LOON PRESERVATION COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2019 Kittie Wilson Photo DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Making Waves for Loons aves and loons are not two words that ordinarily go Wtogether in a happy sentence, given that boat wakes can The Loon Preservation Committee be a significant cause of nest failures for loons (those no wake 183 Lee’s Mill Road, P.O. Box 604 signs are there for a reason). But the Loon Preservation Com- Moultonborough, NH 03254 mittee has invested considerable time and energy in creating 603-476-LOON (5666); www.loon.org ripples in the scientific community to benefit loons and other wildlife. One such effort that is turning out to be an effective The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) is a non-profit, self-directed and self-funded organiza- wave-maker is our paper with the dry title of “Population- tion affiliated with New Hampshire Audubon. level effects of lead fishing tackle on loons,” published in the Autonomous in membership and fundraising, LPC Journal of Wildlife Management in January of last year. works to preserve loons and their habitats in New This paper documented that lead tackle was a real and Hampshire through monitoring, research, manage- substantial cause of mortality for New Hampshire loons; ment, and education. but it went farther and disputed the common notion (among LPC Staff: some) that the deaths of these loons were unfortunate but Harry S. Vogel isolated incidents that did not seriously affect New Hamp- Senior Biologist/Executive Director shire’s loon population. LPC’s unequaled datasets on loon John H. Cooley, Jr. populations, productivity, and mortality allowed us to show Senior Biologist that, had the loons that died of ingested lead tackle survived Kellee A. Duckworth and produced young at an average rate, New Hampshire’s Center Manager Tiffany J. Grade loon population could be up to 43% larger than it is today. Squam Lake Project Biologist That would mean loons on a lot of New Hampshire lakes that Holly M. Heath remain silent and empty even now, after 45 years of concert- Membership/Center Assistant ed effort to recover our loon population. This paper has just Caroline M. Hughes been awarded a special distinction as one of the 20 most-read LPC Staff Biologist papers published in that distinguished journal in the past Linda Egli Johnson Special Assistant/Newsletter Coordinator two years. It also formed the major component of another Lin L. O’Bara paper, “Lead poisoning from ingestion of fishing gear: A Development Coordinator review,” published this past April in the widely-read AMBIO: Joan M. Plevich A Journal of the Human Environment, with two LPC authors Database Technician among a suite of renowned researchers. These two papers Bette J. Ruyffelaert will significantly widen the pool of readers made aware of Center Assistant this serious problem for loons, as well as other wildlife. LPC Board of Trustees: Spreading awareness of this issue among the public, Brian J. Reilly, Chair the scientific community, and wildlife managers and other Kristen F. Begor, Vice Chair decision-makers is important because we have already recov- Glyn P. Green, Treasurer ered two loons that died from ingested lead fishing tackle this Elizabeth P. Gable, Secretary year. Despite New Hampshire’s legislation (based on LPC’s Thomas S. Deans David P. Govatski data) restricting the sale and use of this dangerous tackle, it Sandra L. Helve continues to be a real issue for our loons. And we are work- Beverly L. LaFoley ing on that aspect of the problem, too (see article on LPC’s Arthur (Sandy) P. McGinnes Lead Tackle Buyback Program, page 5). Annie Montgomery All of these efforts, from on-the-ground grassroots work Jeffrey H. Patterson like Lead Tackle Buyback to the rarified air of published aca- Jordan S. Prouty (Honorary) Robert I. Rotberg demic papers, have one purpose: to end this avoidable cause of mortality that has been the scourge of our loon population Ex-officio Trustees: for too long and, in so doing, create the conditions to allow a Douglas A. Bechtel, NH Audubon President full and lasting return of loons and other wildlife to our lakes. Harry S. Vogel, We will continue to work all the angles and make all the LPC Senior Biologist/Executive Director waves we need to make that happen. - 2 - LPC AFIELD Creating a Comfort Zone: Warning Signs for Nesting Loons ow many mid-summer kay- deployed by Hakers, anglers, and pleasure- LPC staff and boaters have spotted from across volunteers at the lake a small white rectangle over half of all bobbing in front of their favorite loon nest sites blueberry picking island only to in New Hamp- discover on closer approach that shire. But the the rectangle is a floating warn- use of these ing sign, transforming the island warning signs is into a Loon Nesting Sanctuary both an art and with a bold-print take home mes- a science. Their sage: Please Stay Away. Some- effectiveness times there’s even a vigilant loon depends on watcher nearby ready to enforce how well lake the warning with a stern injunc- users—bound tion from the end of their dock. for their favorite LPC Staff Biologist, Caroline Hughes, constructs floating Around the state, these nest signs island or explor- “Loon Nesting Sanctuary” signs to deploy at nest sites and their guardians reserve a ing a new cove— throughout the state. necessary buffer for loons at their understand the most vulnerable ― perched on the purpose of the sign as they en- constrictions (like a narrow spot nest. counter it and change course, between an island and shore), and As chicks hatch, orange “Cau- steering clear of the nest or chicks. find a distance from the nest that tion: Loon Chicks” warning signs As the season for building and is ideally just beyond the distance are floated in some brooding placing these signs and enlisting at which the nesting loon shows areas to alert boaters. The float- the cooperation of lake users gets alarm—usually by lowering its ing nest and chick signs are front underway, here are a few guide- neck and head over the edge of and center in the management lines for their successful use: the nest. The sign distance should needed to ensure that a growing allow boaters to approach and human population and a gradu- 1. Sign placement depends on read the sign without disturbing ally recovering loon population the site and the loons. We want the nesting loon. Multiple signs can share the lakes, and they are a to minimize the closed area, take can create the effect of a barrier familiar sight: last year signs were advantage of natural features or without the need for further rop- ing. Ropes are used if boats are likely to come too close to the nest despite the signs due to the configuration of the shoreline or high boat traffic; otherwise, ropes are only used if signs are un- heeded. 2. Signs are effective because lake users know that they indi- cate an active loon nest. In gen- eral, we are careful to place signs at a nest site only while the nest is active. We remove the nest signs as soon as the nesting is complete and the loons and their chicks have moved onto the water, usu- Signs and ropelines create a necessary buffer for loons at their most vulnerable ally within a day or two of hatch- time ― perched on the nest. continued on page 4 - 3 - continued from page 3 ing. This protocol the nest site unadver- minimizes the time that tised and do not float a the cove or shoreline sign. But at many sites, is restricted and is part the protection the sign of LPC’s long-standing provides is a net gain cooperative arrangement even if they draw added Photo Courtesy of Mark Wilson with NH Fish and Game human attention. and NH Marine Patrol. Loon chick warning 5. Nesting and brood- signs are placed dur- ing area signs work ing the brooding period best where the commu- and are usually left until nity of lake residents the chicks are no longer and lake users have being brooded or the established a strong end of the busiest boat- culture of stewardship LPC staff float a “Caution: Loon Chicks” sign to protect ing season (Labor Day), and conservation. The chicks from watercraft and other human disturbance. whichever comes first. vigilant loon watcher on the end of her dock or ponds in Vermont, manage floating signs at 3. Signs must be safe the LPC field biologist where outreach and sign over a hundred sites on and secure. Signs are kayaking the lake and use have gone hand in over 70 lakes, so there never placed where politely checking with hand, found that nesting are frequently chances they will be a naviga- fellow paddlers as they success increased by 25% to help build the signs tion hazard. We use approach a sign to make at signed sites and by al- and get them deployed. cinderblock anchors sure they are aware of its most 50% at signed sites Thanks to all who at- with a stainless steel purpose, is an essential on the busiest lakes.) tended the two work- 3/16” wire-rope anchor ingredient in the success days this spring at The line or equivalent nylon of a sign. Word spreads 6. A set of signs, rope- Loon Center and to the rope. The anchor line around a lake about loon lines, and anchors takes many volunteers on the is at least 1.5-2 times as happenings ― a nest, or a few hours to assemble lakes who are involved long as the water depth.