9069-R4_ML&P_LSLA_2024_SummerNewsletter_Web

Little Sebago Lake Loon Conservation Program Loon Rangers

chick did not survive. The surviving chick was translocated to Massachusetts and released as part of ongoing efforts to try to help the Massachusetts loon population rebound. Due to being raised in captivity the released chick did not have the skills to survive in the wild and did not survive. • Territorial disputes continued resulting in disruption for our Grand Dame. She was originally banded on our lake in 1997 in the Horse Island territory; she moved to the lower lake for several years and now has been seen back in the Horse Island area (yes, she is back in 2025)! Using the measure that a loon is 4 to 5 years old when they are of breeding age plus the 27 years she has been on our lake!) that puts her about 30 years old. • One of our loons was rescued after crashing onto the pavement in Windham. There were no injuries, and the loon was released from the boat launch later that day. • Loon Rangers have worked this winter to develop a charter & training tool, partnering with Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. We will be back out there in 2025 monitoring, recording, and reporting on our loons. Little Sebago has a solid database of loon activity that is used by IF&W, DEP, Biodiversity Research Institute as well as others. Our intent is to continue to maintain and grow our comprehensive database. • Early 2025 observations, we have one confirmed nest and lots of courtship, pairing being seen. Here’s to another successful season!

T he Little Sebago Lake Loon Conservation Program is dedicated to monitoring, protecting and preserving loon populations and their habitats on Little Sebago Lake. By training and equipping local volunteers as Loon Rangers, this program seeks to enhance community engagement, protect nesting areas, and foster a sustainable environment for the loons through conservation education, active monitoring, and advocacy. The Loon Rangers are a volunteer-driven initiative developed to support loon conservation by designating trained community scientists (Loon Rangers) responsible for monitoring, protecting, and educating the public about loon habitats. The program operates under the sponsorship of the Little Sebago Lake Association and guidance of scientific experts such as Lee Attix, Loon Conservation Associates; Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife; Maine Audubon and Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI). Another year of monitoring the cycle of the loons on Little Sebago has been as interesting as past years. Some highlights from 2024: • 10 of the 11 known loon territories on Little Sebago Lake were occupied by loon pairs • Six of the 10 pairs nested (60%). Five successful pairs hatched eight chicks, and four survived to fledge (able to fly) • Two chicks at Hayden Bay were rescued by volunteers just after hatching. Intruding loons had evicted the banded male, and the female was overwhelmed defending the nest and chicks alone. It is highly likely the intruders would have killed chicks. Both chicks went to a wildlife rehabilitation facility to be reared in captivity, with the hope of future release. One

Spring 2025 | LittleSebagoLake.com 11