Common behavior for Common Loons?

[Patti Edens]

Two questions:

Why is this loon doing waving his foot in the air?
Is this common behavior for Common Loon?

I watched this family of three loons in Galveston Bay yesterday for about an hour. The same one would wave the same foot around every once in a while. I googled it and found a few other mentions of this behavior, but I didn't find out why they do it.

The inset three photos are the same loon composited together.

[Myer Bornstein]

I have also seen them do this ffot raising, but do not know why

[Steve Patterson]

Very common, but I can't tell you why they do it.............

[Declan Troy]

I believe it is a means for thermoregulation. Birds are rather well insulated and have no sweat glands. For a bird like a loon one way to cool off is to put a big wet foot up in the air and let evaporation do the job.

[Patti Edens]

Myer and Steve,

Thanks for the replies. Good to know that this is normal behavior and the little guy was okay.

Declan,

That certainly sounds like a good explanation to me. Thanks!

Patti

[Declan Troy]

Patti,

I forgot to mention that this is not a traditional family of loons as junior (the bird on the right) appears to be a Pacific Loon. Just coincidence that they were all together.

Declan