Loon Census

The 2020 Loon Census date is Saturday, July 18’th.  Event information here.

Each year, LPC hosts an annual Loon Census to monitor New Hampshire’s loons and their progress on lakes throughout the state. The invaluable data gathered from census observations are used as:

1. a mid-season check on productivity,
2. a mechanism for discovering unknown birds in each territory,
3. a means to track movement of loons and define relationships between neighboring pairs, and
4. a community based tool for generating interest and involvement in loons.

2019 NH Loon Census Results

In 2019, 520 observers covered 104 of New Hampshire’s lakes during the annual loon census, just under one third of the lakes that LPC surveys and monitors annually. A few loons were still on nests during the census on July 20—definitely a bit on the late side, but not out of question. A total of 430 adult loons were tallied, 6 immature loons (1-2 years old) and 79 loon chicks.

Click to download the 2019 Census form.

To contribute observations at other times during the loon season, please see our Field Volunteer page here.