8181-R1_LSLA_2022_WinterNewsletter_Web

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2022 Little Sebago Loon

Before I share the extraordinary story of the July rescues & October release of two loon chicks, I want to give you some background about Little Sebago Lake and its Loon Monitoring & Conservation Program. Little Sebago is a 7-mile-long narrow lake of about 2000 acres dotted with many islands, thus making it an ideal habitat for our beloved loons. With approximately 30 banded loons our annual return rate is typically mid 50 to low 60 percent. We have from 9 to 12 territorial pairs annually. Our overall reproductive success rate had been near or above .50 but decreased to .30 in 2020 and .10 in 2021. This year with 4 fledged chicks we shall be nearly to our goal of .50 overall productivity – the desired goal to sustain a healthy loon population.

Little Sebago Lake Association (LSLA) began the Loon Monitoring & Conservation program in 2018. At that time there were already approximately 21 loons banded on Little Sebago. Those birds were part of a study conducted by the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI). BRI had concluded their program in 2015 and so we sought out a funding source and an expert to help reinstate a program. Lee Attix, formerly with BRI, was engaged as an expert consultant and grant funding was awarded through Maine Community Foundation to support year one of the Little Sebago Loon Monitoring & Conservation Program. The Little Sebago Lake Association has continued to fund the program. Our program involves teams of volunteer rangers trained in recognizing loon behaviors and the

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