The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking volunteers to help monitor the loon population in Itasca, Lake and Cook counties. Volunteers are needed for one day during the June 27 through July 7 monitoring period.
For the past 20 years, with the assistance of hundreds of volunteer observers, the DNR has gathered information about common loon numbers on more than 600 lakes distributed among six regions, or “index areas,” throughout the state.
“The survey offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while being part of a team that monitors the health and welfare of Minnesota’s state bird,” said Gaea Crozier, DNR northeast region nongame specialist.
“The results allow the DNR to detect long-term changes in loon population health and help assess impacts of events like the gulf oil spill and ongoing lakeshore development.”
Volunteers can choose one (or more) of numerous lakes to count the number of adult and juvenile loons seen and report these observations to the DNR for data analysis. The time commitment is two to four hours per lake. Surveys must be done between 5 a.m. and noon on one day during the monitoring period.
Locally, volunteers are needed on Cascade, Little Cascade and Mit lakes in Cook County. In Lake County, volunteers are needed on Bone, Green Wing, Organ and Sister lakes.
Volunteers must commit to completing one or more assigned lakes and consider participating in the program for multiple years. Surveys can be conducted from shore on smaller lakes, or by boat or canoe on larger lakes. The DNR will provide detailed instructions, training materials, maps and a data form.
For more information on Minnesota’s loon monitoring program, visit www.mndnr.gov/eco/nongame/ projects or call (218) 327-4263.
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