NORWAY – Although it was only 7 a.m., the sun was already high above the trees as Georgiana Pacent settled in on her party barge. Binoculars in hand, she left the barge tied to the dock near her home on Lake Pennesseewassee. She had more important things to do on this clear, cool morning than enjoy a trip around the lake.
Since 1999, Pacent has spent the third Saturday of July counting loons on her section of the lake, which is also known as Norway Lake. A citizen-scientist volunteer for the Maine Audubon Society, she helps to create a half-hour snapshot of the loon population across the state.
Pacent’s task is to note the location of any loons she sees between 7 and 7:30 on a map of the lake, along with the time she saw them. By 7:20, the only sign of life on the lake was a dragonfly darting and dipping above the calm surface of the water. Pacent wasn’t discouraged, though. There were seven other volunteer loon counters on the lake, and one of them was sure to spot a loon.
Last year, seven loons were counted on Norway Lake, including two babies. The loons were divided into two groups, one at each end of the lake, so most of the spotters didn’t log any sightings. One of the two chicks spotted died over the summer, so Pacent was eager to find out if the adult population had grown, indicating that the other chick had survived the winter.
Loons return to the same nesting site every spring, usually just as the ice goes out, Pacent said. According to the Maine Audubon Society, the state has the highest loon population in New England, but lower productivity than other states in the region. Shoreline development, mercury in the water, lead sinkers and boats all make survival tough for loon chicks.
Just before the end of the half-hour window, a lonely and haunting call resonated across the water.
Pacent’s son, Peter, started up the barge. As the barge slowly followed the shoreline, though, neither nest nor loon was to be seen.
Coming back out of the cove, past the area locals call Onofrio’s Point, Peter brought the throttle back up for a speedy trip home. Then, near the shore, there was a flash of white belly and two almost comical webbed feet kicking into the air.
Throttling back, Pacent allowed the barge to drift closer to the diving loon. She surfaced and hurried to her baby, whose brown feathers had almost hidden it among the reflections on the water. Mother loon ended the search for breakfast and ushered her little one back into the cove.
Georgiana Pacent looked at her watch; the loon count was already over. She hoped this pair had been counted earlier by another volunteer.
Rather than head back to the dock, Peter turned the boat toward the far end of the lake. Maybe there were more loons further on. Three birds sunning themselves on a rock looked hopeful, but turned out to be cormorants. Then the Pacents were treated to a sight that made the trip worthwhile: Perched on a boulder 500 feet from shore was a bald eagle.
Peter cut the barge’s engine, giving its occupants a few moments to savor the sight. As the barge drifted closer, the eagle slowly, deliberately turned its head to look. Just as slowly, it turned back and, waiting just long enough to show that it wasn’t afraid, lifted its great brown wings and flew low over the water to shore.
The Pacents spotted six more adult loons before returning home, bringing their personal count to seven adults and one baby. Later in the day, other loon spotters on the lake called Georgiana Pacent, the area coordinator for the count, to log their sightings. The final count was eight adults and one baby.
“It was up one adult loon from last year,” she said, “so we’re all very happy about that.”
Last year, an all-time high of 3,013 adult loons and 314 chicks were counted in the southern half of the state. This year’s final tally won’t be available for at least a month, as the Audubon Society collects numbers from the different regions. More than 800 volunteers took part in the 2006 loon count. Anyone who would like to help next year can contact Susan Gallo at 781-2330, ext. 216.
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