LPC staff and volunteers monitor over 350 lakes throughout the state each year. We collect data including numbers of adult loons, numbers of territorial loon pairs (pairs that defend an area of water and have the potential to produce young), nesting success, and chick survival. Not all of the lakes we monitor currently hold loons, but all of them have the potential to. One of LPC’s primary goals is to help New Hampshire’s loon population recover to the point that loons return to all of our lakes that contain suitable habitat.
With the help of our volunteers, we have kept track of virtually every territorial pair of loons in New Hampshire since the late 1970’s. In the process, we have created a database of loon populations and productivity that is unequaled anywhere in the world. This database is an invaluable tool to provide insight into trends in loon populations over time and to measure our effectiveness in addressing the causes of declines in loons.
To assist with our monitoring efforts, please consider participating in the Annual Loon Census.
