Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation

We would like to thank our newest loon chick business sponsor, Tug Hill Artisan Roasters. Tug Hill is a small, family owned business dedicated to responsibly managed farms and fair wages. Make sure to check out their special Gavia Immer coffee at our store or stop by their shop in Castorland, NY. https://www.adkloon.org/aclc-business-sponsors

I-Spy Round 5! Did you spot the American black bear in last week's photo? If not, take a second look. This week our critter has some followers. Don't forget to comment below once you spy the interloper!

I-Spy Round 6! Did you spot the Common Merganser and its chicks in last week's photo? If not, take a second look. This week our critter is very playful. Don't forget to comment below once you spy the interloper!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you love birds as much as we do, you might want to participate in a local Christmas Bird Count. Many in the Adirondack Region are hosting counts after the New Year (following COVID-19 guidelines of course). Follow the link to find a count near you. http://ow.ly/uaHV50CAYmd

Good News! Our store has reopened for CURBSIDE PICK-UP every Friday and Saturday from 10AM to 5PM. We have added new items to our website available for pick-up only. These items cannot be shipped due to cost or size, but feel free to browse online and pick up your items in person. Please stay safe and do not forget to check out our online store! https://adkloon.square.site/

We are deeply saddened to hear of Peter Hornbeck's passing -a tragic loss for the Adirondack paddling community. Pete is greatly missed for his smile, stories, and wonderful boats. Pete recently donated a very special boat to ACLC - Learn more about Pete, and how you can win the boat at www.adkloon.org. See a very fun time lapse video of the making of this unique boat at: https://www.facebook.com/neal.estano/videos/1968242849978397

Merchandise Alert! We have restocked our shelves including new stationary from Ian Clark, bean mugs, draft dodgers, and more! Check out our online store for a wide variety of local items.

I-Spy Round 4! Did you spot the North American beaver in last week's photo? If not, take a second look. This week our critter is rather obvious, but it's worth a look. Don't forget to comment below once you spy the interloper!

The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We hope everyone has a safe holiday season and thank you for all your support!

I-Spy Round 3! Did you spot the American mink in last week's photo? If not, take a second look. This week our critter might be more difficult to find, but don't give up! Remember to comment below once you spy the interloper.

Our hours have changed! Due to the increasing COVID cases in the North Country, we will be closing our store until Friday, January 8, 2021. We will be reopening for CURBSIDE PICK-UP every Friday and Saturday and don't forget to check out our online store! Happy Holidays!

Every year, some of our loons travel to Lake Jocassee, South Carolina for the winter. While there, our partners continue to monitor their behaviors and activities. One of these behaviors, feeding frenzies, are an amazing site. Four to 20+ birds will gather for communal feeding chasing after schools of small fish. Check out a recent observation from Brooks Wade of Jocassee Wild! November 30, 2020: "It was intense. I’ve been watching loon feeding frenzies for many years now on ...Lake Jocassee, but the one I watched yesterday, Friday, was the most ferocious one ever. The literature refers to such loon behavior as group foraging, but it is so much more explosive than that. There were about 25 loons in the tightly clustered group. I lost exact count at 17. In one movement they all headed my way, in our boat maybe 30 yards away. They were swimming with only their necks and heads above water, driving through the water, taking short, shallow dives steadily. Much excited hooting was going on, the one syllable sound loons make when in the company of other loons, and always more vocal and more insistent when involved in some high energy event, like group feeding or preparing in mass to depart. There has been a massive shad spawn in the lake and bait balls were abundant, including the one which streaked by our boat, translucent and shimmering in the mid-day light. Loons were hard after them, swimming right beside us, even diving under the boat. It was wondrous. The ephemeral beauty of the bait ball In Jocassee’s clear water, the power and kinetic musicality of the hooting, the pure force of intent, watching so many loons coming my way, totally other- focused." https://www.jocasseewild.org//frontpage-category-2020-loon

With winter settling in, it's time to add some light to brighten the mood. Stop by our store to pick up a variety of nightlights, string lights, and more! Our hours are Friday-Monday, 10AM to 5PM. See you soon!

I-Spy Round 2! Did you spot the white-tailed deer in last week's photo? If not, take a second look. This week our critter is a bit smaller, but just as cute. Don't forget to comment below once you spy the interloper!

Shopping local this year? We sell a wide variety of goods from local and artisan vendors. So stop by our store in Saranac Lake or online to support our community! Our hours are Friday-Monday, 10AM-5PM. See You Soon!

May peace and joy be with you this holiday season! Best wishes to all for healthy and happy holidays! ~With gratitude, from all of us at the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation

Are you looking for a unique holiday gift? Consider a loon sponsorship from NY's Adirondack Park! When you Sponsor a Loon, you help support the ACLC's efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, band, and monitor these magnificent birds. With your sponsorship you will receive a personalized certificate, poster, color photo of your loon, sticker, bookmark, and fact sheet. Don't miss out and Sponsor a Loon now! https://www.adkloon.org/sponsor-a-loon

One of our volunteers has spotted a visitor near Schroon Lake! This time of year, Red-throated Loons are making their way from the arctic to their wintering grounds along the coast. They sound different than our Common Loons, so keep your eyes and ears open!... https://www.allaboutbirds.org/gu/Red-throated_Loon/overview

Holiday Sale Alert! Starting Friday, December 11 - Monday, December 14 we will be offering 10% off purchases of $50 or more. Use the code Holiday2020 to participate in the promotion both in person and online. Our hours are Friday-Monday, from 10AM to 5PM. See you soon!

After the summer field season is over, our staff diligently organizes all of the data we have collected that year. One of those tasks is to go through all of our loon nest camera photographs. Each year, we install approximately 10 trail cameras on loon nests to observe behaviors and identify possible predators. We invite you to play a game of ‘I-Spy’ with us. Each week we will post one of our nest camera photographs and it is up to you to spot the interloper. Don’t forget to comment below once you spy the critter that isn’t a loon!

The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation would like to thank everyone who donated on Giving Tuesday. Your donations are an integral part in the protection of the Adirondack loon population and we are grateful for your generous support!

Join us today for Giving Tuesday! This global day of generosity unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. We invite you to help Adirondack loons with your generous gift today!... We are MOST grateful for your thoughtfulness in helping to make the world a better place with your acts of kindness and generosity this holiday season - Thank You!

What does a loon enjoy eating for Thanksgiving? Calamari & more! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are MOST grateful to our supporters for helping us through this challenging year. Join us on Giving Tuesday with your gift at www.adkloon.org/support - Thank You!

Please consider donating to the ACLC on Tuesday, December 1 for Giving Tuesday! Your generous support helps us continue our research and educational projects. You can donate on our website: https://adkloon.square.site/

Join us for small business Saturday! We are offering 15% off all purchases on Saturday, November 28 only. Use the code SmallBusinessSaturday2020 in our online store, and remember to wear a mask if you visit us in person!

The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation wishes everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving! This weekend, please join us for small business Saturday. We will be offering 15% off all purchases both in person and in our online store. We look forward to seeing you!

Sadly, yesterday was Hyla's last day with the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation. She is moving on to pursue a master's degree in agroecology. We will greatly miss her enthusiastic personality and welcoming smile! We wish her the best in all her future endeavors!

We are seeing a shift in birds in the Adirondacks! As the loons are moving out, our winter residents are moving in. What birds are you seeing in your area?

Loons are on the move! Presque Isle State Park in PA is reporting that the skies have been full of common loons, with thousands passing by. One observer said that this is the most they have seen in 30 years.

Our hours have changed! Due to the increasing COVID cases in the North Country, we will now only be open Friday through Monday from 10am to 5pm. Please remember to wear your mask when you visit us!

Do you need more activities to fill these long evenings? Stop by our store to pick up a new puzzle (available in store only)! These small artisanal wood puzzles are beautifully made and even have special loon-shaped pieces mixed in! Can you find the ones in this picture?

Something to brighten your day! An adult male loon was blown down on a road by Lake Champlain during Monday night's snowstorm. It was found on Tuesday and brought to Dr. Schoch for evaluation. Fortunately, the bird was in great shape, so after getting new bracelets and checked in the tub to make sure it didn't have any injuries affecting its swimming ability, it was released by Dr. Schoch, Emily Prosser, our wildlife biologist, and KT Shumway, our wildlife technician, on a l...ocal lake. As it swam away, it turned around and looked back at us, as if to say "Thank you for your help!" And Many Thanks to McKenzie, who rescued this beautiful bird and brought it to us!

~Loon Pond Update~ October is a month of great change in the north country. It often starts out summer-like, and ends up like winter. Leaves fall off the trees, and most plants die back. Many creatures migrate, prepare to hibernate, or just plain die, as in the case of many insects and other invertebrates. And so it has been at Loon Pond. On October 25 both loon chicks were still on the pond, although the father loon had left. But on October 27, only one chick remained. ... When a chick is all alone on a lake, it becomes more fearful and harder to approach, probably because it now lacks the support of its parents. This last chick kept its distance, and wailed twice when it saw me put my canoe in the pond. The chick was diving for fish, although I did not see it come up with any. When the fish captured are small, they are eaten underwater, but if a loon catches a large fish, it brings it to the surface to handle it and subdue it. On October 28 and 29 the solo chick was still present, but on Halloween, no loons were left. A flock of 15 hooded mergansers fished the shallows, and a kingfisher rattle-cried as it flew along the shore. Although the day was in the mid-30's, the bright sun warmed up the air enough to encourage a trio of painted turtles to bask on a log, probably the last reptiles I'll see until next spring. The otter pup was fishing near a beaver lodge, and later dried off and took a nap right on a birch log that was part of the lodge. In the late afternoon a beaver swam to its winter food supply and slapped its tail at me while I was watching the otter pup. Then the beaver swam toward shore and ate some aquatic vegetation, maybe a few remaining lily pads. The last 3 days had brought rain, snow, wind, a rainbow, and some temperatures at night in the mid-teens. This resulted in the surprise of finding the far west shallow end of the pond being mostly skimmed over with ice already. Winter is nipping at our heels. Because the loons have migrated, this will be the last post about Loon Pond this year unless a loon is sighted again on the pond. I hope you have enjoyed reading these posts as much as I have enjoyed visiting the pond so often and watching the lives of the loons and other wildlife unfold. Please comment if you would like to see a return to Loon Pond next year when the loons migrate back, or if you would prefer that I post about a different pond or lake. If you have enjoyed these updates, please consider donating to our organization so we can continue our work. In addition, all of the Loon Pond posts will remain on our Nature Blog so you can enjoy them at any time! https://www.adkloon.org/nature-blog

We have new loon face masks in stock!! Visit our store online or in person to grab yours today! We are open every day except Tuesday, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. https://adkloon.square.site/

Happy Halloween! (aren't dogs lucky??)

How are Gulf Coast ecosystems doing 10 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill? https://www.allaboutbirds.org//deepwater-horizon-ten-year/

Our latest update on Loon Pond is published on our blog! Click the link below to read about how the loons and their neighbors are doing! https://www.adkloon.org/nature-blog

What would happen if the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred today? This article examines the penalties that corporations face when accidents happen, and how policy changes have impacted them. https://www.allaboutbirds.org//analysis-if-another-deepwa/

This article is a great resource to learn more about the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and how it has been changed. This is relevant because it will impact how companies are penalized for devastating accidents such as oil spills in the future. https://www.allaboutbirds.org//analysis-losing-the-law-th/

With the presidential election only a little over a week away, we feel that it is important to talk a little bit about the state of our nation's environmental regulations. This week, we will be posting an article each day to raise awareness of the impact that environmental regulations have on birds, and the damage that has been done to those regulations by the current administration. Please read, share, and vote with the Earth in mind. https://www.allaboutbirds.org//special-section-recent-env/

Tug Hill Artisan Roasters has partnered with the ACLC to raise money and educate coffee drinkers about Adirondack loons! They will be donating 5% of all proceeds from their 'Gavia immer' coffee to our organization! Coffee is available in store or online at https://adkloon.square.site//coffee-gavia-immer-by-tu/376. Visit Tug Hill Artisan Roasters' website to learn more! https://www.tughillartisanroasters.com/#lMsewY

We have restocked our mugs and added some fun new styles! Stop by the Loon Center to grab your new favorite mug before the cold weather sets in. We are open every day except for Tuesday, from 10 to 4:30!

Have you been wondering how the Loon Pond family is doing? So have we! The latest Loon Pond update is on our blog now. Click the link below to read it now! https://www.adkloon.org/nature-blog

Mark your calendars and join us for a virtual presentation with the Wild Center on October 22nd at 6:30 pm! Registration is required. Click the link below for more information! https://www.wildcenter.org//conservation-through-the-live/

We have beautiful new handmade wood carvings in stock. Visit our website or store to pick up your favorite ones! https://adkloon.square.site/

Visit our blog to read the latest update on Loon Pond! https://www.adkloon.org/nature-blog

We have new merchandise in stock! Visit us in store or online to pick up a pair of these cute button necklaces or earrings! https://adkloon.square.site/

A new blog post is up! Visit https://www.adkloon.org/nature-blog to read about loons that are grouping up near Saranac Lake.

We recently rescued another juvenile loon that someone found on Rt. 3 on their way from Saranac to Saranac Lake. It was a very feisty little loon that must have come down while still learning to fly. It was released after we did an an exam on it, measured it and banded it. Like most loons, it was VERY glad to be back on the water after its misadventure. It was very feisty and focused on attacking the person who released it. When it finally realized it was free, it made a couple of long deep dives, and then disappeared from sight!

**Update on Loon Pond** It was hat and gloves weather on September 19 at Loon Pond. The temperature dipped well below freezing early in the morning, but the loon family didn't seem to mind. The mother loon was fishing with the two chicks in the middle of the pond, while the father loon was by himself in the west end, preening. He was having a well-deserved break from parenting. After about 20 minutes, the father joined the family, and the mother swam further away to... take a break herself. The chicks were still begging from their parents, but they also dove each time a parent dove, and probably caught some fish for themselves. They would approach a parent that just surfaced by lying low in the water, snake-like, and then sidle up to a parent and nibble or poke them with their bills. The chicks also made wheezy begging calls. The female is just starting to molt into winter plumage, and there were a few white feathers around the base of her bill. The male is much further along in his molt into his gray and white winter plumage, and he looks like a grizzled old man around his beak and neck. Note how the base of his beak itself is also turning gray. However, while graying is a sign of aging in humans, it is a sign of winter for loons, and all adult loons molt into this different plumage for spending winter on the ocean or southern reservoirs. Our Adirondack loons spend the winter along the Atlantic Coast probably from Long Island to Florida. Some might winter on freshwater in large southern reservoirs, such as in the Carolinas. When will the parents leave to migrate? They have done their job, and the chicks are old enough and fully developed to fend for themselves. Some loon parents leave early, while others stay late into October. Some parents even wait for their chicks to leave first, but that is not as common as for the parents to depart first.

Birds Canada just published a great article about the lives of loons! Click the link below to read more about them! https://www.birdscanada.org/days-of-our-loons-common-loons/

We are adding a final guided paddle trip to our schedule this year! Join us on Saturday, September 26 from 10 am to 1 pm to watch the loons that are congregating on Lake Clear! Registration is required. You can sign up at https://adkloon.square.site/product/paddlejune23/365. We hope to see you there!

Thousands of migrating songbirds are dying in the southwestern US, likely as a result of climate change and wildfires, which left them without regular food sources. This is tragic and unsettling, as we are likely to see more events like this if we do not address the environmental crisis. https://www.theguardian.com//birds-falling-out-of-the-sky-

A morning visit on September 8 and an evening visit on September 10 found the whole loon family fishing together with no intruders. Both parents would dive for fish and the chicks would also dive. When they surfaced, at least one of the chicks would beg for food from the nearest adult. Chicks beg by rubbing their heads and necks on the parent's head and neck, and also by poking or nibbling the parent's neck with their bill. The chicks also make loud wheezy noises, and the...se begging behaviors are usually annoying enough to make the parent dive again to try to feed the chicks. Although the chicks are still begging for fish and being fed by their parents, they are now over three months old and should be able to feed themselves and fly. Do not be surprised if one or both parents depart the pond for the winter soon, leaving the chicks to fend for themselves. The female has not started molting much yet, but the father loon is growing in winter plumage, white feathers around the base of his beak and also molting some back feathers where you can see missing spots. His beak is turning gray at the base, and it will turn all gray just like the chick's beak by winter. His legs and feet will also turn from black to gray. Loons molt at different rates, but most are starting now. You may find loon feathers floating on the water or washed up on shore. Fortunately, loons do not molt their flight feathers until later in the winter, after they have reached their wintering areas, usually on the ocean. The early autumn weather with cooling temperatures might nudge loons and other birds south a bit early this year. Stay tuned to find out when the parents migrate, and when the chicks finally head off on their own.

Fall is just starting to come to the Adirondacks, with temperatures dropping into the 30's at night and red leaves starting to pop along the edges of the lakes and roads. Loons are leaving their nesting territories to congregate on large, deep, clear lakes with plentiful fish. They will stay on these large lakes while they molt into their winter plumage and prepare for the journey to their wintering grounds along the Atlantic Coast. With our field season over, we will continue to update our nature blog and social media with wildlife observations during this beautiful time of the year! If you find yourself "molting" into your winter wardrobe, stop into the Loon Center to check out our latest fall "fashion" pieces, including hoodies, vests, and windbreakers! https://adkloon.square.site/

Many thanks to Chelsea for hosting a fundraiser for us in honor of her birthday! Happy Birthday Chelsea!!

It's hard to believe summer is over...soon the loons will be getting their fall colors and leaving the Adirondacks. It's been a great summer visiting with them. Hope you all have had fun too!

We have some good news for your long weekend! Head on over to our blog to read the latest post about Roadi the rescued loon! https://www.adkloon.org/nature-blog

**Update on Loon Pond** September started rainy and calm at Loon Pond. For once, there were no intruder loons in the morning, just a misty rain making photography difficult. The loon family didn't mind, though, as the chicks were busy begging from both of the parents, and the parent loons were busy diving to catch fish for the chicks. The chicks are now two months old, and are almost as big as their mom and dad! They are fully feathered in juvenile plumage, handsome in their... gray scalloped feathers with white margins. They will be practicing take-offs and landings a lot, and should be able to fly in less than two weeks. Two days previously, a visit just to the shore of the pond was rewarded by watching one of the chicks attempting a short run across the water, flapping its wings in an effort to get airborne. Chicks are stimulated to fly by windy weather, but this morning was almost windless. The adult loons are easy to tell apart now, because the male has already started to molt into his gray and white winter plumage. You can see his new gray feathers around the base of his beak. Loons molt all of their beautiful black and white spotted feathers except for their flight feathers in the fall, and become gray and white, looking a lot like their chicks. Some loons migrate early and do most of their molting while they live on the ocean, but others stay later on freshwater ponds and lakes, and may become almost all gray and white before they migrate. In the shallow back part of the pond, a bullfrog rested on the end of a beaver-chewed log. A great blue heron hunted for frogs and fish in the lily pads. Warblers fed in the trees along the shore, fattening up for their southward migration. Soon they will be gone. Some early red maple leaves were already scarlet, igniting the start of the autumn foliage extravaganza. The seasons change fast in the Adirondacks, with the daylight shrinking by three minutes every day now.

**Attention Tri- Lakes area residents and visitors** A member of the ACLC community is holding a garage sale to benefit our organization! The garage sale begins at 12 pm on Saturday the 5th at 35 Maddox lane in Tupper Lake. Please drive carefully for neighborhood children and respect covid safety!

Shop our Labor Day Sale today through Monday and save 10% on merchandise (excluding silver jewelry)! Use the code LaborDay2020 at checkout or visit us in store! https://adkloon.square.site/