Press Release
Vermont’s Loon Population Thrives Amidst Chick Survival Challenges
Lake St. Catherine, Vermont — September 2024
Vermont’s adult loon population has reached a historic milestone, boasting a record 123 nesting pairs in 2024. However, concerns have arisen as chick survival rates have declined, with only 65% of the 125 chicks hatched this season surviving past August, below the long-term average of 76%.
According to Eric Hanson, a biologist with the Vermont Loon Conservation Project, the decline in chick survival can be attributed to increased competition, habitat loss, and predation pressures from eagles and other wildlife. Flooding has notably exacerbated habitat loss, with 21 nests flooded in 2023 and 2024, compared to just one during the drier summers from 2020 to 2022.
Loons often resort to nesting in smaller lakes due to competition for larger ones, but these sites lack protective features and are more exposed to predators. Hanson noted that adult loons must leave these smaller lakes to forage in larger bodies of water, risking neglect of their chicks.
Despite the challenges, experts suggest that the current scenario symbolizes a natural population adjustment rather than a decline. Jillian Killborn, a biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, emphasized that natural checks are integral as the loon population stabilizes.
While chick survival rates are lower in Vermont than in previous years, Vermont’s loons outperform those in eastern Maine, New Hampshire, and the Adirondack region. Community efforts such as LoonCount Day, scheduled for July 19, involve over 200 volunteers to monitor the population and nesting success.
Habitat conservation efforts include new regulations passed in 2024 aimed at reducing shoreline disturbances and initiatives to curb lead tackle ingestion, which remains a significant threat to loon survival. As the state confronts these challenges, the well-being of Vermont’s loons depends on responsible human interactions with their environment.
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