Wildlife group builds innovative nests to help boost Nova Scotia loon numbers

A wildlife association in Cape Breton is hoping to boost the numbers of loons in the province by supplying floating nesting platforms for the aquatic birds.

The Port Morien Wildlife Association is building and distributing the platforms to give the loons a better chance of successfully raising chicks.

Although the birdsare not an endangered species,a recent study foundNova Scotia has fewer loons than elsewhere in eastern Canada.

Danielle Crosby, project co-ordinator for the association's Loon Platform Project, says those numbersmatch what the group has beenhearing.

"All the people that have been contacting us who have seen loons in their lakes for many, many years have been telling us that they have not been seeing chicks," she said.

"We have found or heard about lakes where loons have not had chicks for the last three years."

Crosby blames development encroaching on nesting areas,higher levels of mercury in the water,lead poisoning, predators andfluctuatingwater levels that can threatenshoreline nests.

Victoria Aucoin is one of the people whocontacted the wildlife association with concerns about fewer numbers of loon chicks. A widow in her 80s, she says sheloves watching and listening to a pair of loons who nest on Sydney River.

"There isn't anything more lamenting andbeautiful."

The loons have struggled with raising their chicks to adulthoodin recent years, Aucoinsaid.

"They always perch at the end of the little Island on Sydney River and they have a family," she said."But we also have an eaglein the area so the eaglealways got the babies."

Aucoinis now involved in the loon platform project and hasa floating nest off the end of her property.

Crosby says there are also two floating nests in Sand Lake near Glace Bayand the organizationhopes to distribute more in the next few weeks. The goal is to install the platforms this summer so they willbe available for nesting next spring, she said.

Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund is sponsoring the project, which is expected to run for the next three to five years.

Meanwhile,Aucoinhas high hopes for her loons.

"That they will use it as a nest and the babies will be there and I'll continue to watch them and listen to them on the river," she said.

"I love the loons. I think they're beautiful."