Summer’s exodus of Illinois residents into northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula takes many Land of Lincoln drivers through the small town of Mercer, Wis., land of a giant loon.
It’s not a real loon, of course. This unflappable bird sits permanently on the east side of U.S. Highway 51, a mildly amusing sight for first-time passersby and a high point (hey, it’s a break from the otherwise relentlessly rural terrain) for regulars.
On a recent trip to the UP, a Mercer native shared a few facts about the big bird with us. For one thing, the loon is a Packers fan. In the fall, we were told, she sports a cheesehead and a Green Bay Packers jersey.
And how do we know the loon is a she and perhaps a fan of not just football but also classical music?
Well, it’s her name: Claire, as in Claire “da” Loon.
