Preservation Committee Urges Public to Give Loons Space

The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) is reminding the public that from now through mid-to-late July, loons will be nesting throughout the state. Loons nest on lakes and ponds and often build their nests along the shoreline of islands, in marshes, or along the mainland shoreline.

Adapted for life in the water, loons cannot walk on land and, as such, they build their nest right at the water’s edge. These nests are vulnerable to boat wakes and to human disturbance.

“Because they cannot walk well on land, loons are vulnerable when they are on the nest,” said LPC Senior Biologist/Director, Harry Vogel. “If they sense a threat, such as a closely approaching boat, they will flatten themselves low over their nests, with their heads angled toward the water, to try to hide. If the threat persists in the area, they will flush from their nest.”

Loons flatten themselves over the nest when feeling threatened. If boaters see this behavior, they should leave the area to avoid stressing the loon. Caption and photo: Loon Preservation Committee

If adult loons are flushed from the nest, their eggs may be exposed and vulnerable to predation or temperature changes that can kill the embryo growing inside.

Those who plan to boat, fish, or recreate on or around New Hampshire’s lakes during the loon nesting season are urged to be careful as they move in areas where loons may be nesting. If a loon nest is found, it should be given plenty of space — 150 feet at minimum, and more if the loon shows signs of distress, such as lowering its head over the nest.

If a member of the public accidentally flushes a loon from the nest, LPC asks that they leave the area immediately so that the loon can resume incubation. Boaters are also urged to follow New Hampshire’s no-wake laws in order to avoid swamping loon nests.

Every year close to half of loon nests in New Hampshire fail, many due to human disturbance, despite LPC’s best efforts to protect them. These nest failures have a direct impact on the recovery of loons, a threatened species in New Hampshire. Those that wish to see a close-up view of nesting loons can do so responsibly by viewing the Loon Preservation Committee’s Live Loon Cam at www.loon.org/looncam.

The Loon Preservation Committee monitors loons throughout the state as part of its mission to restore and maintain a healthy population of loons in New Hampshire; to monitor the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and to promote a greater understanding of loons and the natural world.