Many of you know or know of Eric Hanson, biologist working with the Vermont Loon Conservation Project. Eric has been instrumental assisting in the recovery of the  loon population in Vermont, and at Joe's Pond - our particular interest. Eric contacted me with the following request:

Looking for Loon Observers

The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is looking for volunteers to help track the two loon pairs on Joe's Pond.   Observations are conducted every 1-2 weeks early in the season (late May and June) with an additional 2 to 3 observations later in the summer.  Volunteers email/phone/ebird sightings to Eric Hanson, the Vermont Loon Conservation Project Biologist, ehanson@vtecostudies.org 802-586-8065. 

Things to report with focus on the loon pairs: nest building, nesting, failed nests, chicks hatched out, loss of chicks, chicks surviving through the end of August, levels of intruder loon activity.  I also collect loon activity observations on the rest of the lake away from the two territories.  Currently, we have a great volunteer observing the inlet (NW) pair and nesting activity, but we could use a few more eyes to follow the family later in the summer.  No one is currently reporting in about the 1st Pond pair.  For more information about Vermont loons go the VCE website  www.vtecostudies.org and find the lakes and loons section. 

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Eric Hanson

Vermont Loon Conservation Project  

Vermont Center for Ecostudies

www.vtecostudies.org

8020586-8065

Please consider getting in touch with Eric about helping to report loon activity here at Joe's Pond. The more eyes on the loon families the better. 

Eric was the recent recipient of the GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. You can see the WCAX report here.