Maine Audubon Annual Loon Count set for July 16 – Mount Desert Islander

FALMOUTH — For practically 4 a long time, Maine Audubon has been learning loon conduct and interesting volunteers throughout Maine in conservation efforts to bolster the loon inhabitants. One in every of its strongest and in style instruments is the Annual Loon Rely, scheduled this 12 months for Saturday, July 16, from 7-7:30 a.m. 

This occasion has engaged greater than a thousand volunteers since 1983. On the third Saturday of July, contributors head out in skiffs, kayaks and pontoon boats to tally the widespread loons they see. Final 12 months, volunteers of all ages counted loons on 328 Maine lakes. 

Maine Audubon makes use of the statewide snapshot to estimate the annual inhabitants and monitor inhabitants traits throughout the a long time. The data helps biologists, state officers and Maine lake customers perceive extra concerning the loons’ standing and the well being of Maine’s lakes.  

“The depend offers us a window into the standing and adjustments in Maine’s widespread loon inhabitants over time,” stated Tracy Hart, Maine Audubon wildlife ecologist.   

For the reason that loon depend’s inception in 1983, the variety of grownup loons within the southern half of the state has basically doubled, from an preliminary estimate of fewer than 1,500 to almost 3,000 in 2020. That is thanks partially to conservation efforts just like the Maine lead deal with ban and the Fish Lead Free Initiative (www.fishleadfree.org/me) thave helped cut back the variety of grownup loons that die from swallowing lead deal with.  

Final 12 months, Maine Audubon acquired a five-year grant to develop the Maine Loon Undertaking and to associate with Maine Lakes, Lakes Environmental Affiliation and the Penobscot Indian Nation to work to enhance loon productiveness and cut back mortality within the state.  

The brand new partnership, the Loon Restoration Undertaking, is a chance to work with native volunteers to begin documenting loon nesting successes and failures in additional depth. Key parts embody inserting synthetic nesting rafts the place applicable and creating a sturdy volunteer loon monitoring program. 

Extra data is out there at www.maineaudubon.org/loons.