Loon Population

[ApS]

I photographed a gathering of seventeen about six years ago. They were clearly excited about the change of feathers (molt) that was changing them, and there was lots of "horseplay".

For those far from Winnipesaukee, here's a site that will let you listen in on their vocalizations. ("Yodel", "Hoot", "Wail", "Tremolo"). http://www.geocities.com/jjdox/Loons/loons.html

Also this excerpt from the site:

"Because of their frequent encounters with humans, especially during the breeding season, Common Loons have disappeared from some areas along the southern fringes of their breeding range and are threatened by recreational and residential development along lakeshores across much of their range. Common Loons are designated as either "threatened" or a "species of special concern" in much of New England...Among the reasons for their decline in these regions are loss of nesting habitat to shoreline development, the hazards of coexistence on lakes traversed by powered watercraft...."

Some are very tolerant of humans: Friday, one surfaced off my dock just ten feet away and, unconcerned, paddled past before diving again.