Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Loon Count 2010

Loon with chick at Worthley Pond, 07-17-10

[photo: Thea Palanza-Parker]


On Saturday the Maine Audubon Society coordinated its annual Loon Count on Maine's lakes and ponds. There is local evidence that the loon population is holding its own. At Worthley Pond in Peru, nine volunteers took up posts either on shore or in watercraft during the designated observation period (7:00 to 7:30 a.m.). There were known to be six resident loons on the Pond--including a two-week-old chick--and they were all sighted during the official half-hour window. Count 'em!

This was the most ever recorded at Worthley Pond since the annual count began in the mid-1980s. It was also the first time that a chick was counted (last year's surviving chick did not hatch until after the count). Afterward Cathy Hazelton hosted a breakfast for the counters at her father's camp on Annie Lane.

The Worthley Pond Association keeps a website, complete with photo gallery, here.


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