State: Help protect loons and their young

A nesting loon on Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park, Vermont. (VTF&W photo by Tom Rogers)

Few birding experiences rival hearing the haunting call of the loon or seeing them glide by in protected coves on a lake.  However, for the birds’ protection, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking boaters and anglers to enjoy loons from a safe distance this summer.

“Loons were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list in 2005, but they face continued threats from human disturbance during the breeding season and ingestion of fishing gear,” said Doug Morin, wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

“Many areas where loons nest on Vermont’s lakes are surrounded by signs reminding people to give loons the space they need, but not all nesting areas are marked,” Morin added. “We’re asking people to enjoy loons from a distance rather than approaching them, whether you are in a boat or on shore.” 

Morin also reminded people to avoid lead fishing tackle.  Every year Vermont loons die from lead poisoning after swallowing fishing tackle. Lead sinkers weighing one-half ounce or less are prohibited in Vermont, but larger tackle­­­ still has the capacity to slough off lead into the environment over time. Morin also recommended that anglers be careful to not attract loons to their bait and lures, and especially to not leave any fishing line behind, as it can entangle and kill loons. 

Eric Hanson oversees the Loon Conservation Project for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in partnership with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.  He and his colleagues monitor Vermont’s loon population and have put out game cameras around loon nests to monitor the behavior of people around them.  Hanson said most people are respectful of nesting loons and give them space, but people sometimes inadvertently harm loons without meaning to.

“Loon chicks can be difficult to see, so we ask motorboaters to note where loon families are and to avoid those areas,” Hanson said.  “We also ask that motorboaters obey ‘no wake’ laws within 200 feet of shorelines because boat wakes can flood and destroy shoreline loon nests.” 

As Vermont’s loon population continues to increase and canoeing and kayaking continues to become more popular, there is greater potential for people to come into conflict with loons. Hanson reminded boaters to avoid pursuing loons in a canoe or kayak, especially loons with young. 

“Occasionally a loon will be curious and approach people and if that happens, just enjoy it,” Hanson said.  “However, loons that are constantly swimming away from you are stressed and may abandon their young if they feel they are in danger.”

Hanson also urged shoreline property owners to maintain appropriate habitat for loons, including a forested area along shorelines where loons can nest.  Having shrubs and trees instead of lawns along shorelines also improves water quality which is essential for healthy lakes and loons.

Volunteers interested in monitoring loons for the Loon Conservation Project should contact Hanson at loon@vtecostudies.org.  Volunteers can monitor lakes all summer long with a focus on lakes with loon pairs and nesting. 

Volunteers can also survey one or two lakes on Loonwatch Day, being held on July 16 this year, between 8 and 9 a.m.  The goal is to survey all lakes greater than 20 acres at the same time, which provides a population count and checks on small lakes that are surveyed less often during the rest of year.  

— Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department 

Editor’s Note: Omni Reporter will return after the July Fourth holiday weekend. Happy Fourth, everyone!

Nesting loons have a record year in Vermont

A record 109 pairs of loons nested in Vermont in 2021, with 125 chicks hatched and 84 surviving through August. (VTF&W Photo by Tom Rogers)

Vermont’s loons are thriving with a record 109 nesting pairs reported in 2021, the highest since loon monitoring began in 1978, according to wildlife experts.

“Across Vermont, 77 loon nests produced 125 chicks this year, and 84 of those chicks survived through August,” said Eric Hanson, wildlife biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). 

VCE leads the Vermont Loon Conservation Project in partnership with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. In a Tuesday’s announcement, officials noted the importance of that collaboration.

“We are very grateful to Eric Hanson and the many volunteers who help monitor Vermont’s nesting loons,” said Fish and Wildlife’s bird biologist Doug Morin. “The loon has been the flagship species of our nongame work ever since the nongame tax checkoff and conservation license plate programs have been helping to fund these efforts.” 

“Vermont’s loon project is a tremendous success story,” added Morin. “It’s hard to believe that in 1983 there were only seven nesting pairs.”

Loons were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list in 2005 following decades of recovery efforts.  One of the main threats still facing loons as they continue to recover is human disturbance during the breeding season.

Keeping your distance from loons is of great importance, but Morin also reminds people to avoid lead fishing tackle.  Loons sometimes swallow stray fishing tackle and suffer the effects of lead poisoning.  Lead sinkers weighing one-half ounce or less are prohibited for fishing in Vermont.  And, Morin recommends that anglers be careful to not attract loons to their bait and lures, and especially don’t leave any fishing line behind as fishing tackle does kill loons. 

“Many areas where loons are nesting on Vermont’s lakes are surrounded by signs reminding people to give loons the space they need, but not all nesting areas are marked,” said Morin. “We ask people to enjoy loons from a distance, whether they are in a motorboat, a canoe or a kayak.” 

Check out the VCE website for more information about the Vermont Loon Conservation Project and how you can get involved.

— Gareth Henderson

Is loon history in the making?

A loon calls out from its nest at Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park, Vermont. In Barnard, Silver Lake may have its first long-term loon pair, though no evidence has been found to that effect. (Jennifer Lucas / Vermont Center for Ecostudies)

A couple of loons on Silver Lake in Barnard have caught the attention of swimmers, kayakers and others enjoying the summer weather. 

The question is, are they actually a couple? Possible, but not confirmed, says Eric Hanson, loon biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). The lake has never had a confirmed long-term pair of loons. Hanson would need evidence of a nest or nesting activity to reach that conclusion. One sure sign would be sightings of loons rushing in and out of shoreline locations, which they do to gather nest materials, while cooing at each other — part of mating behavior. 

Then there’s that operative word, long-term. The pair would need to be sighted four to five times over six to eight weeks to fit the bill. Also important: Two loons spending time together on the lake doesn’t by itself show a long-term bond, because these birds are very social, Hanson said. So yes, they could just be hanging out.

The most recent activity reported to VCE is one preening on the water last week. But if more than one sticks around, they could make loon history for Silver Lake.

“If they're still there, and they've been there fairly constantly, we definitely want to keep an eye out next May or early June," said Hanson, adding that’s when most nesting activity takes place. If that’s happening at a certain lake, signage is placed to protect nesting sites from water craft. 

In Barnard, there’s still a sliver of a chance two loons could create a site on Silver Lake this month. At other Vermont locations, there have been five or six late nesting spots this July — all first-time nests for those birds. 

“They may try to sneak one in, it’s not unheard of,” Hanson said. 

On Saturday morning, over 200 volunteers will help VCE with their annual loon count which covers more than 160 lakes. Loons continue to be a favorite animal for people to watch, with their grace and almost constant activity this time of year. While the following is not always the case, some are so used to canoes and kayaks that they’ll swim alongside them, even with chicks. 

“It's one of those species you can just watch continuously without interrupting them,” Hanson said. 

— Gareth Henderson