Frank seems to indicate he witnessed the Loon Chick get run down by a speeding boater. Did he actually witness it first hand or is he just guessing? And what does he mean by speeding? 20 mph, 30 mph or over 45 mph.
The article I read concerning the lower number of chicks this year indicated that it was unknown why the numbers were down. Does Frank know something the Loon Preservation Society & Fish & Game does not? The numbers were down for this one year. It may be nothing to be concerned about. Next year could be different or the year after that. It may also have nothing to do with boating & other activities. If in fact that 1 chick was hit by a boat, thats just 1, it does not explain why the number of chicks is down this season.
If you review the Black Cove thread last year regarding the no rafting petition for Black Cove, I asked how no rafting was going to help the Loon population but that question conveniently was never answered. Now we know the answer. According Frank in this new article on 9/7/05, the problem was dogs on anchored boats not rafting.
There was also was an article in that Black Cove thread last year that quoted a Black Cove resident as saying that it looked like a skyline with the rafting boats on some days. I suspect that was a big reason Black Cove residents did not want rafting.
For all we know the snapping turtle population exploded this year & that is why the Loon chick numbers are down. Snapping turtles love baby Duck & Loon chicks. I suppose the decline of the Loon population on Lake Winnipesaukee has nothing to do with all the developed shoreline seeing how their nesting areas are no longer accessible.
If Frank is truly concerned for the decline of the Loon on Lake Winnipesaukee & Black Cove, maybe he would be willing to donate his property & turn it into a Loon sanctuary. Then again I'm sure his response would be "its needed but not in my back yard"
|