Volunteers coordinated by the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) helped document a historic milestone for New York State’s loons: more than 1,000 loons were recorded during the 2025 NY Annual Loon Census, the highest statewide count in 24 years. This milestone was recently reported in an article by Syracuse.com, highlighting the importance of volunteer-driven data collection for this iconic species.
The annual census is led by the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (ACLC), and TILT has coordinated the effort locally in the Thousand Islands since 2008. Volunteers from the Land Trust contributed data for the “St. Lawrence River 2025 Annual Census Sections and Zones” graph (created and owned by the ACLC), which documented the highest number of loons reported on any single waterbody in the state.
While overall loon numbers are encouraging, the census also notes a concerning trend: fewer lakes are reporting loon chicks, likely due to challenges such as flooding during nesting season and broader impacts of climate change. Loons are considered a key indicator species of ecosystem health, relying on natural shoreline and wetland habitats, making local conservation efforts essential.
“TILT volunteers are the backbone of this citizen science effort in the Thousand Islands,” said Delaney McIlrath, Community Engagement Coordinator at TILT. “Their observations not only contribute to statewide data but also help guide conservation strategies to protect loons for future generations.”
The 2026 NY Annual Loon Census will take place on Saturday, July 18, from 8:00–9:00 a.m., and the Land Trust encourages local community members to join this one-hour citizen science effort. Volunteers can sign up at tilandtrust.org/events/.
For more information on the statewide milestone, read “Adirondack Loon CountTops 1,000 Birds for First Time in 24 Years” in Syracuse.com, January 2026. Or, go to https://www.adkloon.org/ny-loon-census-results to read the official report of all census results.