6892-R3_ML&P_LSLA_2019_WinterNewsletter

FALL LOONACY 2019

Not only were we able to report and record nesting success and failure, we were also able to positively identify a number of previously banded loons still resident on the lake. Most importantly, we learned that a female loon banded back in 1997 was with us again or still. She would have been 5-6 years old when first banded which would make her about 28 now and one of the oldest known loons in the northeast. Her mate from last year was here as well, but paired with a new un- banded female in Briggs Island Cove (he was later in the season seen in Hall Cove hanging with two females, one a female banded at Horse Island in 2014 and known to be one of last years’ Flamingo Island parents, and the other un-banded). By the end of the season our “old lady” or “The Grand Dame”, as we’ve named her, appeared to

have paired up with a male banded in Sheldrake Cove back in 2014. The current male in Sheldrake Cove (since 2015) appeared paired with a newer female banded in 2018. Sand Island had a returning 2014 male with an un- banded female (likely same pair as last year). Hill Island parents were a male parent first banded on Horse Island in 2014 paired with a new un-banded female. Policeman Cove has a female banded first in 2010 and again in 2014 still in residence, but she is with an un-banded male. Both parents in the upper lake were un-banded, but we did band them this year. Treasure Island has the longest returning monogamous pair, having been together and returning to Treasure Island since 2012. Many other banded loons are still here but were not paired with a mate this year. There was another first to experience in

2019. Two adult loons were killed, reported to us through the Little Sebago Loon Watch page on Face Book, and bodies recovered by Loon Rangers. The first suffered a nearly severed neck, almost certainly caused by a boat propeller. Another loon was recovered just recently having been found awash on a shore near Bean Island with no outward signs of injury. Necropsy will determine the cause of death, but our best guess at this time is lead poisoning caused by ingesting a lead fishing sinker. Lead poisoning remains the number one cause of death in adult loons. Continues on Page 16

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