The Annual Loon Count

Join a 40+ year effort to monitor Common Loons in Maine

On the third Saturday of July each year from 7 to 7:30 am, more than 1,800 volunteers venture to over 400 lakes and ponds across the state to count loons. The observations recorded by our community scientist volunteers provide an excellent “snapshot” of the loon population in Maine. Since 1983, volunteers have been counting loons on Maine lakes to help monitor the health of the population.

In this special video (at the bottom of this page), you’ll hear from biologists and loon count organizers at Maine Audubon as well as some of the loon count volunteers to find out what makes the count so special, why the data is important, and how easy it is to be involved!

We’re always looking for new volunteers to help expand our coverage of the state, particularly in northern Maine. If you’re interested in participating in the Loon Count, please fill out this inquiry form to get involved.

Over the course of any given year, our loon biologists field a lot of questions about loon biology, behavior, and migration patterns. We wanted to share answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, so we present: Your Loon Questions Answered.

Annual Loon Count Data

For more than 40 years, community scientists have helped us collect invaluable data to chart the status of our loon population over time. Open the interactive data dashboard (Best viewed on a computer) to view a map of annual loon count results for each lake and explore historic population estimates, survey lakes, and volunteer effort (updated 2026). You can also visit the interactive map on Lakes of Maine to view historic loon count results across Maine lakes alongside other lake data (updated 2025).

2026 Results of the Loon Count

The 43rd Annual Loon Count took place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, and we had more volunteers participating and lakes surveyed than ever before! Population estimates for adults and chicks indicate a healthy Common Loon population in Maine. Look for full details coming soon!

Each year, our estimate is for Maine south of the 45th parallel—roughly south of a line from Rangeley to Calais—which is the area where we have enough lakes covered by counters to make a reliable estimate.