Loon Population

[obie]

There is a Loon that nests around Plummers Point on Paugus Bay. It was there early on in the season and has not been around much lately. The way the boat traffic "flies" through that area which is one of the narrowest parts of Paugus Bay makes one wonder how long a Loon could survive. The boats that are docked around there constantly take a beating and the docks are being destroyed. One can only wonder what damage is being done to any Loons that reside in the area.

[Silver Duck]

Has anybody conducted a census of the adult loon population this year? Maybe I'm just lucky, but it is a very rare weekend that I don't see and/or hear at least two or three of them.

And, not to be heretical, but they really don't seem to mind boat traffic all that much (except perhaps when they're nesting).

I've even seen them over by the Weirs in boat traffic that gave me a Maalox moment , and in Meredith by the town docks during the antique boat show just to name a couple of busy times for boat traffic! They just sort of went about feeding with no apparent concern.

Silver Duck

[DRH]

We took a boat ride up through Moultonborough Bay today, almost all the way up to Lees Mill, and we were amazed at the number of loons we saw. We spotted them in a number of locations, usually in pairs. When we came back through Moultonborough Bay at about 3pm, in the general vicinity of Garnet Point and Goose Egg Rock (just before Light 12) we saw two groups of 4 loons each. We stopped the boat but before I could snap a photo they all dove. These were the most loons we've seen in a single day while out on the water.

[PROPELLER]

I have seen several loons over the summer also but not in big groups as DRH did. From what I have read & observed over the years you are more likely to see larger groups this time of year because they gather together to migrate just like ducks do. I have seen ducks gather in large groups & practice lining up & taking off. Maybe that is what the Loons are doing also.

As far as the Loons not minding boat traffic, I also have observed this but thats not a good thing I don't think. As with any wild animal its not good to become used to human activity to the extent that they approach you or are not afraid of you. Its better if they are afraid of humans & they stay away. They are less likely to be injured or killed by boats. Also humans will not be able to feed them if they stay away.

It drives me crazy when I see people feeding ducks. Its not only because of hurting the purity of the water but they will not be able to fend for themselves if they expect hand outs

[NHBUOY]

There are PLENTY of Loons in Cummings cove ALL the time...I say we ban them because they keep me awake at night with their CONSTANT "toodling"!!!..lol... ...From what I see, the loons seem to be everywhere & in larger & larger numbers...Sounds like a wee bit 'o' propaganda to me...

[Dog's Ear]

We have many loons around our place on Whortleberry. Almost every day a group of 9 or more are out in front of our place. We hear them during the night and early in the morning. Sometimes they are so noisy they wake us up.

[KonaChick]

Just because you see plenty of adult loons doesn't mean the chick population is plentiful.

[Cobalt 232]

I was in Duck NC on the Outer Banks this past April and was amazed at the number of Loons down there. I must have seen a hundred of them floating in the Atlantic in groups of 8 or more.

As far as up here I too have seen groups of 10 or more by Cow and Little Bear recently. Last weekend I saw about 6 adolescent loons together in Meredith Bay on Sunday morning.

[Misty Blue]

Propeller

I see your point and in general would fully agree with you that the less contact critters have with humans the better. Hovever I have a feeling that loons getting used to and living closer with humans is a good thing on the Lake. Here is my point.

Years ago loons were very skidish and also very rare on the Lake. If you were out in a boat and happened to see a loon (again a rare sighting) the thing would dive and hide before you got within a quater mile of it. The loon center warned to stay away from loons especially when they are on nest because they will become scared and run, often abandoning the eggs or chicks. I have never seen this but I have heard of it.

Today loons are more comfortable with humans and also much more common. You hardly can take a boat ride without seeing at least one of em'.

Loons have been around since the stone age which proves that they are adaptable. My guess is that their shy ways did not help their breeding potential and so they have adapted to the intrusion caused by you and me.
This adaptation is bringing them back.

Our job is to give them their space and then get up at dawn and listen.

Misty Blue

[Onshore]

"If you were out in a boat and happened to see a loon (again a rare sighting) the thing would dive and hide before you got within a quater mile of it." - Misty Blue. The reason this doesn't happen as much now is that there is no where left to run. Lets face it, a loon can only hold it's breath for so long. It has to come up eventually and there aren't many places where they can come up and not be within 1/4 mile of a boat... Except maybe the middle of the broads and there's little to no food there.

Nothing about the breeding potential of Loons has changed. A pair can still only lay 2, maybe 3, eggs a year. However, with the increase in boating, human (and pet) activity and building along the shore the "survival potential" of Loons is greatly reduced. The problem is mortality and "getting used" to human activity isn't going to help. If anything it puts the young at further risk. Their shyness is what keeps them alive. There segment of the boating population that shows no regard for the needs of the species. I have been in boats with people whose attitude is "when we get too close they will just dive." The problem is that you can't see a chick riding on it's parent's back until you are already too close and the chick can't dive. The adult will eventually abandon the chick if it must to save itself but the chick has no means of escape. Unfortunately the Loons have no good way of identifying which humans are the dumb ones until it is too late. The only safe option is avoidance of all of us. The problem with that is that there are fewer and fewer places for them to hide or brood away from human activity. Part of the reason that people perceive higher numbers is that as more and more shoreline is developed, particularly in the Moultonborough and Center Harbor pairs are forced to leave their normal brooding areas and search for new ones. They are being forced out of the coves, away from the shores and into open deeper waters where you are more likely to see them. There aren't more of them, they are just becoming concentrated in smaller areas.

If there is any good news about the Loon population it is that they are only listed as "state-threathened." There are healthy, stable populations elsewhere. If they disappear from Winnipesaukee they will continue survive someplace else. The only true loss will be ours.

[Grant]

When I read about the reported decline in Winnipesaukee's loon population this year, I was actually somewhat surprised -- based on my own local observations. There were more loons seen and heard in our part of the Lake this year than any year I can remember. Over July 4th weekend, I spotted a group of TEN cruising together from Melvin Bay toward 19 Mile Bay -- unfazed by early morning boat traffic. Later in the season, I saw another large group. Plus, as usual, we saw multiple "lone loons" diving along the shore every day. And at night we heard multiples calling and 'laughing' and crying all night -- near and far. So, despite the encroachment on their territory and the ever-increasing boat traffic, these observations led me to believe that there might have been an increase.

[Onshore]

Please don't take this wrong, I swear this isn't meant to be rude, but are you sure they were Loons and not Mergansers. I only ask because it would be EXTREMELY unusual to see that many Loons together in early to mid-summer, even if the population numbers were high. Generally they will not gather unless staging to migrate. It is outside the realm of possibility to have a gathering of non-mating adults, but seeing as many as 10 would be odd.

[Grant]

Nope -- definitely not Mergansers (although we see a lot of mom & babies/youngsters parading along the shore each summer -- often as many as 15). These were no doubt common loons. You could tell right away, but since I'd never seen so many together at once (let alone more than two or three), I picked up the binoculars and got a good look, because the first thought was "Mergansers." Been on the Lake 45 years, and never saw so many together...and probably never will again! Granted, they were spread out over an area of, say, 20 yards by 20 yards, sometimes more as they drifted along, but they were pretty much hanging together, and definitely loons. It was over July 4th weekend, and my mom saw them with me. About 6:30 AM. It was amazing.

[Onshore]

I guess we can't argue with mom. You are very lucky and I'm very jealous. Would have been cool to see.

[Grant]

Like I said, very unusual, and they stayed together long enough to travel the better part of mile...just cruising along.

It reminded me of a photograph on display at the Loon Center in Moultonboro in which a group of 14-16+ loons were shown together...not sure where. I seem to recall the photo being taken late in the season, and it was taken from a bit of a distance...looked like it was taken from a porch or from within a lakefront residence. Regardless, that photo came to mind when I saw this that morning.

[MJM]

We also noted an increased number of Loon sightings this year in Wolfeboro. And one time we saw a group of four together, (not too far from a certain Governor's place), and remarked how we are accustomed to normally seeing them alone. We love those Loons!

[PROPELLER]

Never saw more than 2-3 together on Winnipesaukee but 10 years ago on a secluded lake north of Skowhegan Maine I witnessed a congregation of at least 12 if not more. This was middle of August, just floating around not doing anything.

[xomycatsxo]

You beat me to it.

My in-laws (who live on S. Kenny Shore) went out w/ a couple friends after they heard there was a nest. They are huge Loon lovers and wanted to take pictures but I guess they didn't see any when they went out. I don't know the whole story but I know they came back disappointed.

Loons are absolutely out and about on Lake Wentworth - no doubt. We've seen them so many times and a few weeks ago, we were at the shore and I think it was 3 or 4 of them just came swimming by- about 10-15' from the dock! They've owned their house for 20 years and it was the first time my husband EVER saw that happen.

Hehe, it's funny because my husband does loon calls. We were out on the jetski and saw some ... so we stopped and when he did it - they kept calling back!

I'm from the city so meeting my husband and becoming a part of the family has really opened me up to new things- and learning about Loons has been a fascinating thing! If I can get any pictures of them (of course that's a long shot, but you never know)- I'll post them.

Have a great day!

Originally Posted by MJM

We also noted an increased number of Loon sightings this year in Wolfeboro. And one time we saw a group of four together, (not too far from a certain Governor's place), and remarked how we are accustomed to normally seeing them alone. We love those Loons!

[Mink Islander]

Saw five in a tight group while fishing on Sunday morning over near Cattle Landing. At least one was a juvenile. The other four looked like adults. Stopped and watched them from 50 ft away for about 5 minutes.

[ApS]

I photographed a gathering of seventeen about six years ago. They were clearly excited about the change of feathers (molt) that was changing them, and there was lots of "horseplay".

For those far from Winnipesaukee, here's a site that will let you listen in on their vocalizations. ("Yodel", "Hoot", "Wail", "Tremolo"). http://www.geocities.com/jjdox/Loons/loons.html

Also this excerpt from the site:

"Because of their frequent encounters with humans, especially during the breeding season, Common Loons have disappeared from some areas along the southern fringes of their breeding range and are threatened by recreational and residential development along lakeshores across much of their range. Common Loons are designated as either "threatened" or a "species of special concern" in much of New England...Among the reasons for their decline in these regions are loss of nesting habitat to shoreline development, the hazards of coexistence on lakes traversed by powered watercraft...."

Some are very tolerant of humans: Friday, one surfaced off my dock just ten feet away and, unconcerned, paddled past before diving again.