Bow Lake News and Events
Photos
Our photos have been updated.
Loon News July 10, 2011
There might be a newly hatched loon chick at the east end of the lake. We confirmed early this morning that there is indeed a new loon baby with two adults over by Pine Island. Yesterday, they were over by the channel markers heading through the back channel that comes out at the dam. We suspected a few weeks ago that the Blueberry Island pair might be nesting, since we only saw one loon in the area for quite a while. We do not know where the loons nested, since no nests were found in any of their usual spots, and there have been many boats pulling up to the islands at that end of the lake. Somehow the loons found a quiet spot away from people and predators, which is great!
Loon News June 22, 2011
There's more wonderful news - the loons nesting on Little Kooaukee Island have hatched two chicks. This is really great news, since this pair has not been very successful over the past few years. These loons are currently hanging out in Bow Lake Estates cove. Please pass the word and ask everyone to give them their space as they feed their chicks. Thank you all for helping protect our Bow Lake loon families. It is great to hear so many people care about them. Here are pictures below of the first Caswell Cove loon chick and an eagle picture for your enjoyment.
-Cheryl
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Loon News June 16, 2011
Great news. Two loon chicks have hatched at the Caswell Cove nest and two chicks have hatched at the Bennett Island nest. Please pass the word. And, if you don't mind helping slow down the boats when the loon chicks are in the boating channel, that would be much appreciated by many of us.
Loon News May 25, 2011
 Let's hope all goes well! Jeannie Ferguson |
There is some exciting loon news - Betty Peterman informed me that she saw a nesting loon on the island many know as Little Kooaukee Island. Sure enough, there is a beautiful, well-concealed nest on the north side of the island. Perhaps it is the pair that has been trying unsuccessfully in past few years to nest behind Kooaukee Island. Chris Brown, owner of the island, graciously allowed Molly Lindh (this year's field biologist), Cheryl and myself to put up warning/info signs and a floating rope to help protect the nest. We don't know for sure when they nested but think it was sometime this past week which would mean hatching during the week of June 20th. |
Loon News May 25, 2011
Blueberry Island Update: Just got back from a boat ride with the Loon Preservation Committee biologist and we found that the Blueberry Island loons are not nesting yet. The two adults were hanging out together between Beech Island and Brown's Pasture Rd. There were no loon eggs at either Blueberry Island or Murray Island as far as we could see. We also did not find the Kooaukee/Trinity loon pair, although there was a pair of loons flying overhead when we approached that territory. Let's hope for the best with these two loon pairs. And, although we did not see any rogue loons this evening, there have been a few reports now of 9 loons, 15 loons, and 18 loons together on Bow Lake. Let's hope they don't stick around Bow Lake for too long, since that would be too much to handle for our territorial pairs.
-Cheryl
Loon News May 21, 2011
Hi all, I just wanted to let everyone know that many of our Bow Lake loon pairs are now nesting. Jeannie tells me the Caswell Cove loons started nesting this past Sunday, so that would give them an approximate hatch date of June 10th-13th. They must like the new nesting platform that the Loon Preservation Committee built for them after the old one fell apart! The Bennett Island loons have also started nesting with an approximate hatch date of June 16th-19th. The Blueberry Island loons may or may not be nesting. A loon was sitting low in the water (a sign that the loon is nervous) next to the island nest when I came around the corner from Skiers Cove. I didn't want to bother the loon, so we will need to check on this pair again soon. And, the Kooaukee/Trinity loons were both fishing in their territory between Little Kooaukee Island and the Bow Lake Estates shoreline when I checked on Saturday.
-Cheryl
Eagle News April 18, 2011
There have been some interesting happenings at the Bennett Island eagle nest this past week.
Here is a summary for all to enjoy:
The unbanded adult eagle and the red banded immature eagle I last wrote about starting bringing sticks to the nest last Friday. Then on Saturday, the red banded adult female eagle from last year returned to the nest to find the unbanded adult. I happened to see them both fly in the direction of the nest and went over to Bennett Bridge Rd to see what was happening. The female from last year was a bit aggressive with the unbanded adult to start, but after an hour or so, the female brought a stick to the nest and the unbanded adult (which has now been determined to be male due to the smaller size) hopped into the nest and started rearranging things. They have both been working on the nest ever since then. Since last Friday, I have not seen or heard anyone else say they have seen the immature red banded eagle (which must be a young female).
The NH Audubon biologist still says not to expect any eggs this year, but there is hope for next year.
The ice is out and so are the boats. If you happen to see the eagles get frightened away from their nest building activities by a boater that has been hanging around near the nest tree for a bit too long, please feel free to let them know what is happening with the eagles and encourage them to find another spot a bit further away from the nest tree.
Thanks for the help!
-Cheryl
Loon and Eagle Info
Please learn what you can about loons, and help educate boaters on our lake as best you can. Here is a quote from the Loon Preservation Committee website explaining why we are asking for your help: "Reproductive success of loons in New Hampshire fell each year between 2004 and 2008. Since 2006 it has been less than that required to sustain a viable loon population."
A few simple things boaters can do to help protect loons include: fish with non-lead sinkers & jigs, retrieve all broken fishing line, and observe nesting loons & loon chicks from a distance with binoculars. Any time a loon swims away or vocalizes when you are near, it is a sign of distress. Move away. If a loon on its nest has its neck stretched out low to the ground, back off. And, if you see a hurt loon, beached loon, or loon chick that has been left alone for many hours in early summer, please report it to one of the local Loon Preservation Committee volunteers or directly to the Loon Preservation Committee in Moultonborough, NH (see below for contact information).
Links to Loon Facts and Articles on How You Can Help Protect Loons:
http://www.loon.org/ http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife_Journal/WJ_sample_stories/WJ_c04_loons.pdf
http://www.maineaudubon.org/resource/f_living_with_loons.pdf
Bow Lake Loon Contacts:
Cheryl Mrozienski: 664-7911, Jeannie Ferguson: 664-9627, Jan Williams: 664-9708
Loon Preservation Committee, Moultonborough, NH: 800 828-0324
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Inside_FandG/contact_fish_and_game.htm
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/wildlife_rehabbers.htm
Bald Eagle Information: www.baldeagleinfo.com
Loon/Eagle Info Mailing List
If you would like to receive periodic loon and eagle updates, please send a message to cmrozien@yahoo.com so we can add you to our Bow Lake Loons email distribution list.