LoonNest06

Saturday, April 29, 2006, Floating Loon Nesting Raft Anchored Off East Side of Loon Island.

We need your cooperation in this endeavor! Loons shy away from human presence and will not choose a site or will abandon a site if there is too much activity in the area. So PLEASE keep your distance, even before they are on the nest, swimming in the area and deciding whether to use it.

The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) gave GELIA permission to construct and float the raft after four consecutive years of failed nests on Loon Island. The LPC biologists thinks the loons had to abandon their nests on the Island when water levels dropped and they could no longer get to their nest. We hope this floating raft will solve this problem. LPC tells us that only 50% of new rafts get used the first year, 20% more get used the second year, etc., so we are going to continue launching it for several years, even if there is no use this year.

The LPC provided the plans, advice and all of the construction materials for the float, as well as the warning sign. The base is 4 logs formed to create a raft. Then a mesh bottom is stapled on and a variety of natural materials indigenous to the lake covers this mesh. The loons will make it "their own nest" by adding more materials. A roof is then added that is formed out of chicken wire and then covered with a leafy looking plastic which helps camouflage the nest from flying predators, as well as provide some shade. It was built by Doug Smith and Win Robins, and Doug donned his wetsuit and jumped into the frigid water to get the raft properly anchored. John Cooley from LPC, spent the afternoon helping us select the best site and assisting with the anchor placements. George Szirbik captained the pontoon boat which towed the raft to the site. Acting as sidewalk supervisors and photographers were Win Robin, Bess Smith, Carol and Dave Lafond, and Jon Rouillard and his son JP, who followed in their boat.

In 2007, with advice from the Loon Preservation Committee, it was decided to put the floating loon nest in Copp Brook instead of the Loon Island site. Last year, the Loon Island pair had a successful nesting on their natural site on the island, so the nest has been moved to Copp Brook where there has been multiple years of unsuccessful nests.

AGAIN WE ASK YOUR COOPERATION!
Please don't come too close to the nest, either when the loons are considering nesting sites in the early spring or when they are actively on the nest. If you see a nesting loon lower it's head down over the nest, that is a warning sign that you are getting too close and you should back off.