justnorth posted on May 23, 2007 06:34 :: 1256 Views
Minnesota's state bird, the Common Loon, needs your help, says DNR Nongame Wildlife Specialist Katie Haws.
Volunteers are needed to participate in an on-going population survey, to monitor the health of the loon population throughout the state.
The Minnesota DNR has coordinated this annual loon survey, called the "Minnesota Loon Monitoring Project", since 1994, making this the 14th year of the survey.
Volunteers form the bulk of the inventory crew, and each year over 400 volunteers participate in this survey. This project is a comprehensive project which seeks to document loon occupancy and productivity rates on several hundred Minnesota lakes located in six separate index areas across the state. Results of the survey allow the Nongame Program to detect long-term changes in loon population health.
According to Haws, "this long term monitoring effort has been very successful. We've found out that loon productivity (number of chicks hatched), is quite stable, and we've also been able to compare loon lake use in six different parts of the state." Both Becker and Ottertail Counties have stable occupancy and productivity trends, with Becker having higher loon nesting densities.
However, states Haws," the future of the survey may be in doubt if enough volunteers cannot be found to facilitate an adequate sample size." According to Haws, many volunteers have faithfully assisted with the survey since the beginning, but due to advancing age, are unable to continue this obligation. In addition, she states that "with the added development pressures occurring in the area, it is vital to continue monitoring loon populations to detect any potential problems." A total of approximately 35 additional volunteers is needed to count loons in Becker and Otter Tail Counties.
Volunteers are assigned a specific lake to survey in the Becker and Otter Tail County areas, and only one survey is made, between June 30 and July 12. Lakes vary in size and many can be surveyed from shore, while others will require the use of a boat or canoe. Volunteer surveyors complete a data form for each lake, recording the number of adult and juvenile loons counted during the survey. The entire survey requires a commitment of several hours during one day.
"The loon survey offers volunteers a unique opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors, while helping Minnesota's state bird" explained Haws. Interested potential loon survey volunteers should contact Katie Haws at the NW Regional DNR office, in Bemidji, MN, on or before May 30; phone (218) 755-2976; or e-mail
katie.haws@dnr.state.mn.us.
Article Source:
http://justnorth.com/Articles/tabid/105/articleType/AuthorView/authorID/12/justnorth.aspx