Banded Common Loon.
Photo courtesy of Ginger Gumm and Dan Poleschook
2009 Speakers Forum and Field TripsWoodie Wheaton Land Trust CenterForest City, Maine
Friday, July 17
(click above for details)
Study Area
(click on map for larger view)
Loon Preservation: Responding to Spilled Oil Notes From the Field
Image of a loon chick beginng to hatch
(Photo courtesy of Seth Wile, BRI)
Notes from Seth on 6/19/09: Today I went to Third Machias Lake for a second time, the first time was with a guide during my first week. I was making my way to the previous year’s nest waypoint, when I saw a loon near an island and decided to check it out for a nest. Well, there was a nest with an egg in it. Two adult loons were in the water, one of them had a chick riding on its back. So, I became curious about the unhatched egg and checked it out. I went to touch it to see if it was warm and realized there was a small hole in it, with a chick just beginning to break free of the shell. It was really cool. At that point I figured it was best to take off as quickly as possible. As you will see from the short video clip, the parents weren't pleased with me. It was a pretty good day despite the rain.
About Downeast Lakes Land Trust
The Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Grand Lake Stream, with a mission to contribute to the long-term economic and environmental well-being of the Downeast Lakes region through the conservation and exemplary management of its forests and waters. DLLT sustainably manages the 33,708-acre Farm Cove Community Forest for wildlife habitat, forest products, and public recreation, as described on its web site, www.downeastlakes.org. DLLT received Down East Magazine’s prestigious Environmental Award in 2006, was named a 2006 Landowner of the Year by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and in 2007 became the first local land trust in Maine to earn Forest Stewardship Council Forest Management certification.
The Downeast Lakes region’s fisheries, including native landlocked salmon and brook and lake trout, as well as smallmouth bass, are world-renowned. This area is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, bobcats, and at least 180 species of birds. The economy of Grand Lake Stream and the broader region is highly dependent upon natural resources, which provide livelihoods through the forest industry and sporting camp owners and employees. Visitors from around the globe make vital contributions to the Downeast Lakes economy. DLLT’s land management provides local guides and sporting camps an environment that is conducive to their continued success, contributing to the preservation of Grand Lake Stream’s unique heritage and culture.
