Loons are finding New England to their liking, with record numbers seen this year in several states. New Hampshire documented 313 pairs of the iconic bird known for its black head and haunting calls at dusk.
Vermont also saw an all-time high of 101 nesting pairs, and that's the highest number recorded since 1978.
Numbers declined slightly this year in Maine, which has the largest common loon population in the eastern United States.
But those numbers are still twice what they were in the 1980s.
Experts credit increased protection and growing awareness for the resurgence of the iconic bird.
Nests are roped off in some states, while other states provide floating platforms for nesting.
- Michael Casey, AP
