Frequently-asked Questions About the Decline of Squam’s Loons Could these contaminants be coming from the ocean, rather than from Squam? LPC’s data indicates that ocean contaminants and pathogens, while present, are unlikely to be the driving force behind the decline of loons on Squam. Data from banding done by LPC and the Biodiversity Research Institute […]
Hello, I want to send you a quick update from the Squam Lakes to let you know that, unfortunately, a dead loon was found on Squam Lake in the middle of October. This is the same loon that I had reported on in my final newsletter of the summer that was sick and I was […]
It’s hard to believe it’s September already, but I guess the ever-growing loon chicks should have given me a clue! All 4 loon chicks on Squam Lake and the chick on Little Squam continue to do very well. At this point, they have all lost their down, are in their juvenal plumage, and are beautiful […]
Sadly, Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) received a report that there is a loon badly tangled in fishing line on Squam Lake, and I am writing to ask everyone to please keep their eyes open for this loon (picture attached). Fishing line is wrapped around its bill and may be caught on a wing as well. […]
Good news—the chicks of the Squam Lakes continue to do well! There have been several cases of other loons intruding on a couple of the families recently, but the parents have been able to battle them off—I hope that continues! The chicks are growing fast and range in age from 5-7.5 weeks right now, with […]
The good news for the past week is that all of the chicks on the Squam Lakes are still doing well! There are 4 chicks on Squam Lake and one chick on Little Squam—they are being busily fed minnows and crayfish by their hard-working parents and are growing fast. As they get older, the families […]
The past week has been a challenging one for the loons of the Squam Lakes. Sadly, one of the chicks on Little Squam has disappeared in what was likely a predation incident. It occurred between late last Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning—if anyone heard or saw anything, please let me know. If anyone finds […]
What a week it has been on the Squam Lakes, full of highs and lows—all I can say, the Squam loon rollercoaster is going full force. First the(very!) good news: we have 3 new chicks on the Squam Lakes!! Two chicks hatched on Little Squam and we also have a new chick on Squam Lake! […]
It was another very busy week for the loons on the Squam Lakes, highlighted by the hatching of another chick on Squam! We also gained another nesting pair on Squam Lake but also had two nest failures (1 nest failed due to a mammalian predator, 1 nest was abandoned). So this brings us to the […]
We have chicks!! I am thrilled to report that one of the loon nests on Squam Lake has just hatched two chicks, and the new family is looking wonderful! In the meantime, nesting is in full swing on the Squam Lakes, and it has been another very busy week for the loons! Three new pairs […]