Vermont Loon Population Assessment and Results

(page under construction)

The Vermont Loon Recovery Project (VLRP) was initiated in 1978 to evaluate the status of the Common Loon in Vermont.  With less than 10 nesting loon pairs in the state in the early to mid-1980s, the loon was designated a state endangered species in 1987.  Through our broad-based approach to loon conservation, the VLRP has allowed the loons to recover in Vermont over the past 20 years. 

Highlights of the VLRP’s Success

• The recovery of the loon population in Vermont  from 7 nesting pairs in 1983 to over 60 in 2007 and 2008,
• The de-listing of the Common Loon from the Vermont state endangered species list in April of 2005,
• The relatively few nest failures caused by human disturbance and flooding because of man-made dams,
• The number of successful nests near cottages and on busy lakes,
• The number of loons in distress rescued over the years, and
• Vermont’s high rate of loon chick productivity at 0.72 chicks per territorial pair, one of the highest in New England.  The North America average is 0.52 chicks per territorial pair. 

However, loons are sensitive to a number of persistent threats and over 50 percent of the loons currently nesting in Vermont might not be successful without the management and outreach programs of the VLRP. 

Resources about the status of the Vermont loon population 

• Various Vermont population summaries since 1978:
• Annual population numbers and Loonwatch Statewide Census (1978-present) – (VT Loon Population Summary table 2)
• Nesting and Territorial Pairs and Chick Survival (1979 to present) – (VT Loon Nest-Chick 78-08 graph)
• Loonwatch Statewide Census (1983 to present) – VT Loonwatch 83-08 graph)
• Previous 3 year nesting and territorial loon activity sorted by lake (VT Loon Breed-History 2007 table 4)
• Individual lake summaries for nesting loons (not yet available)
• One-page annual summaries (written summaries of the VT loon population and management and outreach efforts).  (“VT Loon Report-Summary 2008)
• Tables of annual nesting and territorial loon pairs and nest and chick outcomes. (“VT Breeding Loon Pair List 2008”)
• Complete annual reports (30-40 page documents describing in detail the annual work and results for each year).
• Loon Caller newsletters.

Educational Materials

• Fact sheet (Questions and Answers about Loons in Vermont)
• Slide show (view here)(not yet available)
• Various natural history articles from past Loon Caller newsletters and other sources (see Loon Natural History section for links to articles)