Official Loon Count Results
On Saturday, July 15 from 7:00 - 7:30 AM executive director Tim Trumbauer several dedicated volunteers participated in Maine Audubon’s Official Loon Count! Each counting team is assigned a specific zone on Norton Pond, Megunticook Lake, and the Megunticook River, and only loons spotted during the official 30 minute count window are added to the tally. This year, we counted 11 adults and 4 chicks, for a total of 15 loons. According to previous results available since 1983, the average total annual loon count is just under 19 with a high of 28 in 1999 and 2004 and a low of 8 in 1984. While this year’s total count is a bit below average, we were encouraged that the 5 chicks counted this year well exceed the average of just under 2 chicks per year.
We should also note that the survey period was significantly foggy with very limited visibility. (A familiar condition this summer…) Despite our best efforts, there is a lot of water to cover in a short period of time and it is highly likely some loons were not counted, especially along Megunticook Lake, due to the conditions.
A special thank you to our volunteers who ranged in age from 14 to 93!
