From a mere seven pairs three decades ago, Common Loons now number more than 90 breeding pairs in the state. This conservation triumph came only with a collaboration among people and organizations across Vermont.
Our chief partner in loon recovery and conservation is the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Together, and with help from a corps of dedicated volunteers, we're securing a future for Common Loons in the state. Our strategy features:
- Monitoring – VCE recruits and trains volunteers who watch loons and provide essential information on their distribution, abundance, nesting success, and chick survival. This monitoring comes in a sister project called LoonWatch.
- Management – On the shoreline and on the water, we work with lakeside landowners and lake visitors on practical protections for Common Loons. We place floating signs to advise boaters to stay clear of loon nests. We work with hydroelectric dam operators to stabilize reservoir levels during loon nesting season. And on waters where levels do fluctuate, our “nesting rafts” mimic islands and help loons succeed.
- Public Outreach – VCE’s outreach strategy, featuring public presentations, media interviews, fact sheets, and other publications, ensures that people enjoy loons from a proper distance while fishing, boating, and swimming. Informed lake users are vital to the long-term conservation of Vermont’s loons.