PORTLAND (AP) — More than 900 people are heading out to Maine’s lakes and ponds to participate in the state’s annual loon count.
The Maine Audubon loon count takes place at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
The group estimated that there were more than 3,700 adult loons last year. It says that its estimate of the adult loon population in the southern part of Maine has increased over the last 31 years, but the numbers have also dipped several times over that period.
Last year, the estimated chick count was 324. That’s more chicks than the year before, but fewer than 2011. Maine Audubon says the estimates of loon chicks vary dramatically every year and haven’t followed the same trend as the adult loons.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less