Steps to Protect Maine’s Iconic Cry of the Loon

Out and About for the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine May 27-June 3
May 27, 2015
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Out and About for the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine June 4-10
June 4, 2015

Steps to Protect Maine’s Iconic Cry of the Loon

Steps to Protect Maine’s Iconic Cry of the Loon

Ever  So Slowly the Great Orb Sinks Over Pemaquid Lake, Nobleboro, Maine

 


by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
The cry of the loon. That haunting wail that transports all of us, whether we are sitting on the porch overlooking our Maine lakefront or at a desk somewhere and wishing we were in Maine. It reaches deep into our souls and evokes a sense of wilderness. Not able to hear it right now. Then click here, close your eyes and listen.
We easily recognize loons by their black-and-white checkered backs, black head, red eye, long black bill and black color with a white necklace. They are well adapted to swimming and diving, with their legs situated far back on their bodies. If you’ve ever watched one, then you know it can swim quite a distance underwater. In fact, you begin to wonder where it will pop up next.

 

 

 

 

 


Because their legs are so far back, walking on land is rather difficult, so they build their nests close to the water’s edge. Often, they use a point of land or small island, in hopes that their eggs and chicks will be out of reach of predators. Some lake associations are providing aid in the form of loon nesting platforms. It takes a few years for the loons to adapt to these, but often they eventually take advantage of the floating islands.
Between mid-May and June, the female usually lays a clutch of two eggs. It takes about a month for the chicks to hatch and within a day or two they are in the water. At first, you may not see the fuzzy down-feathered chicks because they ride on their parents’ backs, where they snuggle in under folded wings for both warmth and protection.
Initially, the chicks are dependent upon their parents for meals of insects and small fish, but soon they learn to dive and catch dinner on their own. It takes about three months for them to actually fledge. Once they do, they are on their own and often spend several years on the ocean. Once mature, they return to our lakes and ponds to breed.
Though known as the common loon, they are not as common as they once were. A variety of factors including lake acidification, human disturbance and pollution have affected their populations. Water level also has an adverse effect, and high water during breeding season may flood the nest.
So . . . what can we do to protect this iconic bird that we associate with Maine?
1) Build a small floating nest platform
2) Give nesting loons and loon families wide berth
3) Don’t carelessly discard fishing line
4) Get the lead out
Did you know that lead poisoning is the leading cause of death for adult loons? According to Maine Audubon, “It is responsible for close to one third of the documented mortality over the past 25 years. For every two loons that die in Maine from natural causes like illness or disease, one loon dies from ingesting a small lead sinker or jig-head.”
In 2013, both the Maine House and Senate passed LD 730: An Act to Protect Maine’s Loons by Banning Lead Sinkers and Jigs, which bans the sale and use of lead fishing sinkers one ounce or less, as well as bare lead-headed jigs 2.5” long or less.
On their Web site, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department offers this interpretation of the Lead Sinker Law.
1) The Department will interpret the definition of lead sinker to include any tackle that is permanently manufactured to the lead itself. When measuring for a minimum of 2.5 inches, the manufactured tackle will be included in the measurement. This will not include any additional items that have been added to the original manufacturing device.
2) Please read the manufacturer’s label carefully to determine the weight of the lead sinker. If the lead is manufactured as part of other fishing tackle, the entire piece of equipment needs to be more than 1 ounce in weight.
3) The definition of a lead sinker DOES NOT include artificial lures, weighted line, weighted flies or jig heads.
4) If a lead sinker is over 2.5 inches in length or it weighs over 1 ounce or both it is legal to use and sell or offer for sale.
5) We will interpret the law to mean that it applies to Inland Waters NOT Tidal Waters.
6) If a sinker contains any amount of lead, it will be considered illegal if it doesn’t meet the length and weight requirements.
7) Reminder: Currently the law only prohibits the use and sale of lead sinkers that do not meet the length and/or weight requirements. The sale of bare lead jigs and use of bare lead jigs not meeting the length and/or weight requirements is currently legal but will be prohibited in September of 2016 and September 2017 respectively.
8) If you have additional questions relating to this topic feel free to look at Maine Audubon’s Web site.
To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Pemaquid Lake in Nobleboro, click on the green box above.
To learn more about the lakes and loons, check out these blogs:
Pemaquid Lake, Nobleboro and Bremen, Maine: Listen to the Laughter of the Loons
Damariscotta Lake, Newcastle, Nobleboro and Jefferson, Maine: Miles of Exploration Opportunities for Lakefront Property Owners

 

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