Monitoring

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The VLRP biologist and volunteers obtain critical information on loon distribution and abundance, nesting success, and chick survival by closely monitoring Vermont’s lakes and ponds.  This information forms a scientific basis for protective management.  Early identification of territorial activity allows the VLRP biologist to immediately contact landowners, lake associations, and hydro-electric operators to develop appropriate outreach and management programs for each loon pair. 

Loonwatch “adopt-a-lake” volunteers contribute over 2,000 hours annually with monitoring, nest site protection, outreach, and loon rescues.  Loonwatch Day volunteers survey 130-160 lakes during the annual statewide survey in July.

Frequency of monitoring:
1) Territorial pairs:  1 to 4 times per month. 
2) Lakes with high levels of loon activity: at least twice a month in early summer. 
3) Statewide loonwatch day census:  annually on the third Saturday of July.