10th Annual Loon Census A Success
by Editorial Staff
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Adirondack Program, Adirondack residents and visitors, and other partners have successfully conducted the 10th Annual New York Loon Census.
More than 300 lakes and ponds were surveyed by more than 500 volunteers during this year’s census—up from 200 lakes and ponds last year. The data obtained during the census will be added and compared to those collected in years prior to gauge the status of the breeding loon population in and around the Adirondack Park and across New York State.
As part of an effort to better understand the status, structure and threats to the regional loon population, WCS initiated the loon census in 2001. One of the major findings of the annual census: The Adirondack loon population has almost doubled since the last pre-census analysis in the 1980s and now totals some 1,500-2,000 birds.
Presently, common loons are considered a “Species of Special Concern” in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and are listed as “Endangered” in Vermont and “Threatened” in New Hampshire and Michigan. Across the Northeast, they face myriad challenges including habitat loss, climate change, and threats from environmental toxins such as increasing mercury concentrations in the lakes where they live.
After review of the data forms sent in by volunteers, the results of the last 10 years of the loon census will be announced by WCS next spring. Censuses like the one conducted in the Adirondacks occurred in other northeastern states as well on Saturday to provide a more comprehensive look at population numbers throughout the region. The results of census efforts will help to guide management decisions and policies that affect loons.
If you’d like to join the census in 2011, contact WCS’ Adirondack Office at (518) 891-8872 or e-mail adkloon@wcs.org.
4 Comments:
Anecdotal evidence of loon recovery: In the past we've felt lucky to see one or two loons while we're out hiking. During a weekend backpack along the NP Trail from Piseco to Wakely Dam last weekend, we saw multiple loons every day. Sunday morning we woke up to SEVEN loons frolicking on Spruce Lake. Quite a treat!
Also anecdotal, but I have been amazed to see and hear so many Loons this year at Loon Lake (where I live and which has been fairly devoid of Loons) and even last weekend on a very busy Lake George where we heard and saw apparently two separate Loons. I'm guessing that when the numbers come out in the spring, we'll be surprised by the come back.
It's wonderful that bald eagles are making a strong comeback, but they find fuzzy loon chicks easy prey. I'd like to see parallel studies of loon and eagle counts.
In more than thirty years of spending extensive time on Lake George we had never seen any loons. Just the last three or four years we've been seeing them. Not a lot, certainly, but to see even a few is wonderful!
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