The voice of a loon is one of the most haunting sounds in nature, but an iconic sound on Lake Winona. There’s nothing like a summer afternoon in a kayak just watching loons being loons. Over the last few years, however, our loon couple has not generated offspring. Nesting loons face a variety of challenges during their 27-day incubation of eggs. Loon nests are vulnerable to human disturbances, predators, and water level changes that can flood nests or leave them stranded out of reach of parents.

In an effort to assist our loon couple, the LWIA was approached this spring by the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) about installing a floating nest raft. These rafts rise and fall with water levels and help loons cope with water level changes. Nest rafts also provide alternate nest sites to help loons displaced from traditional sites by shoreline development or recreational use of lakes, and offer protection from raccoons and other scavengers.

Each year, LPC Biologists float more than 80 loon nesting rafts throughout the state. These rafts have accounted for close to one of every four loon chicks hatched from known nest sites in New Hampshire, and for as much as 50-90% of chicks hatched on more developed lakes such as Squam and Winnipesaukee. When used correctly, rafts are a very useful management tool. However, despite their proven effectiveness, rafts are not a cure-all for loon propagation. For Winona, we are hopeful the rafts will improve our loon couple’s chances of hatching an egg.

The raft is located on the east-side of lake near the Garland’s at 820 Winona Road. Please be advised to stay away from the raft once the nest site has been established, and keep a respectful distance when viewing the loons from your boat or kayak.