Once again, as they have every year since 1983, volunteers across Maine set their alarm clocks early, gulped down some coffee, and were out on lakes by 7 a.m. to record observations about Common Loons in the Annual Loon Count. For half an hour, more than a thousand volunteers were paddling kayaks, …
Loons
Maine Audubon and partners receive grant for loon restoration
In 2003, 98,000 gallons of oil spilled in Buzzards Bay from a tank barge called Bouchard B-120. An estimated 531 Common Loons, overwintering in Buzzards Bay (off the coasts of MA and RI), died from direct or indirect impacts from this spill. Now, a natural resources damage settlement from this …
Maine Audubon Annual Loon Count Set for July 17
A loon glides across a still lake, the white dots on its black wings appearing to sparkle in the reflection off the water. But suddenly it gives out a quavering laugh. This “tremolo” usually means the loon feels alarmed or threatened. What has bothered this loon? It might be another loon intruding …
It’s Mayhem: Maine Audubon is busting out all over
In the same way that blossoms started to unfurl and migratory birds began to appear, so too did restless Maine Audubon staffers, tentative at first, and then all at once in a glorious riot of activity. May was the busiest month we’ve seen in ages, in terms of our interaction with the public. …
Volunteers Get Creative During 2020 Annual Loon Count
In a year when it seemed like just about everything could go wrong, a few things did go right. Thanks to 48 regional coordinators and 1,347 volunteers, Maine Audubon's Annual Loon Count was one of them. They overcame many hurdles in order to complete the annual snapshot census of Maine's loon …
Lead Tackle Buy Back Program Off to Great Start
There's nothing more iconic than the haunting call of a Common Loon. But loons are way more than just icons. The loon's dependence on clear, clean water and healthy fish populations makes it an important biological indicator, and long-term studies have shown that lead poisoning from the ingestion of …
Notes on the 2020 Loon Count!
This year marked the thirty-seventh straight year that Maine Audubon has engaged volunteers, early in the morning on the third Saturday of July, to count loons on lakes across the state. The 2020 Maine Annual Loon Count stands out in this long-running tradition for a few reasons. Falling this …
Maine Audubon Annual Loon Count Set for July 18
Nothing says summer in Maine more than the evocative tremolo call of a loon. And now that summer is officially here, it's time to take stock of our loon population once more, in one of Maine Audubon's signature events: the annual Loon Count. This year, the 37th annual count will take place on …
Connections: Living with Loons
Summer is almost here and school (as we've recently known it) will be done soon. For many people, summer in Maine means spending time in or near water. With over 6,000 lakes and ponds to choose from, perhaps you'll be finding yourself in the habitat of one of Maine's most iconic bird species: the …