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Volunteers sought for annual Loon Census

Volunteers are being sought by the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation to help spot and count loons for their annual census. (Photo provided)

SARANAC LAKE — The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation is asking Adirondack residents and visitors to participate in its ongoing research on common loons.

Observers are needed for the 20th annual NY Loon Census on Saturday, July 18 from 8 to 9 a.m. to help determine the abundance of loons during this year’s breeding season. There are many loons on nests or with young chicks this year, so the center says census observers have an excellent chance of watching these birds care for their downy chicks.

“We are very pleased to have hundreds of people participate in the NY Loon Census each summer,” Dr. Nina Schoch, executive director of the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, said in a press release. “The results from their annual observations enable us to monitor and assess long-term trends in the loon population summering and breeding in the Adirondack Park and across New York.”

The NY Loon Census results indicate that New York’s loon population has been slowly increasing over the last two decades. Annual results of the census are available at www.adkloon.org. To view results for a specific lake, visit https://adirondackatlas.org/adkloon.

Interested observers should sign up for a lake in advance to prevent duplicate observations. Visit www.adkloon.org for more information and to sign up for a census lake.

Additionally, the Loon Center invites Census participants to join in an Adirondack-wide community lake cleanup the day of the Loon Census to help make the Adirondack Park a better place for loons. An 11-by-17-inch photo of an Adirondack loon will be awarded to the person or group that collects the most trash, fishing line and lead fishing tackle from the water.

The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that conducts scientific research and educational programming to promote and inspire passion for the conservation of common loons (Gavia immer) in and beyond New York’s Adirondack Park. To learn, visit www.adkloon.org or www.facebook.com/adkloon, or contact info@adkloon.org or 518-354-8636. The Adirondack Loon Center at 15 Broadway in Saranac Lake is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Tuesday.

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