It was a milestone year for Maine Audubon’s Annual Loon Count. The count turned 40 in July, and volunteer counters tallied loons on the highest number of lakes since the Loon Count began.
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| Maine Audubon estimates that 2,892 adult loons and 411 loon chicks were residing on lakes in the southern half of Maine when the Annual Loon Count was conducted on July 15. COURTESY PHOTO |
Though the count itself lasts only half an hour, loon count volunteers and coordinators commit to much more than just 30 minutes. From the Rangeley Lakes region to Moosehead and down to Sebago, coordinators are organizing counters on huge lakes, helping assign people to one of many survey areas, conducting outreach, and tallying up their individual lake numbers. Counters get out on the lakes earlier than 7 a.m. making sure their boat tanks are full and scouting locations and boundaries.
“The continued dedication from loon counters over the last 40 years is a testament to how committed people are to loons and conservation efforts in Maine,” said Maine Audubon Loon Count Coordinator Hannah Young. “Every counter has a unique story about how they became involved or what the loons mean to them — this project is lucky to have such a range of experiences and backgrounds.”
Now for the numbers: Across the 374 lakes included, counters tallied 2,299 adults and 178 chicks. To determine the loon population estimate for the southern half of Maine (south of the 45th parallel, where enough lakes are covered by counters to determine a reliable estimate) Maine Audubon estimates the adult and chick numbers across all lakes in the southern half based on a random sample of those actually counted. Based on those calculations, it projects a population of 2,892 adults and 411 chicks for the southern half of Maine.
This is the second year in a row the estimated population of adults has decreased, but Maine Audubon biologists are not worried. There was a similar drop in adult numbers between 2005 to 2007 and again in 2018 to 2020, but both times were followed by a marked increase in the next year. As a reminder, the estimates look at numbers over time, and since the overall trend has continued upwards over the years, the year-to-year fluctuations are not worrisome.
Generally, changes over a three- to five-year time frame might be cause for some concern, but we’re not there yet, especially noting the increase in chicks.
As with the adult numbers, year-to-year fluctuations of the chick population are not unusual but the marked increase this year is exciting. In addition, this will hopefully result in higher adult numbers down the road as these chicks reach breeding age (in six or seven years). So. Maine Audubon is celebrating this 113 chick increase, up from 298 chicks estimated in the 2022 count to 411 chicks in 2023, with the understanding that it expects to see these ups and downs.
There is not enough coverage in the northern portion of Maine (north of the 45th parallel) to confidently provide an estimate of the loon population for that part of the state. However, volunteers are counting lakes there; of the 374 lakes counted, 69 of those were north of the 45th parallel, and on those lakes, volunteers tallied 522 adults and 31 chicks.
This number cannot be used as a straight comparison to the southern part of the state, but it can serve as a reference for loon numbers and northern coverage, and Maine Audubon hopes both will increase, moving forward. When the loon count began 40 years ago, aerial surveys were done to count on 100 random lakes to estimate the loon population in the north, so if you’re a pilot and interested in starting this up again, reach out to conserve@maineaudubon.org
And in outstanding news, together with the help of loon counters—who made up many of the 1,000-plus people who signed Maine Audubon’s petition in favor of LD 958 – a new law was passed which will phase out the sale and use of painted lead fishing tackle, finally closing a dangerous loophole.
Lead poisoning has long been one of the leading causes of death for adult loons in Maine. Common Loons can accidentally ingest lost or discarded lead tackle when it sinks to the bottom of a lake or pond, causing illness and death.
Following a five-year phase-out process, it has been illegal to sell and/or use lead sinkers and bare “unpainted” jigs (weighing less than an ounce in weight or measuring less than 2.5 inches in length) in Maine since 2017. Now painted lead jigs within these size and weight limitations will also be phased out, bringing Maine’s waterways one step closer to being safer for loons. <
Generally, changes over a three- to five-year time frame might be cause for some concern, but we’re not there yet, especially noting the increase in chicks.
As with the adult numbers, year-to-year fluctuations of the chick population are not unusual but the marked increase this year is exciting. In addition, this will hopefully result in higher adult numbers down the road as these chicks reach breeding age (in six or seven years). So. Maine Audubon is celebrating this 113 chick increase, up from 298 chicks estimated in the 2022 count to 411 chicks in 2023, with the understanding that it expects to see these ups and downs.
There is not enough coverage in the northern portion of Maine (north of the 45th parallel) to confidently provide an estimate of the loon population for that part of the state. However, volunteers are counting lakes there; of the 374 lakes counted, 69 of those were north of the 45th parallel, and on those lakes, volunteers tallied 522 adults and 31 chicks.
This number cannot be used as a straight comparison to the southern part of the state, but it can serve as a reference for loon numbers and northern coverage, and Maine Audubon hopes both will increase, moving forward. When the loon count began 40 years ago, aerial surveys were done to count on 100 random lakes to estimate the loon population in the north, so if you’re a pilot and interested in starting this up again, reach out to conserve@maineaudubon.org
And in outstanding news, together with the help of loon counters—who made up many of the 1,000-plus people who signed Maine Audubon’s petition in favor of LD 958 – a new law was passed which will phase out the sale and use of painted lead fishing tackle, finally closing a dangerous loophole.
Lead poisoning has long been one of the leading causes of death for adult loons in Maine. Common Loons can accidentally ingest lost or discarded lead tackle when it sinks to the bottom of a lake or pond, causing illness and death.
Following a five-year phase-out process, it has been illegal to sell and/or use lead sinkers and bare “unpainted” jigs (weighing less than an ounce in weight or measuring less than 2.5 inches in length) in Maine since 2017. Now painted lead jigs within these size and weight limitations will also be phased out, bringing Maine’s waterways one step closer to being safer for loons. <
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