ELLSWORTH (WGME) -- It's that time of year when many of us are getting ready for the long winter ahead. That's also true for Maine’s loon population.

You may have seen what seems like an unusual number of loons together at one time on Maine lakes, but it turns out to be common this time of year.

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“They're very social this time of year. They get into rafts or groups on certain lakes that are their favorite spots, and they'll fish together, they'll socialize, and they do this before migrating to the coast for the winter,” said Danielle D'Auria, a biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

Unlike some species of loon that migrate south, our loons will spend the winter on the Maine coast where fish are plentiful.

They'll then return to their favorite nesting areas in the spring, and the nesting pairs will stay mostly by themselves while raising their young.

After that when late summer or early fall arrives, they once again gather together for what D'Auria calls a “loon party.”

“Loons are doing well in Maine. We're lucky to have a robust population and the Northeast. We're kind of like the stronghold for the Northeast. I know a lot of residents in Maine who just love loons. They love hearing them at night, seeing them because they're beautiful. So, it's definitely something we want to keep around,” D'Auria said.

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D'Auria says Maine’s loon population isn't considered threatened, but they are watching closely.

Lead fishing gear, boat strikes, and disease can all cause problems for Maine’s loon population.

Information for this story was provided by WVII.