Loon Committee to host holiday open house to celebrate 50 years

MOULTONBOROUGH — The  Loon Preservation Committee is inviting the public to a special Holiday Open House on Saturday, Nov. 29, to celebrate 50 years of work to restore New Hampshire’s threatened loon population. The family-friendly event is an opportunity to usher in the holiday season and to reflect on five decades of work on behalf of New Hampshire’s loons.

Visitors can enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, hot cider and holiday refreshments, balloon animals, kids crafts, a walk through the autumn woods of the Frederick and Paula Anna Markus Wildlife Sanctuary, and visit with Santa.

LPC was founded in 1975 by a small group of citizens alarmed by the dramatic declines in New Hampshire’s loon population. Today, with a small but dedicated staff and nearly 1,000 volunteers statewide, LPC monitors over 350 lakes across New Hampshire for loon abundance and nesting, protects vulnerable nest sites, rescues loons in distress, conducts research to determine threats to loon survival and nesting success, and educates the public about loons and their needs.

While it has not yet recovered to historic levels, New Hampshire’s loon population has more than quadrupled from the lows documented in the 1970s, growing to 370 pairs in 2025. 

“The ongoing recovery of New Hampshire’s loon population shows what can happen when science and community come together,” said LPC Senior Biologist and Executive Director Harry Vogel. “The progress we’ve made is not the work of our staff alone — for 50 years, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with the people of New Hampshire to protect loons and their habitats. Every person who volunteers, donates, or takes the time to learn about loons and help them has played a role in this success story. As we reach this 50-year milestone, we are both celebrating the successes we’ve seen so far and looking forward to the next 50 years of loon conservation in New Hampshire.”

The Holiday Open House, said Vogel, is one way for LPC to thank the public for five decades of support. It will take place on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Loon Center.

For more information, visit loon.org.