturday) is our first full day out covering the study area.  We appreciate the reports we have gotten from many of you about the status of ice on your lakes. Kudos to some folks who have raised the bar by verifying all color bands on their territorial pairs already. Awesome! We have gotten reports from DNR that many loons have become stranded this year because of poor weather and few open lakes and have landed in puddles from which they cannot fly out. (These birds are being reported and are getting help.) Keep Wild Instincts (wildlife rehabbers near Rhinelander) in mind, if you see loons in trouble.