the Loon Flyer Summer 2000
Published by the Squam Lakes Association
BALD EAGLES ON SQUAM
Over the past 50 years, individual bald eagles have been infrequently sighted in the summer months on Squam. In mid-June 2000, the association was notified of a potential bald eagle nest on Squam Lake.
Chris Martin, senior biologist with the New Hampshire Audubon Society and Joan Barr of the Loon Preservation Committee performed a field inspection on June 16. Chris inspected the structure believed to be a nest and quickly determined that it was not a nest.
During the field inspection a pair of bald eagles was spotted: a smaller male in full adult plumage and a larger female in sub-adult plumage. Chris believes that this pair may be forming a relationship and establishing a breeding territory on Squam.
Birders should be on the lookout for the eagles. Especially watch for an eagle carrying a stick or grass and
report any interactions to Chris Martin at 603-224-9909 ext 317.
HIKERS SUPPORT TRAIL MAINTENANCE
Twenty-eight hikers enjoyed a beautiful summer day during the 2nd Annual Hike for the Trails and raised $11,000 to support SLA's Trail Maintenance. The funds will be used to hire a Student Conservation Association (SCA) Trail Crew to supplement the SLA trail staff.
"It was a wonderful day for SLA's Trails. The donations will enable the SLA to properly maintain its 40-mile trail network," said Eric Morse, SLA Natural Areas Manager.
Frances Kellogg, Bill and Claire Smith, Kathie and Glenn Strehle, Mary Carrol Potter, Mary Fleischmann, and Louis Stratton completed the 5-mile Mt. Percival to Mt. Morgan loop.
"We enjoyed meeting and talking with other folks in the area who love to hike," said Kathie Strehle.
Hal Kellogg (84-years young), Nick Wallner, Sam Laverack, and Reed Laverack hiked the Crawford Ridgepole Trail
from Sandwich Notch to Mt. Morgan and down the Mt. Morgan Trail, a distance of 8-miles.
Loon Report
The 30th annual census of loons on the Squam Lakes suggests a growing and healthy population. The total of 60-birds counted between 8:00 am and 9:00 am on July 15 is higher than historical trends would have indicated. Better still, there have been no nest failures to date, resulting in a count of 9 chicks. One is no longer on the lake, after being picked on by its older sibling, it was abandoned by its parents. The chick was introduced to foster parents on Howard Pond in Rangely, Maine.
"This is a great success story, and is a good argument for banding," said Joan Barr, Loon Preservation Committee Biologist.
Every apparent growth in the population raises the questions: "how many loons can the Squam Lakes support?" and "is aggressive behavior a sign of over population?" If the Squam Lakes Association, as a leader in education of the people who cohabit the lakes with the loons, can create a supportive environment for loon propagation, then we have succeeded. If more loons are raised on Squam than the lake can support, then migration to empty and under populated lakes will occur.
However, as more generations of loons have been raised to find the presence of people comforting (or curious) rather than threatening, the population of loons on the Squam Lakes seems to be increasing steadily. The number of territorial pairs has been steady at 16 to 17 pairs for five-years, an increase of four-pairs over the preceding two-decades. It is probable that the growing population is a sign of better health in the lake ecology and a cause for encouragement of continued effort.
Aggressive behavior towards each other seems to be as ingrained in loons as it is in people. Loons naturally compete for mates, for mating territory, and in the case of chicks, for food. The pair nesting in Sturtevant Cove for the last few years has had great difficulty, first in hatching an egg, and then in defending its brooding territory. The night before the census, they lost their chick to an unpaired loon. While it may demonstrate the soundness of Darwin's theories, such an event seems tragic to us. Still, it would be a mistake for us, however much we care, to intervene in nature's course.
Almost every year we lose a chick to a speeding boat. In their first few weeks, chicks may venture into open water, yet are difficult to see and are unable to dive. Here intervention is both appropriate and life saving. Position your boat at least 100-feet from the loons so that oncoming boats will see you and veer away from the loons. For more information, contact Joan Barr the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) biologist on Squam at (603) 476-5666.
SLA LAUNCHES 2000 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
The Squam Lakes are under growing pressure from development and pollution involving both land and water. If we are to preserve the lakes for our children and grandchildren, and protect the quality of our precious environment, we must act decisively now to insure the future. At the SLA Annual Meeting, held on July 22, 2000, the Association announced our 2000 Capital Campaign. The campaign goal is to raise $1,800,000 to provide the SLA with an adequate capital base to complete its mission over the next five-year period.
The need to strengthen the capital base of the SLA is real. At the present time, income from the SLA's endowment
only funds seven percent (7%) of the Association's annual expenses, although the scope of the SLA's operations
has grown significantly over the past five years. It is essential for the Association to generate the fiscal resources
necessary to protect and preserve the Squam Lakes region for future generations. We are asking you to support this
important initiative in an upcoming SLA mailing.
MILFOIL FOUND IN SQUAM WATERSHED
In mid-July 2000, representatives of the NH Department of Environmental Services performed a field reconnaissance and confirmed the presence of an exotic milfoil species in the Squam River. A resident along the river initially sent a sample to the DES and the occurence was observed in the section of the Squam River that is below the River Street dam. The DES identified an invasive or non-native species known as variable milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) in the section of the Squam River below the dam and extending to the next dam in downtown Ashland. During additional surveying, the DES also identified invasive milfoil in the vicinity of Kimball Marina on Little Squam Lake.
In early August, a team of DES divers hand picked milfoil along the channel to control spreading and placed netting at the entrance to Kimball Marine to trap fragments within the cove. In early summer 2001, the DES will contract to apply herbicide to the Kimball Marine cove to greatly limit growth.
Exotic aquatic plants have been identified in 43 water bodies throughout New Hampshire. These invasive species
do not have an adaptive mechanism to control their growth and therefore they spread rapidly and dominate an area
reducing biodiversity. This single species domination not only has severe aesthetic impacts it also negatively
affects fish reproduction and water quality. The SLA is looking for volunteers to
Olympic Rowers from Squam
Two young men from Squam Lake, Wolf Moser and Henry Nuzum, have qualified for the Olympic rowing team and will represent the USA at the Summer Olympics in Sydney this September. Wolf will row in the open four, Henry in the double skull.
Squam Lake has been "home" to Wolf Moser since he was born. His grandmother, Elisabeth Schrafft Moser, who summered on Squam Lake since early in this century, bought Pine Hill Farm on Bean Cove in 1966, and his parents, Johann and Joanne, have been year-round residents there since 1970.
"Its quite an honor to compete in the Olympics, but its also a big responsibility," said Wolf. It was the many summer hours spent paddling his family's canoe and Alden shell around Squam that first gave Wolf an interest in rowing.
Harvard rowing introduced Wolf to Henry Nuzum, who hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Together they manned the 6 and 7 seats in the 1998 heavyweight eight which earned a place in the ranks of Harvard's long history of great crews.
Both Wolf and Henry were captains of the Harvard Crew Team and after graduation, were invited to the U.S. Rowing National Team.
"Its very exciting to compete at that level," said Henry.
During their Harvard days, Henry visited Wolf's home on Squam, and soon afterwards Tom and Jean Nuzum bought
their place in Pinehurst. Now, whenever given a few days' respite from training, both Wolf and Henry head "home"
to row on Squam, and while no longer rowing side by side, they will again be teammates in the Olympics.
Moon Island Log
"We like the job the SLA does in educating island visitors and promoting 'Leave No Trace'. The island remains a place of beauty without too much impact. T. Vansant June 9-11, 2000
LOOKING BACK