A Thousand Volunteers to Count Maine's Loons July 16

FALMOUTH — July 8, 2005

Scientists interested to see if recent rainy, cold weather has affected population

More than 1,000 "citizen scientist" volunteers will be out on lakes and ponds across the state from 7-7:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 16 to record a half-hour snapshot of Maine's loon population for Maine Audubon's 22nd annual loon count.

"It's been a tough year for loons so far," said Susan Gallo, wildlife biologist at Maine Audubon and director of the organization's Maine Loon Project. High water on many lakes and ponds has made nesting difficult for loons, flooding out traditional lakeside nest sites. Storms have washed away existing nests and eggs, forcing many loon pairs to attempt second or third nests. As a result, loon chicks may be hatching later this year.

The annual loon count, launched in 1983 by Maine Audubon and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, is timed so that in a typical year most young loons will have recently hatched. "Loon chick mortality from predators, lack of food, disturbance or stress is so high in those first few weeks that we want to find and count the chicks right away before they disappear," said Gallo. "But," she adds, "this is certainly not a typical year weather-wise, so our citizen scientists may find fewer chicks than usual." On average, loons produce only one chick every other year, and Maine's loon productivity may be even lower.

The number of Maine Audubon citizen scientists who count loons has grown each year from a few hundred in 1983 to almost 1,000 in 2004. "Maine's loons are fortunate to have a large group of volunteers dedicated to their well-being," said Gallo. "This monitoring project simply couldn't happen without them." Many volunteers not only count loons each year but also lobby legislators to protect loon habitat and lake water quality.

Reporters/Editors: If you'd like to interview a volunteer counter or coordinator or accompany one on the count, call (207) 781-2332, ext. 241, or e-mail acolvin@maineaudubon.org.

On count day, each volunteer is assigned a lake or a portion of a lake to count loons and chicks from shore or a boat. After volunteers mark on a map of their lake the time and location of each loon sighting, regional coordinators tally the total number of loons on each lake and
report the figures to Maine Audubon for analysis.

At 4,300 adults, Maine's loon population is the largest in New England. However, Maine's loons suffer from extremely low productivity compared to neighboring states. Shoreline development, high levels of mercury and other toxins, lead sinkers, and boats all pose problems to breeding loons and their chicks.

Not only did last year's loon count show a plateau in the adult population, it also revealed a decline in the population of Maine's loon chicks for the second year in a row. Gallo notes, however, that historically loon chick numbers rebound after two or three years of decline.

Maine Audubon is no longer accepting volunteers for this year's count, but those who would like to participate in the 2006 loon count can contact Susan Gallo at (207) 781-6180, ext. 216.

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action.

With a 160-year history of connecting people with nature, Maine Audubon is the only organization in Maine working to conserve wildlife in three ways: providing hands-on environmental education for people of all ages, conducting research and wildlife conservation projects statewide and taking action to help shape effective science-based conservation policy.

Support for Maine Audubon comes from its 11,000 members and supporters, including individuals, foundations and corporations. Maine Audubon’s 11 public wildlife sanctuaries on 3,000 acres, along with its environmental-education centers, camps and hundreds of trips, programs and volunteer opportunities throughout the year, offer children through senior citizens wide-ranging opportunities to explore, learn about and care for Maine’s wildlife.

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