Birders to hit lakes for annual loon count

For the 20th year in a row, Joe Jenkins of Holden and Merlin Williams of Glenburn will take part in the Maine Audubon Loon Count, 7-7:30 a.m. Saturday, July 19.

They will be among the 1,000 volunteers across Maine who will be out on lakes and ponds to conduct a half-hour survey of Maine’s loon population. Both Jenkins and Williams received Maine Audubon Citizen Scientist Recognition certificates in May.

The Audubon count first took place in 1983 as part of a joint effort by Maine Audubon and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. At that time, very little was known about Maine’s loon population.

Many people believed they were observing fewer loons than in years past, but no data existed to show whether the population was in decline. Biologists now know that Maine’s loon population has remained stable or has increased slightly in the past 20 years.

“The annual loon count is a model citizen science project,” said Susan Gallo, a wildlife biologist at Maine Audubon, “and we see more and more volunteers involved. It is a great way for people to collect the data that allows us to look at changes in Maine’s loon population over a somewhat long term. The longevity of this project makes it especially significant.”

Citizen scientist is the term used to describe volunteers who assist Audubon’s wildlife conservation research and monitoring projects.

Maine has an estimated 4,300 loons, the highest population in New England. But shoreline development, high levels of mercury and other toxins, lead sinkers and boats pose serious problems for breeding loons and their chicks.

Last year, 953 volunteers counted loons on 328 lakes, the largest and most comprehensive survey to date.

Those who would like to participate in this year’s loon count should call Susan Gallo at 781-2330, Ext. 216.