Loon Preservation Committee staff responded to two loon rescues during the month of May.  The first one took place on May 13 when a loon found itself stranded in a small body of water in Cornish, NH, after a beaver pond was drained.

In the top photo, you can just barely see the loon in the narrow strip of water.  The bottom photo, taken by Carla Skinder, shows a close-up of the  loon in the little pond off Rte 120 in Cornish, NH.

After a few unsuccessful rescue attempts from the canoe, LPC Senior Biologist John Cooley, helped by Meriden resident Carla Skinder, used a mist net below the water's surface to capture the loon.  The loon was transferred to wildlife rehabilitator Catherine Greenleaf, Director of Saint Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH, for additional care.  After a few days of being hydrated and given fish, it was released on Lower Baker Pond in Wentworth.  Follow up surveys last week by Catherine Greenleaf and LPC staff found the pond empty--a good sign that the released bird had recovered and moved on.

After a few tries to capture the loon from the canoe, Senior Biologist John Cooley & Carla Skinder decided to get their feet wet and coax the loon into an underwater mist net.  In the bottom photo, you can see the top of the net on the surface of the water.  John Cooley will put the loon in a box and transport it to St. Francis Wild Bird Hospital in Lyme, NH.  Photos courtesy of Carla Skinder.

The next call came in on the morning of May 20 about another stranded loon on Rte 4 in Rollinsford, NH between Dover and the NH-Maine border.  The passerby who discovered the loon was able to hold it, while LPC coordinated with NH Fish and Game's Region 3 office.  Fish and Game Wildlife Biologist Pat Tate was able to retrieve the loon a short time later.  

The side of the road is not where we want to find a loon.  Thanks to Nick Gemis for contacting LPC and sharing this photo.

 LPC Seacoast field biologist Ray Lewis (in his first day on the job) and biologist John Cooley then relayed the loon to Arbor Veterinary Services in Lee, NH where a radiograph showed no sign of fractures or ingested lead fishing tackle, a common problem in rescued loons.  The loon appeared uninjured except for scrapes on its feet.  LPC staff took the loon to the York Center for Wildlife in York, ME.  Although underweight, blood tests at the Center for Wildlife showed that the loon did not have any underlying infections or lead poisoning, and the loon remained energetic and alert.  The loon was released on May 23 on the coast in Ogunquit, Maine.

This successful rescue was a team effort, and Loon Preservation Committee appreciates the quick action of Nick Gemis, NH Fish and Game Region 3 staff, the Arbor Veterinary Services clinic, and York Center for Wildlife.  This was the third loon rescue from the Seacoast area this year!