RANGELEY — The 38th annual Loon Count will be held Saturday, July 17, and Maine Audubon and Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust will coordinate volunteers throughout the Rangeley Lakes region.
There are more than 40 survey areas that still need volunteers, said Hanz Berger, regional coordinator. That includes the entirety of Aziscohos Lake, with 12 survey areas, and Umbagog Lake, with 14 survey areas.
The count takes half an hour — from 7 to 7:30 a.m. The event is coordinated effort to avoid duplicate counts.
“The large size and lack of coverage on these two lakes put them at the top of the priority list,” Berger said.
There are also opportunites on Beaver, Big Island, Cow, East Richardson, Kamankeag, Long, Lower/Middle/Upper Sandy River, Round and Spencer ponds.
“On the day of, hundreds of volunteers will be on the lookout for loons, nests, and chicks, but with 6,000 ponds and lakes, there’s still a lot of water that doesn’t get covered,” Berger said. He added that volunteer counters will always be in demand.
The loon count is an annual event with more than 1,000 volunteers across Maine who look out for loons, nests and chicks. The count gives wildlife officials an idea of the state’s loon population. Monitoring the loon population helps scientists better understand and protect the health of loons.
Those interested can contact Berger at headwaters@rlht.org.
