Volume 71| May 2018

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Greetings!
While we have been celebrating the return of the loons this month and getting ready for the upcoming field season, we have also experienced heartache with the loss of an incredible friend. I'm sorry to share such sad news but I wanted to make sure our greater loon community knew about Kittie Wilson. She passed away on May 3 after a strong fight against an aggressive cancer.
Kittie was truly one-of a kind, the type of person that everyone should strive to be like. She had a fierce determination, was incredibly passionate about life and the outdoors, and she was a great advocate for loons. We are going to miss her tremendously. Click here to read her obituary.
Ice out on Winnipesaukee was declared on April 26 at 5:40 pm. Since 1887, ice-out has happened on that date only five other times and just 22 times after that (the latest ice-out on record was May 12). On Squam Lake ice-out was declared on April 27, which is the latest date since 2001, and on Lake Sunapee it happened on April 29. Reports of returning loons began in late March and continued through the month of April. Some folks were surprised to see a loon on their lake with so much ice still remaining but loons will return to NH lakes when there's enough open water to land.
An aerial view of Goose Pond in Canaan shows a lot of ice cover on April 22. One adult loon was spotted the next day. Ice out was declared on April 28 which tied for the latest date in the last 17 years. Photos courtesy of Michael Riese.
As of May 14, 20 new members have joined LPC in response to our Member a Day in May Membership Drive! We are more than halfway there but we still need your help to reach our goal of 31 new members during the month of May.

Don't forget if you join this month you will be entered into a drawing for one of four great prizes:

  • An 11" x 14" matted loon photograph taken by John Rockwood
  • Two tickets to a play of your choice during the 2018 season at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse
  • Two tickets to Mount Sunapee's Adventure Park during the 2018 summer season
  • A copy of the book Gavia, Tales from Loon Country

Click here to join today!
In other news, LPC's loon cam was set up last week! The water level is still a little high but it has come down over the last week. The loons can be seen poking around their 2017 nest site and we even captured a video of one swimming underwater. You can view the LIVE feed here . Make sure to bookmark the link so you can access it easily. I will be sure to keep you posted as soon as they start nesting.
LPC Senior Biologist John Cooley installs the webcam on a post that was driven into the bottom of the lake. Once installed the camera was covered with camouflage netting. Photo courtesy of Bill Gassman.
The 2018 field season officially gets underway on May 21. In case you were not aware, the state is divided into different monitoring regions and LPC hires seasonal field biologists to cover these regions and two of the largest lakes in the state. Make sure to say hello if you see them out on your lake!
We are excited to bring you a great line-up for our Summer Nature Talk Series! The full schedule will be out soon. As always, we have another busy summer with a full slate of events. Make sure to check them out on our events page for more information (or see Upcoming Events box below).

Before I sign off, I want to leave you with this picture that Kittie Wilson captured last year on Pleasant Lake around this same time in May. Her pictures are magical and she often captured behaviors that we only read about. I think it's such a peaceful scene. Loon pair behavior is quite subtle--they don't have elaborate displays like some other waterbird species. I am going to continue to share her pictures with you because she was an educator and there's still a lot we can all learn from them.
Hopefully the next time you hear from me it will be with news of the first nesting loons (including the webcam pair)!
All the best until then,

Susie

Susie Burbidge
Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer at The Loon Center

The Loon Center in Moultonborough is looking for volunteers for the upcoming 2018 season.

General Tasks include: Greeting guests, light housekeeping, restocking the gift shop, assisting with mailings

Time commitment is flexible. A set schedule of 1-2 shifts a week is preferred. A typical shift is 4 hours long.

For more information, please contact us by email at info@loon.org , by phone at 603-476-5666, or stop in. We are currently open Thursday-Saturday from 9 am-5 pm but starting on May 21 we will be open 6 days/week (closed Sundays).
Upcoming Events
May 22

June 7; 7 pm*
* Lakes Region Chapter potluck will begin at 5:30 pm

Fridays, June 8, 15 & 22; 3 pm
Mondays & Fridays, June 25-August 31; 3 pm

June 24; 11 am - 2 pm
Bald Peak Colony Club

July 6; 8 am - 12 pm
Lee's Mill Boat Launch
Moultonborough

LPC Volunteers Steve Burtchell and Dana Simpson put the finishing touches on a new loon nesting sign at the Spring Work Day on May 4. Thanks to everyone who came to help this year at our raft and sign building workshops. A total of 10 new rafts were built along with several new signs and raft covers!
Loon Preservation Committee | 603-476-LOON (5666) | www.loon.org

Loon Center Hours: Starting May 21 we will be open 6 days a week.
Monday-Saturday; 9 am to 5 pm
The Loon Preservation Committee is dedicated to restoring and maintaining a healthy population of loons throughout New Hampshire; monitoring the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and promoting a greater understanding of loons and the natural world.