Great northern loon

The great northern loon (Gavia immer), is a large member of the loon, or diver, family of birds. The species is known as the common loon in North America and the great northern diver in Eurasia; its current name is a compromise proposed by the International Ornithological Committee.

Taxonomy

The great northern loon is one of the five loon species that make up the genus Gavia, the only genus of the family Gavidae and order Gaviiformes. Its closest relative is the other large black-headed species, the yellow-billed loon or white-billed diver, Gavia adamsii.

The genus name Gavia was the Latin term for the smew (Mergellus albellus). This small sea-duck is quite unrelated to loons and just happens to be another black-and-white seabird which swims and dives for fish. It is not likely that the Ancient Romans had much knowledge of loons, as these are limited to more northern latitudes and since the end of the last glacial period seem to have occurred only as rare winter migrants in the Mediterranean region. The specific name immer is derived from North Germanic names for the bird such as modern Icelandic "Himbrimi". The term is related to Swedish immer and emmer, the grey or blackened ashes of a fire, referring to its dark plumage; or to Latin immergo, to immerse, and immersus, submerged.

Great Northern

Great Northern may refer to:

Transport

Other

Great Northern?

Great Northern? is the twelfth and final completed book of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series of children's books. It was published in 1947. In this book, the three families of major characters in the series, the Swallows (the Walker family), the Amazons (the Blackett sisters) and the Ds (the two Callums), are all reunited in a book for the first time since Pigeon Post. This book is set in the Outer Hebrides and the two familiar Ransome themes of sailing and ornithology come to the fore.

Sources

For this story, Ransome was inspired by an adult fan, Myles North, an avid birdwatcher who wrote a letter to Ransome which supplied a detailed outline of much of the basic plot. He also supplied the famous phrase "What's hit's history: what's missed's mystery". Ransome also made a visit to Lewis in the Outer Hebrides for a fishing trip and to research the area as the setting for the book.

Plot summary

The Swallows, Amazons and Ds are all on a sailing cruise with Captain Flint in the Outer Hebrides. While the older members of the party clean the boat before returning her to the owner, the younger ones explore inland and a mysterious bird is seen nesting on an island in a loch. The question arises whether it is a great northern diver, which has never been known to nest in the British Isles, or a black-throated diver.

Great Northern (indie band)

Great Northern is a rock group from Los Angeles composed of lead vocalist/keyboardist Rachel Stolte, guitarist/vocalist Solon Bixler (formerly of Thirty Seconds to Mars), and drummer Davey Latter. In 2007, they were signed with the independent label Eenie Meenie Records, where they released their debut album, Trading Twilight For Daylight (2007), and their second album, Remind Me Where the Light Is (2009). They are no longer with Eenie Meenie Records,. They released their third album Tremors in 2015.

History

Trading Twilight for Daylight (2005–2007)

After recruiting drummer Davey Latter and bassist Ashley Dzerigian, Great Northern hung around Los Angeles while completing material for a debut album. Great Northern signed with the indie label Eenie Meenie Records in the summer of 2006 and began recording with producer Mathias Schneeberger. The band's debut album was completed after about 6 months of song writing,Trading Twilight For Daylight.

The album was recorded at the Donner & Blitzen studio in Arcadia, CA, together with producer/engineer Mathias Schneeberger, whose previous work experience includes Twilight Singers' Joseph Arthur. Having met Schneeberger through a mutual friend, they quickly grew fond of his contributions to the album.