ASSOCIATED PRESS • November 29, 2021
Maine’s population of loons appears to be continuing to grow, but bird counters in the state said they also noticed a steep drop in the number of loon chicks. Common loons are beloved by wildlife watchers, and Maine is home to the largest population of the sharp-billed birds in the eastern United States. Loon counters found 3,446 adult loons in Maine this year, up from 2,974 last year, Maine Audubon reported on Monday. However, the number of chicks fell from 414 to 224.