New England sees record number of loons in several states [View all]

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https://bangordailynews.com/2019/12/14/outdoors/new-england-sees-record-number-of-loons-in-several-states/

CONCORD, N.H. — Loons are thriving in New England, with record numbers documented this year because of increased protections for the iconic bird known for its black head and haunting calls at dusk.

New Hampshire saw a slight increase to 313 pairs in 2019 while Vermont had an all-time high of 101 nesting pairs — the highest number recorded since 1978. Maine, which has the largest common loon population in the eastern United States, saw its overall number dip slightly this year. But the 3,129 birds counted was still almost double what was counted in the 1980s.

“Vermont is the star,” said Loon Preservation Committee Executive Director Harry Vogel. “It’s an exception to the rule which has seen a gradual and slow recovery in the Northeast. … This has not just happened. We have made it happen through intensified conservation efforts.”

The birds have seen their numbers steadily rise for several decades. Loon populations are considered stable and healthy in most parts of North America. According to the latest figures from Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds of North America, there are as many as 15,500 pairs in the United States, with the largest populations in Alaska and Minnesota.

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