Hello LSC.

It was a great day on the water with Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) loon biologist Eric Hanson!

Last spring, Channel resident Dawn Smith-Pliner observed and recorded loons appearing to perform nesting activities. Eric confirmed this was the case, and came down to Lake St. Catherine with 'Loon Nesting Area' signs. But, after visiting the site, he could tell that they would not be successful in building a nest - so we did not place the signs at that time.

However, because of this activity, Eric believes that these loons are now a 'Territorial Pair', and will return this spring, to the same spot, to attempt to nest again.

Today, Eric came down to Lake St. Catherine to build and place a nesting platform for these loons in the area they attempted to nest last year.

After meeting Eric at the boat launch, we loaded up his canoe with all the supplies, and paddled over to Dawn & Joel's dock which we used as a staging area. THANK YOU to Dawn and Joel!

As we were getting ready, we met Linda Paquette, and she took this photo of us right before we headed out:

Thanks for the photo Linda!

After arriving at the dock, we unloaded and started building the platform:

Next, a mesh flooring is placed and secured on top of the timbers:

Then, the platform is placed into the water, and floats are added in the cavity to create additional buoyancy for the organic matter used to create the nesting area:

Here is the completed platform:

The shrubs are placed on the side that will face the open water to provide some cover for the loons, and a nesting bowl was set up in the middle of the platform. You'll notice that some open areas were left in the 2 front corners which allows some space for the loons to hop up onto the platform.

Finally, we loaded the attached cinder blocks into the canoe and paddled over to the place where the loons attempted to nest last year, and got it in place:

Eric said that loons should be arriving soon to Lake St. Catherine, and we're hopeful that they will find the nest.

Eric explained that just because we have provided a great place for the loons to nest does not mean that they will use it, and it may take a few years - but we can still be hopeful!

If we do observe loon activity, we'll then place loon nesting signs to give them the space they need to be successful. Please do what you can to avoid going close to, or lingering near the platform. Let's all do everything we can to give them the best shot possible.

Here's our goal:

Photo: From VCE website, by Jeff Nadler

After arriving back to at boat launch, we checked the collection tube that we installed last year as part of the VCE program to ask anglers to check their tackle boxes for old lead tackle and fishing line - which are deadly to loons. You can read more about that program here. As you can see, there was a good amount of lead and line that was added to the tube, which Eric took to be properly destroyed:

We'd like to once again thank Eric for his fantastic work, and Dawn & Joel for the use of their property to make this happen.

One final note: Eric's work is funded by grants and donations. If you'd like to support Eric and his work for loons with VCE, please consider making a donation to them, which you can do here. There's a spot on the form where you can type in that your donation is in support of Eric's work at Lake St. Catherine.

We'll keep you up-to-date throughout the season - keep those fingers crossed!

Thank you.