“Loons of Tacoma Lakes,” by Sandra Lee Huston; illustrations by Sandra Lee Huston; published by S. L. Huston, 2006; 72 pages; $24.95.

During childhood, I often stayed overnight at my family’s camp on Toddy Pond. In the early morning hours, we’d wake to the sound of waves gently lapping on the sandy beach, and the haunting cry of a loon. I love that sound, and Sandra Lee Huston does, too. She took it one step further and published a book about loons.

“Loons of Tacoma Lakes” is full of glossy color photos concentrating on a pair of common loons and their two chicks over the course of the summer of 2005. Huston used a kayak and a Canon EOS Rebel 2000 camera with a 300mm zoom lens. It enabled her to take detailed pictures, and as time went by, she and a friend managed to get within a few feet of the birds. “It is a very humbling experience to be this close and personal and not have the loons respond to us in fear,” observed Huston.

The preface describes how the following winter Huston got the idea of putting together a book while examining the pictures she took. She faced the challenge of researching and writing about loons – and not making the text too technical for readers.

According to Huston, the common loon inhabits freshwater ponds and lakes. Their size is 28 to 36 inches in length, with a wingspan of some 5 feet. Since they are clumsy when walking (loon means clumsy in old Norse), they make their nests close to water to more easily escape from danger. Two eggs are usually laid, and the parents take turns sitting on them. The other will fish by diving underwater, then reappear near or far away, and preen its feathers.

Loons have four distinct calls: the hoot, when they are in groups; the haunting wail heard at night; the warning call that is the tremolo (my favorite); and a yodel used by a male to defend its territory. “…there is no sound more relaxing to hear when sitting by a campfire than the call of a loon, and it is one reason why many tourists continue to return to our Maine lakes year after year for vacations.”

Huston has captions beneath each picture indicating which week and what number the image is on the roll of film. She also titled each photo, such as “Feeding Time,” “Loon fishing,” “Watchful eye,” “Calm reflection.” Opposite is text explaining the circumstances of each picture and informative blurbs concerning loons.

Huston also includes her feelings on the subject. for example, she says, “This book was created through the grace of God and a very special pair of Maine loons.” She adds that she was “humbled by their trust and patience.” The reader will share in her sentiment by viewing the beautiful and expertly taken photos. We see the chicks mature week by week. Bodies become light brown and speckled white with black bands on the neck. Bright red eyes help filter out underwater sunlight for easier fishing.

Midway in the book are majestic pictures of sunsets that display clouds with tones of lavender and blue contrasted with dark wooded shorelines. We see the last light from the sky, rose and gold colored, reflected off the surface of ponds. It is Maine.

At the end is a list of safety tips, such as collect loose fishing line so the loons don’t get entangled and die, and avoid lead sinkers that would poison them. The last page has a map of four area ponds of the Tacoma Lakes region. Huston focused on the two largest – Woodbury and Sand. The weekends were the principle days she used for what would become a work of keen interest to her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, being a native of Maine. The illustrations are captivating and if one needs to hear or be reminded of how loons sound, Huston adds an online address for that purpose, www.sbaa.ca/projects.asp?cn=303. Scroll down and click on the “loon sounds.”

The book ends all too soon. “Although the fall season is my favorite time of year, I am sad that it has come so fast, and the loons will soon be leaving for their wintering grounds,” Huston writes.

Edward M. Turner is a freelance writer living in Biddeford who has published stories, essays and poems. His novel, “Rogues Together,” won the 2002 Eppies Award for best in action/adventure.