We're proud to say the number of nesting loons in Vermont has risen dramatically from a mere seven when our recovery efforts began 40 years ago, to more than 350 today.
Other measures of loon conservation success:
- Listed as state endangered in 1987, the Common Loon was removed from the Vermont Endangered Species List in 2005.
- 350 volunteers joined VCE in Common Loon protection and monitoring in 2024.
- Over 50 Common Loons, which wouldn’t have otherwise survived, were rescued by VCE, state game wardens, or volunteers since 2002.
- Adding floating nest warning signs around sites at high risk of human disturbance increased nesting success from 55% to 81%.
- The VCE loon biologist and volunteers monitor more than 130 lakes up to six times per month and another 70 lakes at least once during the summer. Their contributions include:
- the discovery of between three and seven new territorial and nesting pair each year
- more than 850 hours assisting with 100 plus loon rescues
- assisting with nest warning signs and nesting rafts on more than 40 lakes
Annual Reports on the Status of Common Loons in Vermont
The nesting loon hunkers down while anglers fish nearby. Photo by Tig Tillinghast
Each year, along with our major partner in loon recovery and conservation, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, we report on the status of Common Loons in Vermont. Download a PDF of these reports:
- 2024
- 2023 (one-page summary, summary table)
- 2021 (one-page summary)
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
Loon Caller
Our annual newsletter, published jointly with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, features our latest work with loons and some of the volunteers critical to our success.
