Past Events

Due to Covid-19 concerns, the Loon Preservation Committee's 2020 Annual Meeting will be hosted via Zoom. The meeting will begin at 6:30 PM and will last for approximately 30 minutes. To attend the Annual Meeting, use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82448830429.  Immediately following the Annual Meeting, our final Thursday Night Nature Talk of 2020 will begin. Wildlife photographer John Rockwood will share photos and videos of local loon families from two lakes in southern New Hampshire. After John's presentation, LPC's Senior…

A visit to a New Hampshire lake would not be complete without hearing the haunting call of the loon. Loons are a beloved fixture on our lakes, and many people enjoy watching them as they raise their young. However, the breeding season can be a vulnerable time for loons—they face many threats while on our lakes. This presentation, given jointly by LPC Executive Director Harry Vogel and LPC Volunteer and Outreach Biologist, Caroline Hughes, will focus on the biology, life…

The LPC Live Loon Nest Cam is now in its 8th season. It’s come a long way in that time & now has seen viewers from all 50 states & 201 countries. Bill Gassman, LPC’s volunteer Loon Cam Operator & Guru, has been a large part of this success. Join us as he shares some of the most interesting things we have seen & learned through the camera, as well as behind-the-scenes detail about how the camera works & the…

2021 marks 25 years since Ospreys returned to nest in the Lakes Region. Now about 16-18 pairs nest in the region, & over the quarter century, Iain MacLeod has watched more than 340 chicks fledge from local nests. Iain will discuss finding new nests in remote beaver ponds & installing nesting platforms to entice new pairs to settle. He will also share some of what he has learned from satellite tagging over a dozen NH Ospreys & following their journeys…

This illustrated program features the natural history of many of our iconic species such as black bear, moose, snowshoe hare, bobcat, & American marten. LPC trustee Dave Govatski will introduce us to insects, reptiles, amphibians, & birds that make our mountains their home. He will discuss trends in wildlife populations, such as range expansion and contraction, & provide tips on where and when to see wildlife.

This talk will focus on geologic features of the New Hampshire Lakes Region. In this talk, Jim Vernon will summarize millions of years of geologic history, from mountain building, to ancient volcanoes & seas, to ice ages that led to the landscape we see today.

Sometimes called marsh hawks, state-endangered Northern Harriers hover & glide low over open fields & marshes while hunting voles, snakes, and frogs. Their low buoyant flight, upswept wings, & white rump patch are very distinctive. For more than three decades, NH Audubon raptor biologist Chris Martin has recruited, trained, & supervised an enthusiastic corps of volunteer field observers who monitor state endangered & threatened birds of prey.

Over the last 100+ years there’s been an amazing amount of research on Common Loons. But, nearly all of it has been looking at loons from the outside—studying their behavior, migrations, & vocalizations. Tonight, Dr. Mark Pokras will discuss how little is known about Common Loons from the inside—their anatomy & physiology—& describe some of the research challenges for the future.

Jim Paruk is a Professor of Biology at St. Joseph’s College, in Maine, & has been studying Common Loons across North America for the past 28 years. His recent book, Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver (University of Minnesota Press), that takes an evolutionary approach to understanding their behavior & life history strategy.

Starting at 7 PM, Wildlife photographer John Rockwood will share photos & video of local loon families from two southern NH lakes, from arrival through August. At 7:30, LPC Senior Biologist/Executive Director, Harry Vogel, will present trends in New Hampshire’s loon population & preliminary statistics on how loons fared in NH this year.

About the Presenters: Daniel Poleschook, Jr. and Virginia R. Poleschook are a husband-and-wife team who have been studying Common Loons in the Pacific Northwest for 26 years. During that time, they have conducted research on stressors affecting the species at the southwestern edge of its breeding range and have used the results of this research to inform conservation measures for Washington's loon population. These conservation efforts, combined with favorable natural and anthropogenic factors in the area, have resulted in steady…