A Summer of Loons

by Makena Logan, Loon Preservation Project Intern

Before this summer, I did not know a lot about loons. Most of the knowledge I did have came from one lab in a freshman year ecology class, where we kayaked for hours in an attempt to find loons, but were unsuccessful. I started this loon monitoring internship excited to learn more and actually see loons in their natural environment. Previously I have worked with birds in a wildlife rehabilitation setting. That work is extremely meaningful and I was able to learn a lot about animal behavior, but I had never had the opportunity to focus on one species for an extended period of time out in the field.

This internship has been an amazing learning experience. On the very first day on the boat with Lee Attix, from the Loon Conservation Associates, I came in not really sure what to expect. By the end of the day I was able to recognize loon behaviors, and at least was able to partially identify which band colors were present on some of the loons, which was initially a struggle.

Since then I’ve learned so much more about loons, from their different calls to the best places to look for nests. I went from being impressed and confused how Lee could see some of the bands so well, to several weeks later confusing my sister on a visit who did not understand how my fellow intern Ariana Raschid Farrokhi and I were able to see the color of the bands from a distance. I really appreciate the support and knowledge of Lee, Dick Greenan, from the Belgrade Lakes Association, and Cathy Bevier, from Colby College, who have made this experience possible and so rewarding. 

Every time we go out on the lakes is different, and we are constantly deciphering loon behaviors to attempt to understand more about their lives. I love having the opportunity to get to know Great Pond and Long Pond and the loons that inhabit them. It is a job filled with joy, especially when we have moments like watching loon pairs feed their day old chicks. It is very special being able to witness the chick raising process from seeing the beginning of a nest to the chicks hatching to watching them grow up. Another exciting moment was getting to help band eagle chicks, which was an unexpected but incredible experience. Even when not officially working, I get excited to see or hear loons. I’ve been trying to explore many of the Maine state parks and on several occasions have stopped doing anything else to observe loons. 

I’ve also appreciated getting to know members of the Belgrade Lakes community. People have been very welcoming and their passion for protecting loons is inspiring. I am very grateful that we have so many volunteers making observations and letting us borrow their boats so we can better monitor loon territories. 

Some days are a challenge, like when we have a heat wave or can’t figure out exactly what is happening in a territory, and some of the worst days are when we learn that a chick didn’t survive. But knowing that this work contributes to a better understanding of loons, what allows them to be successful, and how we can help makes it all worth it. I’m looking forward to continuing to discover more about these amazing creatures throughout the rest of the season.

If you have particular questions regarding our Belgrade loons, please email your inquiry to info@blamaine.org and we will try to answer your question, either in this column or via email. Have a great summer enjoying the Call of the Loon! —Dick

Dick Greenan is chairman of the Belgrade Lakes Association’s Loon Preservation Project.

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