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On Saturday, July 19th, 2003, the ACLP conducted our third
Annual Loon Census as part of a long-term study designed to monitor
trends in the Common Loon population summering in and around the
Adirondack Park. From 8-9 a.m., more than 370 dedicated census
observers surveyed lakes and ponds throughout the region. They reported
on the number of adults and juveniles observed, as well as valuable lake
attribute information, including shoreline development and vehicle
accessibility, which will be used to characterize loon habitat
utilization.
We received 203 reports from 181 lakes, 172 (95%) of which were located
within the Adirondack Park (2003-Chart #1).
Locations where loons were observed in ACLP’s 2003 census are shown in
the 2003 Annual Loon Census Map. The 2003 Annual Loon Census Results
Table provides the lakes where observations were conducted and the
number of loons observed on each lake.
This
season, adult loons with chicks were reported on 55 (30%) lakes of the
total 181 lakes surveyed. Adult loons without chicks
were observed on 69 (38%) lakes. No loons were observed on 57 (31%) of
the census lakes (2003-Chart #2).
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A total of 472 loons were observed on 124 (69%) lakes. Of these birds,
379 (80%) were adults, 82 (17%) were chicks and 11 (2%) were juvenile
birds (2003-Chart #3).
Note:
An additional seven reports were received that were unable to be
included with the final census results because the observations were
conducted on the incorrect day or after the census hour. However, these
observations will be included in our presence/absence database and we
appreciate the efforts made by those observers.
As the census hour is being held simultaneously at many locations
throughout New England,
please be sure to conduct your observations during the correct hour or
your observations will not be included in the final census analysis.
Ultimately, this will allow ACLP to better estimate the Adirondack loon
population and provides more information for comparison with other
census results in the Northeast.
It was a
truly beautiful morning on the water, and based on our results, it
appears the birds agreed. We are extremely grateful to our volunteers
for their efforts and observations during the 2003 census are looking
forward to another great census in 2004! |
