Public Programs and Outreach
Informed lake-users are vital to the long-term conservation of Vermont’s loons. Public outreach initiatives focus on:
- Loon-safe boating practices (i.e., respecting nesting areas, keep an eye out for loons while boating, and watch loons from a distance);
- Using non-lead fishing gear;
- Reeling in when loons are diving nearby;
- Protecting our watersheds from erosion, pollutants, and exotics;
- Implementing lakeshore conservation
practices;
- Properly disposing of products with mercury; and
- Loon natural history, highlighting their fascinating behaviors.
Some of our outreach efforts include:
- Signage at boat access areas.
- Loon Fact sheets. We encourage cottage owners to keep the fact sheet visible for visiting family, friends, and especially renters, who might not be familiar with loon conservation.
- Annual Loon Caller newsletter and VCE's biannual Field Notes. These publications contain stories about Vermont’s loons, loon conservation, natural history, and current research.
- Public programs and discussions, “the Natural and Unnatural History of the Common Loon.”
- Volunteer and biologist personal contact on the lake.
Scheduling a Program
Contact Eric Hanson, VLRP Biologist at (802) 586-8064 if you are interested in a slideshow program and/or discussion at your school, library, lake association, business, etc. For a slideshow program, the regular fee is $125 plus mileage (from Craftsbury, VT). We do have a sliding scale fee program.
