Column: How 30 minutes can help one of Maine’s most iconic birds

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 11, 2026

The good news: Maine’s loon population is doing well overall. A total of 3,174 loons were reported across southern Maine lakes last year, including 568 chicks. The population has more than doubled since the first official Loon Count in 1983. More than 1,800 volunteers count loons on 400 lakes and ponds across southern Maine. This year’s loon count is next Saturday, July 18. Traditionally, surveys covered only southern lakes because northern lakes didn’t have enough resident volunteers to cover the necessary territory. Nonetheless, Maine Audubon is working to expand the range of surveyed lakes north. It’s too late to sign up to survey a remote lake this year. But maybe next year. ~ Bob Duchesne