Loons

Chair: Steve Antell

Mark Pokras

Based on our recent survey of the membership we have decided to create a Loon Committee! Mark Pokras has graciously agreed to help us connect our efforts on Toddy to what’s going on in the rest of Maine and nationally.  

 If you know of any loon nests or loon pairs or if you are interested in surveying for loon nests or if you have a boat that you would consider using for a day with fellow TP loon watchers to survey the pond, please email me at leafan@comcast.net. 

Steve Antell

Hello everyone,

What a fine morning it was for counting loons!  We could not have asked for better conditions.  

Thanks very much for getting your information to me.  I have crunched the numbers, which are very much in the ball park wirth previous years with a total of 18 adults and one healthy chick.  The chick has been seen regularly in the south end of the pond, which is kind of unusual but very welcome, given the lack of success elsewhere.  Traditional nest sites on Lone Pine Island, the floating islands in the north narrows and the small island in the south narrows were never used at all, highly unusual and disappointing, and the nest in south Toddy near Goldstram cove produced a chick that was not seen after the first week, mostly likely the victim of the nearby nesting bald eagles.  The raft across from the boat access failed to attract any interest for the third straight year.

In terms of numbers, south Toddy had 5, the narrows produced 2, middle Toddy had 6 including a group of 5 in the northern cove, the north narrows had 2 adults but alas no chick, and north Toddy had 3. adults  Pretty even spread.  It appears that Toddy Pond continues to attract and support a healthy population of adult loons but that successful nesting is a challenge, no doubt due to several factors, with bald eagle predation being the leading challenge.  

We will continue to monitor the loon population on the pond.  Next year's loon count will be on July 18 from 7-7:30.  Rest assured that I will be contacting you before then hoping you will sign on for another year.  

Again, thanks!

Regards,

    Steve Antell