On Saturday of July 16, the Wildlife Conservation Society will be conducting an annual loon census with the help of local Adirondack residents and visitor volunteers. This data provides a quick glimpse of the status of the breeding loon population in and around the Adirondack Park and across New York State. The results help guide management decisions and policies that affect loons.
The Lake George Association is coordinating census volunteers for the Lake George region. Potential volunteers Census volunteers will monitor a selected portion of the Lake from 8 – 9 am, and report the number of adult loons, chicks, and immature loons they observe. Similar loon censuses are also conducted in other states throughout the Northeast at the same time on the same day, contributing to a thorough regional overview of the population’s current status.
One of the major findings of the 2010 census: The Adirondack loon population has almost doubled since the last pre-census analysis in the 1980s, and now totals some 1,500-2,000 birds.
If you would like to help count and observe the loons, please contact the Lake George Association at 518-668-3558, or info@lakegeorgeassociation.org