LOONS

For information about the common loon, click HERE

Want to hear a loon call? Click HERE

Watch a video about the common loon HERE

Save a Loon—Turn in Your Lead Fishing Tackle!

Lead poisoning resulting from the ingestion of lead fishing tackle is by far the largest known killer of adult loons in the state and has been responsible for 39% of documented adult loon mortalities in New Hampshire since 1989. Lead sinkers and lead-headed jigs weighing one ounce or less (the sizes most often ingested by loons) have been illegal for sale and freshwater use in New Hampshire since 2016. Help us protect our loons by cleaning out your tackle box and bringing any lead tackle that you have to our annual meeting on (annual meeting date & time). The tackle will be transferred to the Loon Preservation Committee for proper disposal. If you’d prefer to get cash for your old lead, you can participate in the Loon Preservation Committee’s Lead Tackle Buyback program. As part of this program, you can turn in lead tackle at participating retail locations, where you will receive a $10 merchandise voucher to that location. LPC will award $100 to the person who submits the largest amount of tackle at each participating shop and $50 to the runner-up. Visit Loon.org/loonsafe for program details.

Loon Census Reports

2019 NH Loon Census Results

12 August 2019

Dear Census Participant,

Thanks again to everyone who worked so hard to make our loon field season a success this year!

In July, LPC volunteers and staff members participated in our Annual Loon Census. The Loon Census is a yearly event that helps us to get a ‘snapshot’ of our loon population. On census day, volunteers simultaneously survey as many loon territories as possible. This not only helps us to accurately count loons, but also provides a mid-season check on loon nests and chicks and helps to alert us to the presence of loons or nests that we might not have been previously aware of. I am glad to be able to share the results of the Loon Census with you now!

On the census day, we had:

520 census participants, who monitored a combined total of 104 lakes and ponds throughout the state

430 adult loons

79 loon chicks

6 immature loons

I want to extend a sincere thank you to all who participated in the Loon Census this year for helping to bolster our monitoring efforts!

*Please note that while we had census participants on many of the lakes that LPC routinely monitors, the census did not cover all of the lakes in our state that have loons on them. Because of this, the numbers provided here underrepresent the the true size of our loon population. The census is an invaluable part of LPC’s season-long monitoring, and we look forward to sharing our finalized population and productivity numbers with you soon!

All the best,

Caroline Hughes
Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator Loon Preservation Committee

2018 NH LoonCensus Results

10 September 2018

Dear Census Participant,
Thank you for your participation in the 2018 Loon Census! This year, 513 observers covered 126 of New Hampshire’s lakes during the annual loon census, just over one third of the lakes that LPC surveys and monitors annually. A few loons were still on nests during the census on July 21—definitely a bit on the late side, but not out of question. In fact, later that day, the first chick hatched on LPC’s live loon cam. They couldn’t have timed it better! Caldwell Pond in Alstead, Contention Pond in Hillsborough, and Governor’s Lake in Raymond were new lakes added to our list of census lakes this year. A total of 469 adult loons were tallied, 5 immature loons (1-2 years old) and 86 loon chicks. Census participants were of all ages, from 9-75 (there may have been a younger or older participant that we are not aware of)! On one lake in our Seacoast monitoring region, the loon census is really a family event spanning four generations! That is pretty special.

Preliminary numbers from our season-long monitoring saw an increase in the number of nesting pairs, chicks hatched, and chicks surviving in 2018, but we lost more chicks at a higher rate than usual. With another year of high adult loon mortalities from ingested lead fishing tackle, it makes you wonder where the chicks will be coming from to replace these adults that have died. See the upcoming LPC Fall Newsletter (due out in November) for a detailed recap of the 2018 season. We are always happy to hear about other loon activity throughout the summer and fall. Please feel free to contact us anytime to let us know what you are seeing on your lake.

On behalf of everyone at LPC, thank you for being part of this annual event! Your observations give us a “snapshot” in time of how the loon population is doing, and these results are rolled into our season-long monitoring. Save the date for the 2019 loon census on Saturday, July 20.

Sincerely,
Susie Burbidge, John Cooley, Caroline Hughes,
Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator Senior Biologist Field Program Coordinator

2017 NH Loon Census Results

13 September 2017

Dear Census Participant,

Thank you for your participation in the 2017 Loon Census! Your observations are part of a statewide snapshot of the loon population that informs LPC’s seasonal monitoring, and coincides with loon counts on the same day in Vermont, Maine, and New York. Thank you again for being a part of this annual event!

This year, 485 observers covered 118 of New Hampshire’s lakes during the annual count on July 15th, about one third of the lakes that LPC surveys and monitors annually. A few census participants were probably surprised to see some loons still on the nest in the middle of July—a result of high water levels early in the season and a slight delay in nesting. The Enfield Reservoir in Enfield and Little Island Pond in Pelham were added to our list of census lakes this year. A total of 423 adult loons were tallied, 7 immature loons and 47 loon chicks. The 8-9 o’clock hour saw a slight drizzle in some parts of the state and dense fog in others, but that did not keep too many of our volunteers from venturing out on their lakes. The youngest census participant was 3-year old Addison on Ossipee Lake. We can’t think of a better way to foster a love for loons to the next generation of loon watchers!

Preliminary numbers from our season-long monitoring saw a decrease in the number of nesting pairs and chicks hatched in 2017. See the upcoming LPC Fall Newsletter (due out in November) for a detailed recap of the breeding season. We are always happy to hear about other loon activity throughout the summer and fall. Please feel free to contact us anytime to let us know what you are seeing on your lake.

On behalf of everyone at LPC, thank you again for participating in the 2017 loon count! Save the date for the 2018 loon census on Saturday, July 21.

Sincerely,

Susie Burbidge John Cooley Caroline Hughes
Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator Senior Biologist Field Program Coordinator

2016 NH Loon Census Results

16 August 2016

Dear Census Participant,

Thank you for your participation in the 2016 Loon Census! Your observations are part of a statewide snapshot of the loon population that informs LPC’s seasonal monitoring, and coincides with loon counts on the same day in Vermont, Maine, and New York. Thank you again for being a part of it!

This year, 526 observers covered 121 of New Hampshire’s lakes during the annual count on July 16th, about one third of the lakes that LPC surveys and monitors annually. The census turned up a few surprises this year including a late nest on Ossipee Lake. Horn Pond in Wakefield was added to our list of census lakes, and participants on Streeter Pond celebrated the first-ever count of loon chicks there (in at least 40 years)! A total of 445 adult loons were tallied, 3 immature loons and 74 loon chicks. Better weather this year probably contributed to a greater turnout and a slightly higher number of adult loons observed this year than last. Stay tuned for the upcoming LPC Fall Newsletter for full details on the 2016 season.

Please plan on joining us at one of the following volunteer appreciation potlucks:

Tuesday, August 23 at 6 pm: The Harris Center, 83 King’s Highway, Hancock

Wednesday, August 24 at 6 pm: Canaan Meeting House, near 450 Canaan Street, Canaan (across from Canaan Street Lake)

Thursday, August 25 at 5:30 pm: The Loon Center, 183 Lee’s Mill Road, Moultonborough

Please bring a dish to share. We will provide beverages, plates and utensils. RSVP to Susie at [email protected] or call 603-477-2884 and let us know what you are bringing. Friends & family are welcome. After the potluck, Harry Vogel will present trends in New Hampshire’s loon population and a wrap-up of the 2016 season. On August 25, Nature Photographer John Rockwood will also present a multi-media slideshow featuring loons on Lake Massabesic.

On behalf of everyone at LPC, thank you again for participating in our annual loon count!

Susie Burbidge John Cooley Caroline Hughes

Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator Senior Biologist Field Program Coordinator