In the blink of an eye the field season is over. We said goodbye to our field biologists last Friday--always a sad day for us at LPC. They worked incredibly hard over the last 12 weeks monitoring and protecting loons throughout New Hampshire. I would be remiss not to acknowledge the hundreds of volunteers who assisted them with boat rides, hauling signs and ropelines, sending updates and observations, and great camaraderie too. As a way to thank our volunteers we are hosting three volunteer appreciation potlucks next week. Please see below for more details. I know it's a busy time of year for everyone but I hope you will consider joining us at one of these fun events.
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LPC Volunteer Tim Perry helps float a sign to protect a loon nest on Crescent Lake in Ackworth. Photo courtesy of Rick Maynes.
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Thanks to everyone who participated in the loon census on Saturday, July 21. I am still working on compiling the results, but I hope to have the final count to you in the next few weeks. One census report from Wheelwright Pond in Lee, NH, alerted us to a banded loon that had not been seen there before. As a result, Seacoast field biologist Owen Brennick, went back to see if the loon was still there and he was able to confirm the bands. The male loon was banded as a breeding adult not too far away on Ayers Pond in 2002. That means the loon is in his early 20's, at least, and is older than most of the 2018 field crew!
Following the census was our 41st annual Loon Festival which had a great turnout again this year. Festival-goers enjoyed music, live animals, balloon creations, face painting, crafts, a dunk tank, and loon slideshows. Bill Gassman, the Loon Cam Operator (aka LCO), made a guest appearance and answered questions about the webcams. The loons on webcam #2 really timed it well this year with the first chick hatching during the Loon Festival! Speaking of the loon cams, read on for an update on the chicks.
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Many thanks to the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, NH LAKES, The Sweetbloods, Bridget Finnegan, Mo the Clown, Caitlyn Dowell, and Emily Landry for providing entertainment for our event, and to Meredith Rotary, Hannafords, and CJ Roxanne for providing food and drinks. And, we cannot forget the 13 volunteers who helped the event run smoothly, from greeting visitors, selling raffle tickers, assisting with crafts and directing traffic.
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I am sorry to report that the second webcam nest lost one chick but the remaining chick is doing great. It was very tough for all of us to watch the older chick bully the younger one. This often happens to a greater or lesser extent among loon siblings as the older sibling is typically dominant over the younger one. It really gave us more of an inside look into sibling rivalry and how it can play out. We kept a close eye on the loon family after they left the nesting area and were optimistic when we saw both chicks together and not fighting. However, over the next week or two, we often saw the second chick on its own and it ultimately disappeared. We will continue to provide updates on how the chick is doing when we get reports from the field.
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The remaining chick from webcam #2 enjoys a ride on its parents back. And, below, a close-up of the almost 2-week old chick in early August. By now, the chick has molted into a second downy plumage that is lighter brown in color. To see the full chick plumage sequence click
here. Photos courtesy of LPC Intern Julian Moulton.
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Below is a picture of the remaining chick, now about 7 weeks old, from webcam #1. After coming down with an eye infection the second chick beached itself and was rescued and taken to a wildlife rehabilitator for treatment. The chick is doing well and will be released on the ocean in the fall.
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Photo courtesy of L. Dinger
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All the best until next time,
Susie
Susie Burbidge
Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator
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Mondays & Fridays through August 31; 3 pm
August 16; 7 pm
August 20; 8 am shotgun start
August 21-23
August 23; 7 pm*
*LPC's Annual Meeting begins at 6:45 pm; All welcome
August 26*
*Reservations strongly encouraged; call 603-476-2700
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Loon photo courtesy of John Rockwood
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Join Us Next Week for LPC's Volunteer
Appreciation Potlucks!
We hope you can join us at one of the following celebrations to thank our volunteers for their help this summer and to hear preliminary results from the 2018 season:
Tuesday, August 21
at 6 pm- Deering Town Hall, 762 Deering Center Road, Deering
Wednesday, August 22
at
6 pm- Canaan Meeting House, near 450 Canaan Street, Canaan (across from Canaan Street Lake)
Thursday, August 23
at 5:30 pm- The Loon Center, 183 Lee's Mill Road, Moultonborough, NH*
Please bring a dish to share. We will provide beverages, plates and utensils.
and let us know what you are bringing. Friends & family are welcome.
After the potluck, Senior Biologist/Executive Director Harry Vogel will present trends in New Hampshire’s loon population and a wrap-up of the 2018 season.
We hope you can make it!
* On August 23, Nature Photographer John Rockwood will also present a slide show featuring photos and videos of loons on lakes in southern NH.
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One of my favorite pictures of 2 loon chicks hitching a ride taken last summer by
Kittie Wilson.
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Loon Preservation Committee | 603-476-LOON (5666) | www.loon.org
Loon Center Hours: Open 7 days/week; 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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