Maine’s loon population is rebounding, with numbers more than doubling since 1983 due to conservation efforts.

Maine’s loon population is showing signs of recovery, with 3,174 adult loons and 568 chicks counted in southern Maine—more than double the 1983 numbers and a 13% increase from a decade ago. Conservation efforts, including bans on lead fishing tackle and boat speed limits, are credited with reducing threats to nesting and survival. While experts remain cautiously optimistic about a potential long-term rebound, especially after two years of rising chick numbers, they stress more data is needed. Maine hosts the largest loon population on the East Coast and a significant portion of the U.S. total, though winter ice trapping remains a danger, prompting increased rescue efforts by wildlife centers.