About the Maine Loon Project

There is certainly no shortage of questions to answer about loon conservation.

For example, are the loons we see in our count breeding or are they “bachelor” loons just hanging out for the summer? How many loon pairs fail to breed because they don’t have a territory? How successful are loons that do nest, and how many fail due to predators, people, weather or poor water quality? What role does habitat play in loon nesting? Is habitat a limiting factor for loons, and has habitat quality declined in the recent past due to shoreline development, recreational use or changes in water quality? What else can we do to spread the word about Maine’s loons and assure their future is secure?

To answer those questions and to continue our advocacy for loon conservation, we're employing Maine Audubon's strategy of working on three fronts—conservation, action and education.

CONSERVATION

We have started a pilot project with about two dozen loon count volunteers who will track loon productivity on different lakes across the state over the entire summer. Finding out more about how many loon chicks survive each year is a step towards answering some of the questions listed above, and key to our understanding of loon biology in Maine.

ACTION

Maine Audubon is a strong advocate for bills in the legislature that strengthen clean air and clean water laws. Maine's loons are the beneficiaries of laws that keep toxics like dioxins and lead out of our watersheds. We are hoping to draft a bill this fall that would enhance the lead sinker ban originally established in 2000, and we hope to work with other environmental organizations on the national front to make progress on reductions in air pollution.

EDUCATION

The Maine Loon Project has updated its loon ecology presentation—popular with groups of all ages—to include video and audio clips. These presentations are given to lake associations and other interested groups all around the state every summer, and provide information that help lake users protect and conserve our loons.

We are currently developing a new digital loon curriculum for release sometime in the fall of 2006 for grades 4-6. The curriculum will use video footage from Biodiversity's “loon camera” to help illustrate the scientific and biological information it presents.

Of course, how much more the project can do is largely determined by the funding it receives. Current core financial support from Maine Audubon members and Maine Loon Project participants as well as a few important foundations will always be an important source of support, and we thank the many individuals and groups who have contributed so generously over the last two decades to this project.

Additional support from grants and foundations help us create special projects like our lead sinker outreach efforts or the ”Living in Loon Territory” brochure, although in tight economic times those sources are harder to find. But—valuable and determined, like the loons it studies and seeks to protect—the Maine Loon Project will persevere.

We certainly have no shortage of work to do, or inspiring and energizing volunteers to help us. And most importantly, we have a healthy population of loons whose future will benefit from our programs and progress.

Annual Loon Count

The annual count has always been the centerpiece of the Maine Loon Project, and for good reason. It brings together a diverse group of "citizen scientists" young and old. They’re longtime Maine residents and first-time Maine visitors, experienced birders and people testing their first pair of binoculars. Anyone can participate, and all are welcome.

An accurate assessment of Maine’s loon population could only happen with such a passionate group of loon conservation advocates. The future of the Maine Loon Project will always depend on these dedicated count participants.

Education

"Maine's Majestic Loons"

Would your civic group or lake association like to know more about loons living in Maine, their habits, natural history and the threats they face on Maine's lakes and ponds?

Maine Loon Project staff have a dynamic slide show with stunning photographs, loon calls and up-to-date information about the status of Maine's loons and the threats they face.

The show runs between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the time available.

Donations to the Maine Loon Project in the amount of $75 are requested for the show. If you or your group is interested in scheduling a slide show, please call 781-6180 ext. 216.

Newsletter, Fact Sheets & More

Loon News / 2007 

Loon News / 2006 

Loon News / 2005 

Loon News / 2004 

Loon News / 2003 

Living in Loon Territory

The Common Loon (fact sheet)

Loon Protection (fact sheet)

"Loon Cam"

Loon Mortalilty Study

Maine Audubon is assisting Tufts University with their work on loon mortality. If you find a dead loon please contact Susan Gallo at Maine Audubon, (781-6180 ext. 216). She’ll make arrangements with you for storing the loon and for shipping it to Tufts University.

Advocacy

On the “action” front, Maine Audubon depends on all of our supporters to speak up for wildlife. Maine's loon counters are among our most dedicated advocates. "Maine's loons are fortunate to have a large group of volunteers dedicated to their well-being," said Gallo. Many volunteers not only count loons each year but also lobby Maine's lawmakers to protect loon habitat and lake water quality.