According to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, loons are a "symbol of the Canadian north." The Canadian Wildlife Service describes loons as being "beautiful and special -- symbolizing wilderness and solitude." The common loon has been Ontario's official bird since 1994, and the bird is featured on Canada's one-dollar coin.

"Loons are nasty," said Joe Jehl Jr., a research associate at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and author of Birdlife of the Churchill Region. "If you look at the sterna in any decent loon skeletal collection, you will find many punctures caused by fighting."

A July 18 incident near Churchill is the most recent illustration of nasty unprovoked loon aggression. According to a Nature First guide, who witnessed the event, a Pacific loon killed a new-born long-tailed duckling by repeatedly whacking it with its powerful wings. A post mortem, by United States Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Matt Perry, confirmed extensive internal injuries. A very similar incident took place near Churchill on July 11, 1984. According to witnesses, a loon "attacked a duckling by grabbing the back of its head and thrashing it back and forth" until it died, in about 30 seconds.