PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 22, 2024
Volunteers set out on lakes and ponds across Maine early Saturday morning to take a snapshot of the status of a bird that is near and dear to Maine’s heart. The Maine Audubon Loon Count has tallied the bird’s population each year since 1983 with the help of more than 1,600 nature enthusiasts. The final results for this year won’t be released for several weeks, but last year’s count estimated 2,892 adult common loons and 411 chicks living south of the 45th parallel, a line that runs from Rangeley to Calais. Though 2022 and 2023 saw decreases in adult loon numbers, estimates have trended upward since the ’80s.