On a recent ferry ride out to the Casco Bay Islands, I spotted hundreds of Common Loons on the ocean, many of them busy diving and foraging for their seasonal diet of saltwater prey. The majority had already traded in their striking black-and-white tuxedo worn during the breeding season in exchange for the duller, grayish-brown […]
Loons
Tackling Lead, One Retailer at a Time: It Adds Up!
Earlier this fall, an ad playing on the radio caught Dana Jenkins’ attention. “Calling all fishing tackle stores in Maine,” the announcer’s voice said. “Maine Audubon wants to pay your store for its lead tackle. A new law makes it illegal to sell painted lead jigs weighing 1 ounce or less or measuring 2.5 inches […]
Maine Sport Outfitters first retailer to take part in lead tackle buyback program
As a new law expanding the ban on sales of certain sizes of lead tackle comes into effect, we are working to help tackle stores adapt and respond, by offering to buy their inventory. We’ve just had our first success story this week and wanted to share the news! Thanks to a grant from Maine […]
The Forecast? Loons Won’t Nest in Cloudy Waters
As the field season comes to a close, the loons are beginning to make their way back to the ocean and Loon Restoration Project interns are wrapping up their field seasons with Maine Audubon. Earlier in the season, after reading a study focused on loons and their reactions to poor water clarity, intern Anne Heissenbuttel […]
Maine Audubon offers money to retailers to buy back lead tackle
Calling all Maine fishing tackle retailers: Maine Audubon is offering to buy back your store’s lead tackle to help get it off the shelves—and keep it out of lakes. As of September 1, 2024, the sale of painted lead jigs weighing one ounce or less or measuring less than 2.5 inches long is prohibited, and […]
Feeling the impact: End of season thoughts from the Loon Restoration Crew
Above photo: The 2024 Loon Restoration Crew. Top Row (left to right): Tracy Hart, Brooke Adam, Autumn Dorr, Anne Heissenbuttel. Bottom Row (left to right): Marley Cloutier, Oskar Mattes, Ethan Daly. © Oskar Mattes By Ethan Daly, Loon Restoration Team Technician The total impact of conservation work is rarely seen by those who make it happen. […]
Maine Audubon Annual Loon Count Set for July 20
Nothing symbolizes summer in Maine quite like the haunting wail of a loon. The urge to help them and make sure that future generations will be able to hear that call is what has galvanized people to turn out, year after year, early on a Saturday morning in July, to count loons and aid in […]
Help Loons on the Fourth of July
Maine Audubon has been working to protect Common Loons for decades, so we know that the Fourth of July is one of the busiest periods on Maine lakes and ponds. The potential for conflict is high, especially since many loons have vulnerable chicks by their sides in July or may still be nesting. In many […]
Happy Fourth of July: Loon Restoration Project Update
By Ethan Daly, Loon Restoration Team Technician I was recently checking in on one of our new loon nesting raft sites near Gray, Maine. As I stood on the shore, speaking with a volunteer about how to minimize human disturbances to the raft, we watched two paddle boarders weave in between our strategically placed raft […]