The Lake George Association helps organize volunteers to count loons on Lake George as part of an annual loon monitoring program aimed at determining the relative health of the population of this signature Adirondack bird. This program is part of the Annual Loon Census of the Adirondack Cooperative Loon Program.
The 2018 census will take place on Saturday, July 21 from 8:00am-9:00am. To take part, call or e-mail us and let us know a location on Lake George that you are interested in monitoring. We will provide you with the data collection forms that you will need.
Each summer since 2007, LGA has coordinated volunteers for the Adirondack Annual Common Loon Census. The Annual Loon Census is a project of the Wildlife Conservation Society Adirondack Program and is conducted in partnership with the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation. For more information about other conservation projects of WCS’ Adirondack Program, please visit www.wcsadirondacks.org.
Check out these publications about loons in the Adirondacks
- Loons and People: Guidelines for “Nesting” Together on Adirondack Lakes (report) – pdf
- Loons and People: Guidelines for “Nesting” Together on Adirondack Lakes (brochure) – pdf
- The Common Loon in the Adirondack Park – pdf
- The Cycle of the Common Loon (brochure) – pdf
- Get the lead out! (brochure) – pdf
The official counts are published in the annual report of the loon census. The census takes place every year on the third Saturday of July.
Lake George has been included in the census since 2004. No loons were recorded on Lake George for the 2004 census and only one loon was recorded in the 2005 census. In 2006, three adult loons and one immature loon were seen on Lake George. In 2007, the number increased to five. Over time, these numbers will indicate trends in the loon population that will help with management efforts if needed.
Click here for a summary of the 2001-2009 Census Results.