Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation

09/04/2026

Happy Loon Fact Friday!

Loons go through a complex molting cycle each year. Between around August through November, adults molt from their breeding plumage, the black and white, into their winter plumage, which is mostly gray and brown. This can make it difficult to tell adult loons apart from juveniles. Juveniles also have gray and brown plumage and will usually stay this color until they reach breeding age at 3 years old.

Molting can begin as early as late July for adults that are not raising chicks. The molt will start around the base of the bill and cheeks before moving backward down the body. By October, many loons are deep in their molt, while some may still have breeding plumage into November. One of the most important parts of the molt is the loss of flight feathers, which typically occurs in late winter or early spring on the wintering grounds. Because loons are heavy birds, losing even a few flight feathers can leave them unable to fly, and so loons molt all of their flight feathers at once in a “catastrophic molt” to reduce the amount of time they are flightless. It is thought that loons evolved to molt their flight feathers in late winter or early spring because they historically did not have enough time to complete a molt between the end of the breeding season and the freezing of lakes in the fall. Lakes are freezing over later than they used to due to human-caused climate change, allowing some loons to stay on the breeding grounds later into the year. If these loons molt their flight feathers and get caught in a deep freeze, they can be “iced-in” and trapped during this flightless period.

Photo by Ken Rohling

To learn more go to adkloon.org

09/03/2026

All are invited to a special Loon Friendly Fishing Presentation and Tackle Workshop to be held at FISH307.com in Lake George on Sept. 23 from 6 pm - 7:30 pm!

This presentation and workshop will cover how lead fishing tackle impacts loons and other wildlife, and help those who bring tackle boxes to the event identify lead tackle for voluntary recycling. Anyone who turns in lead for recycling will receive free lead-free tackle samples and a $10 voucher to redeem for more lead-free tackle.

Whether you're an experienced angler looking to learn about how tackle choices impact wildlife or someone who loves loons, all ages and experience levels are welcome. Participants are encouraged to bring their own tackle boxes to sort. Registration is FREE but required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1zQpy-0MOAA7kKy9bOcFiMyYUzx_vcPGX4vUKyvT6DEAylQ/viewform

09/01/2026

The Roadless Rule has protected some 58 million acres of national forest land since 2001. Now, the USDA is trying to rescind the rule and open 48 million acres to new road construction. Roads fracture habitat and travel corridors that are critical to thousands of native species, as well as increase the risk of fire and the spread of invasive species. They also diminish protected areas that allow millions of people to connect with lands and spaces in their natural state.

While the Adirondack Park is not subject to this ruling, many roadless areas nearby - like the Green Mountain National Forest - are, and the health of these spaces, the wildlife they support, and the benefits they provide is connected.

We're encouraging anyone who cares about the health of our wild spaces to make your voice heard through public comment. We have until September 21 to get as many comments as possible to say, No, do not rescind the Roadless Rule.

We recommend visiting roadless.org learn more and for help crafting your personalized message to your representatives.

And once you submit your comment, tell your friends! All roadless areas do not support common loons, but the health of our ecosystems is critical for the survival of all wild species!

08/31/2026

As summer winds down so is the work of our Loon Friendly Lakes Certification Program groups! Lake Clear shared these photos with us of the several bags of trash they collected during their lake and roadside clean-up. Efforts like this go a long way to both making our lakes and natural areas healthier and to showing others how much they care about their community!

The Loon Friendly Lakes Certification Program is a community-based environmental stewardship program that supports lake communities who want to take action to steward their lakes for the health of loons, wildlife and people. You can learn more about the program on our website - https://www.adkloon.org/loon-friendly

Thank you, Lake Clear, for all you do for loons and healthy lakes!

08/31/2026

Summer is winding down, but ACLC is still working with five other organizations to continue learning about potential impacts of wake boats on Adirondack lakes and to continue offering guidance on their use for healthy lake ecosystems.

This blog from one of our partner orgs, Protect the Adirondacks, provides some great info to help you catch up on the issue.

https://www.protectadks.org/wake-boat-regulations-needed-to-improve-safety-and-reduce-impacts/ #

Wake boats, when used for wake sports, create large waves Summer is in full swing and that means many types of water-based activities are taking place on Adirondack lakes. Wake sports are emerging in the Adirondacks as a new source of adverse environmental impacts on wildlife, shorelines, lake botto...

08/29/2026

At 15 lbs, the 10'6" Classic Hornbeck Boats Inc is as Adirondack as you can get. This beautiful boat is lightweight and perfect for solo paddles or portages when you might not have another set of hands to help you out. And it can be all yours for exploring all the lakes and water bodies in the Adirondack Park!

Raffle tickets are on sale now in person at the Loon Center in Saranac Lake or online at https://adkloon.charityproud.org/Donate/Index/42281 . One ticket is $20 or purchase six tickets for $100. The winner will be drawn at 4 pm on Friday, October 2.

08/28/2026

Happy Loon Fact Friday!

The hangover position is a defensive behavior that you may see when a nesting loon feels that a threat is getting too close to its nest. The loon will lower its body to try and stay hidden and, if it is needed, prepare to leave the nest. Once the loon no longer feels threatened, it will go back to a more upright position on the nest.

Unfortunately, when a loon is repeatedly flushed from its nest during incubation it can become stressed and may even permanently abandon the nest. This can result in the eggs being left exposed to predators, overheating, or getting too cold. So, if you see a loon in this position please back away and give it some space. Allowing distance while observing all wildlife allows for the best opportunity to see natural behaviors while protecting animals from stress, fear or disruption.

To learn more go to adkloon.org

Photo by Denise Silfee

08/27/2026

Last week, ACLC was notified of a deceased loon on Paradox Lake. The juvenile was tangled in fishing line, which appears to have led to its death. This type of loss is the most frustrating because it is easily preventable: properly disposing of used fishing line in fishing line recycling containers at boat launches and access points or by simply taking it home to throw in the trash is all it takes to prevent entanglement and death for wildlife.

Read more on the blog: https://www.adkloon.org/blog/fishing-line-harms-wildlife

08/26/2026

The staff of ACLC was deeply saddened to learn that Glenn Smith, one of the members of our 2026 field monitor crew, has passed away. Glenn spent his last few days doing what he loved most: watching and photographing loons out in the field. He was surrounded by family and loved ones at the time of his passing.

Glenn was a career firefighter down in Florida before retiring and spending a large part of the year up in the Adirondacks at a cabin near Owls Head, NY. He was most fond of the loons on Clear Pond, near the town of Duane, NY, and was instrumental in a rescue of an iced-in juvenile from the pond this past winter. Glenn was also thrilled to attend ACLC's night of banding on Clear Pond this summer, where we got to band his two adult loons that he had already named right in front of him. Glenn bought his cabin so that his daughters would have a place to stay in the Adirondacks, and his cabin and love of loons will be handed down through the family.

Glenn will be getting a full firefighter service at his old fire department in Florida on August 28.

You can read an article shared this spring about Glenn’s dedication to Clear Pond’s loons here: https://www.adkloon.org/blog/glenn-smith

Our hearts are with Glenn's family during this difficult time.

08/26/2026

They don't last long... grab your Loon Stuffie with Loon Call in person at the Loon Center Gift Shop or online at https://adkloon.toast.site/!