In partnership with the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (ACLC), the Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) continues to protect common loons and improve nesting success on Upper Saranac Lake. Again this summer, USF partnered with ACLC to deploy an avian guard at a vulnerable nesting site. This temporary structure provides shade during periods of extreme heat, reduces nest visibility, and helps deter predators, giving loon eggs a better chance of hatching successfully.
Common loons are remarkably faithful to their nesting territories, often returning to the same location year after year, even after repeated nesting failures. Because their nests are built at the water’s edge, they are especially vulnerable to flooding from heavy rainfall, fluctuating water levels, and boat wake action. Predators and prolonged periods of extreme heat can also reduce nesting success.
Over the past two decades, New York’s common loon population has steadily rebounded, reflecting decades of successful conservation efforts. Because loons can live 30 to 40 years, many of the adults seen on Adirondack lakes today were likely born during the population’s recovery following the ban on DDT. While this recovery is encouraging, breeding success has not kept pace. Annual monitoring shows fewer chicks surviving to fledging, highlighting the growing impacts of flooding, shoreline disturbance, predators, and increasingly unpredictable weather.
Upper Saranac Lake is proud to be recognized as a Certified Loon-Friendly Lake by the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, reflecting USF’s commitment to protecting loons through stewardship, education, and community involvement. The annual loon census has been held on the 3rd Saturday of July each year for one hour since 2001.
While the results of the 2026 Annual Loon Census have not yet been released, the 2025 Census marked an important milestone, with volunteers recording 1,059 loons on 306 lakes, ponds, and rivers across New York—the first time the statewide census documented more than 1,000 loons. On Upper Saranac Lake, volunteers counted 42 adult loons and six chicks, underscoring the lake’s importance as one of New York’s premier loon breeding waters. Although the adult population remains healthy, improving nesting success remains an ongoing conservation priority.
By partnering with ACLC on nest protection, participating in the Annual Loon Census, and promoting responsible recreation through our Loon-Friendly Lake program, the Upper Saranac Foundation is helping ensure that future generations can continue to experience one of the Adirondacks’ most iconic sounds—the haunting call of the common loon across Upper Saranac Lake.
