In all, researchers count about 14,000 loon pairs in the country. It is a threatened species in New Hampshire, where last year biologists for the Loon Preservation Committee recorded 234 loon chicks hatched and 26 percent of them did not survive. Maine has the largest common loon population in the eastern U.S. and the birds are loved in the state. Susan Gallo, wildlife biologist for Maine Audubon, said the group is working with the birders, some of whom haven't embraced the idea of Maine loons moving out of state. Most of the few dozen loons in Massachusetts live near the Quabbin and Wachusetts reservoirs in the central part of the state.

Source: ABC News July 23, 2016 16:15 UTC