Just like that, our 2019 field season has begun! Our new field crew started their season this week. With two days of intensive training under their belts, they are now out on the lakes and are beginning their first round of loon surveys surveys! The timing of the start of their season was perfect-despite a cold spring, the loons are (for the most part) back on their territories, and some early birds have already begun nesting!
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Our 2019 field crew. Back row left to right: Sam Moore, Owen Brennick, Henry Stevens, Brian Long, Bridget Re. Front row left to right: Elaina Badders, Lynda Moore, and Danielle Lampe.
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Historically in New Hampshire, the majority of loons begin nesting around the first week of June. With that week quickly approaching, our biologists will have quite a bit of work to do! To help them out, please let us know if you see loons nesting on a New Hampshire lake or pond-you can do so by replying to this email. Because nesting loons are sensitive to human disturbance, please be sure to give nesting loons plenty of space if you see them-150 feet or more!
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One of the earliest nests of the season. Photo courtesy of Linda Haney.
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In preparation for the start of the season, LPC staff members and volunteers have been putting out loon rafts around the state over the course of the past several weeks. While deploying the rafts can be a physically difficult job, it is a very valuable one-last year, 24% of chicks hatched within New Hampshire came from raft nests!
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With help from LPC Senior Biologist John Cooley, volunteers floated a new raft on Lake Sunapee this year!
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I am ecstatic to report that we have surpassed our Member-A-Day in May goal! We currently have 42 new LPC members from this membership drive. We still have some time left in May, and because all membership donations fund our important work to preserve loons and their habitats in New Hampshire, we don't want to stop here! We have changed our goal: we are now hoping to reach 62 new members. We have 20 to go-can you help us reach this goal and protect our loons?
Don't forget if you join this month you will be entered into a drawing for one of
four
great prizes:
- A 15x19" framed loon print by Tristan MacDonald
- An LL Bean tote bag with LPC's logo
- A $50 gift certificate to LPC's Loon's Feather giftshop
- A copy of the book Journey with the Loon and its companion dvd
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Finally, I'd like to update you on our
webcam nest
! As is the case on many lakes at the present time, the water level at the webcam lake is still a bit too high for nesting to occur. In spite of this, the loon pair has begun nest building and has been observed copulating several times. We hope that as the water levels begin to naturally stabilize over the course of the next week or two, these loons can get to nesting! Time will tell!
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All the best,
Caroline
Caroline Hughes
Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator
Loon Preservation Committee
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Upcoming Events
Join LPC and the Lakes Region Chapter of NH Audubon on
June 6th from 7 PM-8:30 PM
at the
Loon Center
for a nature talk entitled
"A Photo Journey through the Fundy Isles."
For more details, click
HERE.
The
2019 Loon Census
will be held on
Saturday July 20th, from 8:00-9:00 AM
. For more information about the Loon Census, please click
HERE.
After the census, join us at the
Loon Center
for the
Loon Festival
, from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM.
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Loon Preservation Committee | 603-476-LOON (5666) | www.loon.org
Loon Center Hours: Open Thursday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm
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The Loon Preservation Committee is dedicated to restoring and maintaining a healthy population of loons throughout New Hampshire; monitoring the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and promoting a greater understanding of loons and the natural world.
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