Belonging to a family of diving birds found on lakes across the northern hemisphere, the common loon is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Canadian wilderness, familiar to anyone who has heard its haunting call echo over a still lake at dusk. Loons breed on thousands of freshwater lakes throughout Canada, from Newfoundland to British Columbia, and a pair will often return to the very same lake year after year. In their breeding plumage, adults are unmistakable, with a glossy black head, a striped collar, and a chequered black-and-white back, a bold pattern that fades to a plain grey once the cold months arrive.

The loon passes through a slow and careful breeding cycle each summer. A pair builds a simple nest of matted plants at the water's edge, close enough that the birds can slip straight into the lake at the first sign of danger. The female usually lays two olive-brown eggs, and both parents take turns keeping them warm for nearly a month. Once hatched, the downy chicks are able to swim within a day, yet they often ride on a parent's back for their first weeks, sheltered from cold water and out of reach of the snapping turtles and large fish below.