Leg bands confirm that translocated chicks return to the area. Left inset: Bands taken when chick released in 2015. Right inset: Close-up of leg bands on adult loon.
A total of 24 Common Loon chicks were successfully moved from New York and Maine to southeastern Massachusetts as part of BRI’s Massachusetts loon translocation project conducted from 2015-2017 --
15 were reared in aquatic enclosures before being released onto Pocksha, Assawompset, or Little Quittacas Ponds (APC).
9 older chicks were directly released after being transported.
In 2017, an immature loon chick translocated the previous year was re-confirmed on the APC, marking the first record of a loon chick returning to the release site after its release year.
As of spring 2020, nine adult loons returned to the lakes in Massachusetts to which they were translocated and captive-reared, and then from which they fledged. Their return marks a major milestone in the efforts to translocate Common Loons.
Translocation involves multiple teams conducting source population surveys, capture and transport, and the difficult task of safely rearing the chicks, with numerous steps and processes in between.
This is a long-term study and needs careful thought and planning throughout the process. The most important factor is the health of the wildlife.
Chicks are reared for various lengths of time depending on age and how well they acclimate to the pen. Prior to release to the wild, chicks are given a full health assessment, and banded with a unique color and number combination.
Once released, chicks adapt quickly, foraging on their own almost immediately. BRI biologists monitor the chicks daily when first released, then weekly until they fledge.
Making sure the chicks are healthy and well fed before releasing them. A wildlife veterinarian is on staff.
Closely monitoring is critical to be sure of the chick's health, but to learn more about loon ecology.
Translocated loon chicks are raised in specially designed aquatic pens until they are old enough to feed on their own (9-10 weeks old).
The BRI team devised an innovative technique to monitor and feed the loons without being seen, which ensures that the chicks do not become habituated to humans during the rearing process.
Feeding chicks in captivity was a trial and error process. Finally, researchers figured out that the sound of the splash made by the fish when a parent loon dropped food next to the chick was the catalyst for the chick to go after the fish.
Using traditional nighttime techniques, BRI researchers captured chicks 5-8 weeks old from source lakes. Once chicks are in hand, a BRI attending veterinarian performs a physical examination and administers fluids to prevent dehydration during transport.
Extensive knowledge and expertise in capturing and determining age of chicks.
Innovative techniques to transport the chicks long distances. To keep chicks calm and healthy enroute to the relocation site, BRI staff designed vented containers fitted with suspended mesh netting to protect the loon’s keel and feet and to allow excrement to fall through.
The transport carriers reduce the risk of injury during long trips and help preserve feather quality. Cold packs beneath the mesh help chicks from overheating.
In 1974, New Hampshire marked the southern edge of the range for Common Loons, and at the time that range was retracting. Recovery efforts carried out by loon conservation groups in New Hampshire and Vermont helped restore loon populations in those states.
In Massachusetts, extirpation has made recovery in that state much slower. Currently, loon recovery in Massachusetts is still dependent on breeding success in northern New England and New York. BRI’s translocation research being carried out in Massachusetts provides an example of how a population at the edge of its range can be restored.
Working with state and local agencies as well as lake landowners helped facilitate the process of identifying restoration sites and source populations.
Collaboration of appropriate authorities and creating a team
Visit of Officials to Lésio-Louna Reserve
The Aspinall Foundation
Effective collaboration with the relevant authorities in the Republic of Congo is a key element to the project. This is not limited to permission to carry out conservation work in country, but is also important for the long-term relationships required, including the joint patrols of the reserve and enforcement of laws and regulations that are essential for long-term management of a protected or conservation area. Team composition is also extremely important and the Aspinall Congo team are almost entirely Congolese.
A strong team formed of Congolese nationals who understand the systems and processes in country.
Good communication, and development of mutual trust and respect are important to successful relationships.
The fight against poaching, illegal trade and killing of wild animals.
The fight against the poaching of endangered species: here recovery of a Barbary macaque to return it to its group.
El Alami
Poaching poses serious threats to wildlife conservation and efforts at preserving wildlife through the establishment of protected areas are under threat by poaching of wildlife in the central High Atlas of Morocco. The enforcement of the existing law against illegal capturing, empoisoning and killing of wild encouraged the authorities to participate actively in the protection of wild species and to enforce the law in certain cases. Raising awareness among residents and creating jobs in ecotourism and geotourism also participate in the fight against poaching. For example, in the Ouzoud site, the fight against poaching and the trade of macaques was one of the main factors responsible for the Barbary macaque population increase. We have actively participated since 2008 in collaboration with local authorities in the fight against illegal work (poaching, tree felling, etc.). We worked with some residents to obtain the necessary information on this work. in this context, we took part in stopping certain wild animal capture operations and we released a large number of animals in their original habitats.
In recent years, local people have actively participated in the fight against poaching and the wildlife trade. The ecological and economical roles of wildlife in ecosystems have been more widely appreciated among local people in the central High Atlas of Morocco. The creation of employment in ecotourism and in the field of medicinal plants has encouraged the inhabitants to participate in the fight against work with a negative impact on ecosystems.
Poaching and trade in wild animals is practiced mainly by young habitats who have no work and who have no ideas about the consequences of these activities on wild populations. Integrating these people into development projects can transform them into protectors of wildlife. Helping people find jobs and helping them improve their ecological knowledge will help conserve habitats.
Scientific research benefits wildlife conservation
Sientific research and Wildlife conservation: Here we studied the impact of pollution on the Otter population.
El Alami
Sientific research on Lutra lutra
El Alami
Sientific research on the African wolf
El Alami
Sientific research on the Endangered Barbary Macaque Species
El Alami
Conduction of scientific research on the effects of human activities on wildlife allowed us to better understand the effects of humans on wild animal populations. Today, we are the only who carry out scientific studies on biodiversity in the central High Atlas. The solutions proposed consist in encouraging research institutions to participate in these scientific studies and to study other zoological groups.
Scientific research is essential for conservation as it helps establish solutions based on scientific results. For example, we have shown that hunting currently used in Morocco to limit the growth of wild boar populations has, on the contrary, a postive impact on wild boars and that the conservation of wild boar predators is the best method to regulate wild boar populations. We have also shown that poaching affects populations of the Barbary macaque, Cuvier's gazelle, and of other species. The prohibition of poaching and the sensitization of habitats were the main causes for the increase in the Barbary macaque population in the site of Ouzoud, Morocco.
The central High Atlas Mountains have a great diversity of habitats and of plant and animal species . This area is home to a variety of animal species, especially mammals with more than 24 wild mammal species and more than 120 birds.
Scientific studies allow us to understand the factors responsible for species declines and to develop appropriate solutions.
