MTRI - Projects - Freshwater - Loonwatch
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What is the LoonWatch program all about?
The Common loon is a highly visible water bird inhabiting many of the lakes within the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve. It is an icon of wilderness and the public are captivated by its beauty and haunting call. Concerns have been raised about the health of loons after a study by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) found very high blood mercury concentrations in Kejimkujik loons. These levels have been associated with impaired reproduction and altered breeding behavior in some areas. LoonWatch began on 16 lakes within Kejimkujik in 1996. In 2006, the program was expanded to the greater landscape through the MTRI where volunteers are trained to observe and record loon activity and breeding success on their assigned lake throughout the summer using a national protocol developed by Bird Studies Canada. These two program components will provide a picture of how well loon populations are doing in the region.
Program objectives
- To observe Common loon abundance and breeding success on 16 lakes within Kejimkujik and 25 lakes outside the park, primarily in the Mersey and Medway watersheds.
- To determine status and trends in loon abundance, lake use and reproductive potential of resident birds.
- To monitor water quality on 15 lakes being observed by Loon Watchers outside Kejimkujik.
Methods
Inside Kejimkujik:
- LoonWatch uses trained volunteers in a coordinated effort to simultaneously survey study lakes within a three hour observation period, in June and during the third week of August.
- Loon monitoring combines data gathered from intensive LoonWatch days involving many volunteers, plus public observations and repeated surveys by Kejimkujik staff.
- CWS will also be doing more intensive work to better understand population dynamics and relative mercury levels in loons in the region.
Outside Kejimkujik:
- Lakeside dwellers and cottagers with an interest in loons were recruited and provided with information about loons and the monitoring protocol.
- Trained volunteers were used to survey their lakes in June for loon pairs, in July for newly hatched chicks, and in August for surviving young.
- MTRI staff visited many of these lakes, canoed to the deepest part and measured water quality at one meter intervals, recording temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH.
- Volunteer data was collected and compiled, then shared with Bird Studies Canada.
Results
- In 2007, many nests were flooded following establishment. While the number of adults remained fairly high, the number of loon chicks continues to be low.
- Four loon chicks were recorded by LoonWatchers in Kejimkujik at Channel Lake, Cobrielle Lake, and Grafton Lake. Outside Kejimkujik, nine loon chicks were recorded at Cameron Lake, Harmony Lake, Fisher Lake, First Christopher Lake, and Charlotte Lake.
- The surface pH of 10 lakes outside Kejimkujik ranged from 4.7 to 6.6.
- More than 80 volunteers participated in the Kejimkujik-Mersey LoonWatch Program observing loon activity and breeding success.
Years of Data
- 2006 was the first year for the Mersey LoonWatch Program.
- 1996-2009 for the Kejimkujik program.
- Monitoring will continue on an annual basis.
Partners
- Parks Canada
- Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute
- Nova Scotia Go For Green Fund
- The Shell Environmental Fund
- Pool of 50+ dedicated volunteers