New Hampshire's loon population sees incremental gains

Loon numbers are up slightly compared to last year, with 360 pairs on lakes across New Hampshire.

Two hundred fifty four loon chicks hatched this year and of those, 197 are still alive at this point of the summer.

Harry Vogel, senior biologist at the committee, said that while a lot of gains have been made, challenges still persist. Shoreline development and recreational use of lakes are two of the biggest threats.

Vogel says the gains that have been made can be largely attributed to the committee's work.

“More than 70% of the chicks hatched in New Hampshire this year hatched with a little bit of management help from the Loon Preservation Committee,” he said. “And that really makes loons one of, if not the most intensively managed of any wildlife species in New Hampshire.”

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