The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey

Trying to find ways to connect with nature and keep your kids’ brains active during the holidays?

This summer, volunteer to spend a day on the water of one of Prince Albert National Park’s pristine lakes and do a bit of quick math while you’re at it.

“A day at the lake with your family is a great way to connect with one another and with nature,” said Shannon Bond, communications officer. “Camp in an oTENTik in Beaver Glen campground then head out on the water to fish, swim, explore and find a secret picnic spot all your own. While you’re at it, count how many loons you see.”

Volunteers are needed to survey one of 12 park lakes identified for the study and report back using a form provided by Parks Canada. The data, collected from surveys from right across Canada, are submitted to Bird Studies Canada, an organization supported by Parks Canada.

Working with volunteers on citizen science projects that help them learn more about nature is just one way that Parks Canada is supporting Canada’s National Conservation Plan.

Theresa Stene, resource management officer, is co-ordinating the project at the park. She said they’ve been taking part in the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey since 1996.

“Many of the park staff enjoy participating in the loon count but sometimes it’s hard to find time to get it done during the busy summer season,” said Stene, “so finding volunteers from the community would be really helpful and I think they’d have a lot of fun doing it.”

from The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey

By counting loons, Stene said the park can gauge how healthy the bird’s population is as well as the aquatic ecosystem.

“If loons have healthy habitat and food sources, are hatching chicks, and the majority of those chicks are surviving until the autumn migration, then over the course of many years the surveys will help us determine how the entire ecosystem is doing,” Stene said.

As of the last State of the Park Report, Prince Albert National Park’s aquatic environment scored as stable and in good condition. Bird Studies Canada has conducted the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey nationally for more than 30 years, so the park can also compare the numbers of loons in its lakes through time against the population of loons across the country.

To learn more or to sign up to volunteer for the survey, contact: panploon.pnpaplongeon@pc.gc.ca or phone 306-663-4522.

Read The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey here.  

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