THE COOL DOWN • January 20, 2026
Conservationists have noticed a positive change among Maine's waterways: loons are starting to return. Loons are a type of diving waterbird, recognized for their distinct call that conservationists describe as "haunting." Maine is home to the largest loon population on the East Coast; however, the population has been threatened by the fishing industry, and previously also the coal industry leading to elevated mercury levels in loons' blood, before the state's last coal plant closed over a decade ago. In more recent years, loons have accidentally ingested fishing tackle, leading to a decline in the population over the years. But as a result, state lawmakers have worked to help protect the loon population by banning types of tackle that the waterbirds mistake for food, and officials now believe those laws have led to an improvement in the health of the loon population.