The red-throated loon or red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) is a migratory aquatic bird found in the northern hemisphere. It breeds mainly in Arctic regions, and winters in northern coastal waters. It is the smallest of the loons. In winter, it is a plain bird, greyish above and white below; in the breeding season, it has a distinctive reddish throat patch. Fish form the bulk of its diet, though amphibians, invertebrates, and plant material are also sometimes eaten. A monogamous species, the red-throated loon forms long-term pair bonds. Both members of the pair help to build the nest, incubate typically two eggs and feed the hatched young. The red-throated loon has a large global population and a significant global range, though some populations are declining due to oil spills, habitat degradation, pollution, and entrapment in fishing nets. Natural predators, including various gull species and foxes, will take eggs and young. This species is protected by international treaties.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-throated_loon

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1862:

American Civil War: Confederate spy Belle Boyd was arrested by Union forces after her lover turned her in. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Boyd

1914:

The first shots of World War I were fired by the Austro- Hungarian river monitor SMS Bodrog upon Serbian defences near Belgrade. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_monitor_Sava

1950:

Korean War: U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Regiment troops concluded four days of shootings of civilians, sparked by fears that columns of refugees might contain North Korean spies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Gun_Ri_massacre

2010:

An overloaded passenger ferry capsized on the Kasai River in Bandundu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in at least 80 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasai_River_disaster

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

smocking: (sewing) An embroidery technique in which the fabric is gathered and then embroidered with decorative stitches to hold the gathers in place; the product of the use of this embroidery technique. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/smocking

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

䷙ The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity And many deeds of the past, In order to strengthen his character thereby.   --I Ching https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/I_Ching