"We know now when we rescue these birds, they actually continue to be productive members of the loon population," Vogel said. "Your heart goes out to these loons and you want to rescue them."īut it's also LPC's mission to protect and restore New Hampshire's loon population, which has been adversely affected by humans, notably from lead fishing tackle, which is toxic to loons when they ingest them. "They're stressed they're not eating well," he said. Vogel said there are multiple reasons for rescuing these creatures.įirst, he said, "It's a humanitarian thing, because these birds are suffering. Of those, four were part of territorial pairs, and two had chicks. Last year, LPC rescued 10 loons from iced-in lakes, and six were later seen on New Hampshire lakes, Vogel said. The loons were banded so that biologists can recognize them if they return to fresh water, Vogel said. Vogel praised the team effort that saved all seven birds, including Colby, the staff at VCA Capital Area Veterinary Emergency and Specialty, and members of the Tuftonboro fire department. "Once we fed them up, we were able to release all of them into the wild, which is always our goal," he said. When the loons were deemed healthy, LPC biologists banded the birds and released them into the ocean, Vogel said. The loons, which had not been eating and were showing signs of stress, were evaluated and X-rayed by a veterinarian and then taken to Maria Colby, a wildlife rehabilitator, for feeding and observation. The next day, the last two loons were rescued. The Tuftonboro Fire Department sent its airboat and personnel to the scene to help out, and the rescuers captured three birds. One was close to shore and could be rescued, but the others were further out and the ice was too thin for rescuers to safely maneuver. Later that day, they discovered six loons that had become trapped in ice near Tuftonboro Neck on Lake Winnipesaukee. LPC teams then began checking the other big lakes for trapped birds. Last Sunday night, concerned residents who live on Newfound Lake reported that a loon had been forced up onto the ice there, and LPC biologists rescued the bird at dawn the following morning. only to find out they can't take off anymore," Vogel said. So when the ice finally closes in, "The loons will decide it's time to go. This time of year, loons molt their primary and secondary feathers, leaving them flightless for four to six weeks. It's a potentially deadly mistake, he said. "Those, we think, unfortunately are being overridden by the fact that it's warm out, and the water is open and the fish are plentiful, so these loons decide they're going to stay for a bit," Vogel said.
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