Conway Lake Homes

A Day in the Life of a Loon

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:53:21 +0000

I spent the better part of the morning today watching the loon family who nested on the island in front of my camp. The two adults swam, always at a distance from each other while two little loons followed closely behind on of the adults. The lake was quiet and from shore I could easily observe their behavior. I am very pleased to see loon chicks swimming with this pair as the nest on the island had failed the past two summers due to high water. This year, with better, drier weather things appear to have worked out for this family. But as morning turned into one of the banner days of summer things played out a little differently.

Animals live a thin line between energy intake through feeding and energy expenditure through finding food, avoiding predators, attracting mates, growing, and providing for young and storing food (or energy) for winter or other hard times. Loons rely on fish for their energy intake. They spend most of their day moving between fishing dives. Loon chicks walk an even narrower margin. In addition to maintaining themselves they must grow and put on enough weight to survive the winter. As you can see there is only one way for energy to come in but many ways for energy to go out. Ultimately spending energy on one thing results in less for another. As it turns out, growing bigger or growing big enough to survive hard times (any loon will tell you that a New England winter is hard times) is often where left-over energy goes because the other needs, like predator avoidance, are more immediate. Let’s face it, there is no point in the extra calories you stored away if you’ve just been eaten! So, what does this have to do with the loons I was watching in the morning?

During the early part of the day the loons were spending energy fishing and growing. As the day wore on more and more boat traffic passed through the area. The boats, while not actual predators can cause loons to spend energy in predator avoidance as they display at the intruders and quickly change course to swim away. This is extra energy they did not normally need to spend. In addition their island nest site was overrun by sunbathers and swimmers, who despite to loon nest warning sign, decided to park their boat right on the nesting beach.

This went on until sunset. The loon family was continually dodging boats, tubes and skiers. Of course none of these people meant the loons any harm, but the loons didn’t know that. I can’t help but wonder how much energy the family spent today just avoiding human pseudo predators.

We come to the lakes for enjoyment and recreation. The loons come to live. Part of getting along is sharing the space. If you see loons or know where they may be, then give the area a wide berth. There is plenty of room on the lake for all of us.

Rick

Know the Real Signs of Drowning

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:07:40 +0000

The article “Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning” struck many of us here so strongly we had to post a link. Anyone who spends time on, in or near water should read this article. Using a very clear example the author shows just how a drowning can happen so quickly and in the middle of others. Please take the time to read the article and share it with others too.

Conway Lake Chicks Spotted

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:09:43 +0000

There has been a confirmed sighting of the North (THORNE) nest hatching on July6 and again on July 7; One chick & 2 parents in the water!

The island is posted but people have been seen (and asked to leave) on the island near nests. Please pass the word to anyone you can to observe the loon’s territory and protect the family. Their territory extends from Scribner point to the S. Conway beach club, however they probably will be closer to the islands for the near term until the chick is a little older.

Fireworks on the 4th: Best kept ashore?

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:53:22 +0000

Fireworks on the 4th of July are a longstanding and grand tradition. But mix these lively entertaining explosives with a lake water and the result is less than celebratory. Along with the paper trash left over from a spent rocket are the residues and traces of many different chemicals including metals and phosphorous. Phosphorus can pose a significant problem in lakes since it is usually in short supply and it takes very little extra phosphorous to trigger algal blooms. If you would like more information about the effects of fireworks on water quality in New Hampshire lakes you can check out this article at the NH Lakes website.

Conway Lake Loon Nests Spotted

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:28:36 +0000

Harrison called this am and reported that both the South Cove and North (Thorne) Island nests are active, probably mid to late week; Yea!!! Nancy and I, after delivering stream bottles to the Edgerton’s dock on Wed., did not see any activity at the Thorne area then.

Harrison and I plan to float signs sometime Monday pm at the Thorne nest and wait to evaluate the South nest; Harrison doesn’t know if the Boynton’s signs are available.

Harrison is attempting to assume my responsibility to support, report and manage liaison to the LPC as I phase out; but, he doesn’t live on the lake, have a motorboat and works full time; so, anyone that wishes to assist him (us), please come forward;

Regards———–Dick

Conway Lake Loon Updates 2010

admin — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:42:43 +0000

Loon monitoring on Conway Lake begins for the season

Hi all, Loons are crying as usual; I’m sure you’ve heard them; no sign yet of any nesting activity, but will continue to monitor.

Chris Conrad from LPC called a week ago and announced that Sarah Delong is the 2010 biologist for Conway and other lakes; Sarah came yesterday (Fri. 6/4) and I gave her a complete tour of the lake and all potential nesting sites; we only saw the S. Cove pair at the very end; all others were hiding from us!!! I told Sarah that the loons probably heard she was coming!!! Also gave her instructions on running my motorboat for her use throughout the season; this helps her save lots of time and gives us added attention; Sarah took to running the boat like she was brought up boating!

Regards to all—————-Dick

Lake Assessment Program: Volunteer Opportunities

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 15:23:26 +0000

The New Hampshire state Lake Assessment Program is holding a north country training for lake assessment volunteers. If you are interested in joining the program and becoming involved in monitoring the quality of New Hampshire’s lakes you can register here. The training is being held in Berlin on June 5. You can access an agenda here. You can get more information from the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program web page.

So, what can I do about geese on my shoreline property?

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 02:47:25 +0000

By Andrea LaMoreaux, NH LAKES Education Director

“So, what can I do about the geese on my shoreline property?” This is one of the most common questions I am asked during the summer when I travel around the state to talk with lake associations about how they can better protect, and improve, the health of their lake.

It seems that Canada Geese are becoming a more and more common sight around New Hampshire’s approximately 1,000 lakes and ponds. While these beautiful birds typically migrate in the fall, isolated populations may reside along New Hampshire’s shorelines year round. In the spring, usually in March and April, these birds nest near the shorelines of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, and lay approximately three to six eggs per nest. It has been reported that a single goose can live more than 24 years and can weigh approximately 12 pounds!

Canada Geese can pollute the lake and can make you sick!

Believe it or not, biologists have discovered that one goose can consume up to four pounds of grass per day, creating about three pounds of fecal matter daily! This fecal matter makes grassy areas and beaches along the shoreline unappealing and, even worse, pollutes nearby waterbodies by accelerating the growth of plants and algae blooms. In addition, this fecal matter can make those who recreate in the polluted waterbodies sick by introducing the swimmer’s itch organismand E. coli bacteria into the water and by possibly causing toxic cyanobacteria blooms in the waterbody to become more frequent and severe. For these reasons, you should avoid contact and ingestion of water in areas frequented by geese.

If you have a goose problem, here is what you should do.

You need to make your property less attractive to geese. Luckily, the most simple and most effective thing you can do is also the healthiest thing you can do for your lake-plant a vegetated buffer consisting of native shrubs and bushes on your property along the entire shoreline. Geese love a mowed, lush lawn that leads right up to the edge of the lake. They prefer to hang out on the lawn and eat grass while having easy access to the water in case a predator (such as yourself or your dog!) comes down the hill. This vegetation will not only obstruct the bird’s view of the lake from your property, its roots will reduce the amount of soil erosion occurring along the shoreline and will reduce the amount of storm-water runoff from your property which pollutes the lake. If you need help constructing a vegetated buffer contact NH LAKES-our Lake Conservation Corps’ Program may be able to help!

If you must have grass, keep it at least six inches high. If you find any nesting material on your property, as long as it isn’t being actively used, remove it. (You’ll need a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tamper with an active nest with eggs or young in it. For more information, visit www.fws.gov and/or call the Concord, NH, office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at (603-223-6832.)

And, of course, if you are feeding the geese, you must stop!

Other things you can do.

In addition to creating vegetative buffers, implement two or more of the strategies listed below to make your property unattractive to geese:

Create barriers between the grass and the water. The barrier can be as simple as a piece of string that they can not step over or walk under. Snow fences also work well.
Spray your lawn with methyl anthranilate (a registered chemical that is a derivative of grape-juice and acts as a bird repellent); the chemical will give the grass an unpleasant taste making the grass undesirable to eat.
Install an overhead grid wire to prevent the geese from landing and nesting in that area.
While many agencies recommend using noise harassment (propane canons, starter pistols, air horns, recorded predator noises), unless your neighbors live very far away, NH LAKES does not recommend this management technique. Instead, consider using a solar powered flashing light which simulates the eye reflection of predators and disrupts the geese’s ability to sleep. Geese may no longer consider the area “safe” and may move to another suitable area.
Dogs may also deter geese from landing or roosting on your property. A barking dog guarding the property may be effective.

For more information.

Visit the following websites: www.awaywithgeese.com, www.canadagoosemanagement.com and www.canadageese.org/nlcontrol.html.

Spring Cleaning on Conway Lake

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:42:00 +0000

It seems like winter barely got started this year and then spring came early, too early for skiers anyway. But now that the snow is gone open ground is again exposed to the weather and lakeside home owners need to be aware of what this might mean for their property and the possible effects on the lake.

Here are some simple tips to help keep the lake in the best condition while sprucing up your lakefront property.

Sweep up extra sand from driveways and roadways near the lake. Extra sand can bind to nutrients, carrying these into the water. The sand can also contaminate shallow rocky areas crucial for fish nesting.

Don’t rake. Leaving a layer of duff on the ground protects from surface runoff. Rain on lawns, driveways and roads is a major source of runoff. During the early spring, before the leaves have come out on the trees rain has an even larger impact on the ground and can cause greater runoff. Leaving some of the natural material on the ground can help to absorb the imminent spring showers.
Plan a buffer garden. It may be too early yet to get out the shovel but this is a great time to plan to add more plants to the area nearest the shore. This is one of the best activities you can do for your property while protecting the lake. The efforts you put in will add beauty to your landscape while helping to absorb water running off your property.
Re-install or clean out gutters. Getting those gutters in shape will help to divert rain water to where it is supposed to go. If your gutters just dump onto bare ground plan a runoff garden. Landscape the area near the downspout with a combination of rocky material and great plants to absorb water coming from your roof.

These are just a few simple tips to help get your property back into shape for the coming fun of summer while helping to keep Conway Lake pristine. For more great information on how to manage your lakefront home for great water quality try reading the NH Lakes, Shorelines newsletter.

What is a Watershed?

admin — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 02:16:29 +0000

Here are a couple of videos introducing the idea of a watershed. These videos deal with watersheds from a general viewpoint. In practice however, watersheds can be seen at different scales. Conway Lake for example sits at the bottom of its own watershed. As you may be aware however, Conway Lake is not the end of the line for water in the lake. Lake water drains from the North end of Conway Lake into the Saco River. At this larger scale is the well recognized Saco River watershed. The Saco River ultimately travels through Maine and into the Atlantic Ocean. How does it help to look at watersheds from these two different scales?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63pwrMXkV4

If you are a homeowner on Conway Lake you may already be aware that the water quality here is among the best anywhere. Water quality in any water body is largely determined by land use in the immediate surroundings, in other words the immediate watershed. Most of the land surrounding Conway Lake is forested. Hills rise on all sides of the lake and inflows consist of small creeks and ground water. There is little opportunity for watershed contamination so long as shore and use doesn’t create problems such as can be caused by winter salt use or activities that result in greater runoff. This means that most of the responsibility for the water quality in Conway Lake resides with the lakeside home owners. And of course for a home owner, taking care of the lake carries many direct benefits. In addition the care people take in protecting the water near their homes can result in better water quality downstream, in this case along the Saco River watershed.

Can you identify that mountain pond at the end of this video?