Special alerts will be posted here
Report a Concern Help Protect
Common loon nest on the PLPA floating nesting raft

Loons

PLPA has monitored a nesting pair of Common Loons on Pleasant Lake since their first successful nesting in 2007.

PLPA has monitored a nesting pair of Common Loons on Pleasant Lake since their first successful nesting in 2007. Common Loons are a threatened species in New Hampshire, protected by state and federal law.

What PLPA Does for Loons

Nesting Raft

We build and maintain a floating nesting raft on the lake each season, providing loons with a stable, protected site away from shoreline disturbance and wave action.

Floating loon nesting raft on Pleasant Lake

Floating loon nesting raft maintained by PLPA.

Sanctuary Buoys & Signs

We install buoy lines and posted signs around the nesting area each spring to protect loons and their chicks from boat traffic during the critical nesting period.

Loon sanctuary sign posted near nesting area

Seasonal sanctuary signage helps protect loons and chicks from disturbance.

Statewide Loon Census

PLPA members participate in the Loon Preservation Committee's annual statewide Loon Census each July, contributing population data on Pleasant Lake's loons.

Common loon photographed during Pleasant Lake census season

Loon Banding

We assist the Loon Preservation Committee with loon banding to support long-term population research and individual bird identification.

Loon banding activity on Pleasant Lake

Loon banding supports long-term tracking and conservation research.

History of our Loons

Our resident nesting pair has a documented history that helps us track the health and success of the population on Pleasant Lake.

Mother Loon

Hatched in 2001 on Squam Lake. She has been breeding on Pleasant Lake since at least 2007.

Father Loon

A new male joined the Mother Loon in 2024. He is her current mate.

Identification Bands

How we identify individual birds

Silver bands are federal, while colored bands are from the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC).

Mother Loon

Left Leg
Blue w/ Dot Green
Right Leg
Red Silver

Father Loon

Left Leg
Yellow w/ Stripe Orange
Right Leg
Silver Green w/ Dot

Hatching & Survival Data (Since 2007)

Total Eggs Hatched
31
Chicks Survived to Migrate
23
Overall Survival Rate
74%
23 of 31 hatched chicks
Year Hatched Survived Names Notes / Reason for Loss
2007 2 2 - -
2008 1 0 - Predation
2009 2 1 Pebbles Died on the nest
2010 2 2 Popeye (aka Big Papi) & Percy -
2011 2 2 Peeps & Pippa -
2012 2 1 Pablo Unknown
2013 2 2 Puck & Portia -
2014 1 1 Passamaquoddy One unhatched egg was abandoned
2015 2 2 Phloon & Phloona -
2016 0 0 - 2 eggs abandoned due to blackflies
2016 1 1 Precious Renesting
2017 2 2 Ping & Pong -
2018 2 1 Precious Kittie 1 driven off by sibling and lost
2019 2 2 Pearl & Placido 1 driven off by sibling but rescued, raised in rehab and released in Maine
2020 1 1 Pablo One egg abandoned due to blackflies
2021 1 0 Paul Chick lost in fighting between females
2022 2 1 Prosper Patience (lost chick); one disappeared 3 days old
2023 2 1 Petunia & Paisley 2nd chick died from Omphalitis
2024 0 0 - One egg laid but inviable; first year for new male
2025 2 1 Piper 2nd chick died from unknown trauma
Adult loon on nest at Pleasant Lake
One of the monitored nesting scenes from Pleasant Lake.

LPC Resources