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  • Center for Loon Conservation
    • New Report on Adirondack Loons
    • Adirondack Center For Loon Conservation
  • Center for Mercury Studies
    • Publications and Resources
    • Scientific Research
      • Mercury Connections
      • Mercury in Forest Songbirds Project
    • Policy Outreach
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    • Mid-Atlantic Baseline Studies Project
• Research Programs
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  • Marine Bird Program
  • Migratory Bird Program
  • Raptor Program
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  • Wildlife Health Assessment Program
• BRI Biostations
  • Arctic - Alaska
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  • Tropical - Belize
• Laboratory Capabilities

New York State's six-million-acre Adirondack Park, a globally recognized United Nations Biosphere Reserve, is one of the largest relatively intact forested landscapes in the northeastern U.S. Hundreds of lakes and ponds provide a variety of breeding sites for Common Loons, which are found throughout the Adirondacks during the summer months. Photo © Jeff Nadler Photography

NEW Report on Adirondack Loons

An extensive study of New York’s Adirondack loon population confirms that mercury contamination is harmful to the health of this iconic bird. The research effort was a joint project between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), BRI, and the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Adirondack Program.

The newly released general report, Adirondack Loons—Sentinels of Mercury Pollution in New York’s Aquatic Ecosystems, highlights scientific findings that span the Adirondack region of New York State over a period of nearly ten years.

For the Full Technical and Summary Reports and Media Materials – Click Here

Overview of BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (ACLC)

Our work merges the worlds of field research, outreach, education, and public participation. The results of our research efforts are utilized by wildlife managers and other decision makers, as well as the general public, to ensure that Common Loons remain an integral and vital part of New York’s wildlife heritage, and that their haunting calls continue to echo across Adirondack lakes for generations to come.

Scientific Research

We conduct research to determine the status of and trends in the Adirondack breeding loon population, to assess the impact of mercury contamination on this population’s reproductive success, and to identify the migratory patterns and wintering areas of Adirondack loons. This work is coordinated with similar research throughout northeastern North America to determine the effect of mercury contamination on the breeding loon population throughout the region.

Conservation

In the Adirondack Park, BRI enlists local citizens to help apply what we have learned through our scientific studies to enable us to live compatibly with wildlife in a healthy environment. We conduct a variety of projects and events to promote these efforts, enhancing the conservation of loons and their aquatic habitats in the Park.

Outreach and Education

Through a variety of public education projects, including presentations, newsletters, and innovative student curricula, we work to inform the public, students, and decision makers about concerns affecting wildlife and the environment. We hope to inspire these groups to become actively involved in conservation. Our goal is to minimize human impacts on loon populations, other wildlife, and their habitats through our outreach and education initiatives.

Support BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation

BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation relies on contributions from private individuals, in addition to funding from foundations, businesses, and our collaborators to support our annual operating expenses. Your generous gift enables us to conduct our innovative loon research and education projects in New York’s Adirondack Park, including the loon mercury scientific studies, multi-media public presentations, interactive school curricula, and our newsletter, The Adirondack Tremolo.

Coordinator, ACLC:

Nina Schoch, D.V.M.
nina.schoch@briloon.org
888.749.5666 x145

History of BRI's Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation

BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation evolved from contaminant research conducted by Biodiversity Research Institute throughout North America. In New York, blood and feather samples were collected from loons in the Adirondack Park from 1998-2000. In 2001, BRI partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, and the Audubon Society of New York State, Inc. to initiate the former Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program to expand upon this work. In 2007, the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program was integrated into the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Adirondack Program, and was then known as WCS’ Adirondack Loon Conservation Program. In 2009, the administration of the Loon Program changed to Biodiversity Research Institute to better coordinate with BRI’s Loon Center for Conservation and regional loon mercury research in the Northeast. With this change, the name was also changed to reflect BRI’s new role, and the increased coordination with BRI’s Loon Center for Conservation.

BRI is most grateful to its former collaborators for their support of our loon research and conservation efforts in the Adirondacks, including:

• The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Adirondack Program
• The Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks – The Wild Center
• NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
• Audubon Society of New York State/Audubon International

Thank You to Our Supporters!

We are grateful to the many individuals and organizations that have, and continue to, support our Adirondack loon research and outreach initiatives. To see a complete list of our supporters, click here.

Enter BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation Summer Raffle!

Download raffle tickets here ($3 each or 6 for $15), fill them out, and

Send them to BRI’s Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, PO Box 195, Ray Brook, NY 12977

Two drawings will be held in conjunction with our summer benefit concerts:
Saturday, August 18, 2012, at View, the arts center in Old Forge (4-7pm),
and Sunday, August 19, 2012, at Intervale Lowlands, Lake Placid (4-7pm)

We’ve had a variety of prizes donated –
including beautiful framed loon photographs, out-of-print loon books, and adorable rubber loons!

Send your tickets in by August 15^th to win a wonderful loon-related prize!