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, …
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2021 Annual Loon Count Shows Importance of Long Term Studies
Adults up, chicks down, but what does it all mean? As Maine Audubon releases the data from its 2021 Annual Loon Count, it underscores the importance of long-term studies and highlights the need to look beyond the one-day count to understand the data. The annual loon count takes place on the …
Roundup: Reports & Images from the 35th Annual Loon Count
Saturday morning, July 21, was the 35th year of Maine Audubon's Annual Loon Count. On Lakes and ponds around the state, over 1,400 volunteers headed out to tally the loon adults and chicks in their designated areas. Over the coming days and weeks, their reports will be collected and aggregated, …
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 …
Annual loon count scheduled for July 16
Did you know that loon chicks can swim right away but need parental care for their first three months? That the shape of a loon’s forehead or length of its neck can change to indicate stress? And that Maine is fortunate to be home to the largest Common Loon population in the Northeast? For nearly …
Loon Count Results 2015
Rarely does a Maine summer day start out with such bad weather as it did on Saturday, July 18, 2015. Unfortunately, for Maine Audubon's dedicated corps of loon counters, this was also the morning of the 32nd annual loon count. Counters reported every form of rain imaginable, from hard and steady to …
Out in the Field: Dale Gardner, Loon Counter
Location: Bennett Pond, Parkman Years participating in loon count: 10 How did you first hear about the loon count? I first learned about the count when I read an article in the Bangor Daily News I thought it sounded interesting – there are not a lot of people on Bennett Pond in the warmer months, …
Guest blog post: Passing the Loon Count baton
My loon-count crew was ready with time to spare, fortified with Fruit Loops and cranberry juice (I know it’s a sugar bomb, but hey, we’re grandparents). I spread the map on the console of the boat, shoved off from the dock, and headed out to do my part for loon science on sector 3 of China …
The Maine Loon Count Turns 35!
It's nearly here! This year marks the 35th year that volunteers have been participating in annual Maine Loon Count. For three-and-a-half decades, dedicated volunteers have fanned out across the state to contribute to this important data-gathering event. This year, the loon project is proud to …