Bateman, Robert (2008) - Common Loon (Bon Echo Provincial Park) [Acrylic on canvas] ©Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The common loon is a large water bird whose mournful cry is often heard across many cottage country lakes. Loons can stay submerged in water for almost a minute and reach depths of about 80 metres during dives for fish. Although not threatened, many loons are dying from ingestion of lead sinkers from discarded fishing line. Bon Echo Provincial Park is on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield in Eastern Ontario. Its most impressive natural aspect is the Mazinaw Rock, a 1.5 km long rock face that rises 100 metres above Mazinaw Lake. The rock features 260 native pictographs, the largest visible collection in Canada and one of the largest concentrations in North America. Mr. Bateman included Mazinaw Rock and a pictograph in his painting of the common loon.