BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2024
Hearing the haunting call of a common loon echoing across the water can be exhilarating. However, it’s important to recognize some of the key signs that indicate an activity might be disturbing these majestic birds. Signs of agitation include a loon performing the “penguin dance,” in which the bird seemingly stands up in the water and approaches you in an aggressive way. It might make its “yodel” call, which males use to defend territory. Also, the “tremolo” call often is the result of an annoyed or alarmed bird. Watercraft must travel at or under headway speed and leave no wake within 200 feet of any shoreline. Maine law prohibits the use or sale of lead sinkers that weigh one ounce or less or are not more than 2 1/2 inches long and the state has banned the use of bare-headed jigs of those same measurements. A 25-year study determined that ingestion of lead fishing equipment was responsible for a third of all adult loon deaths in the state.