BELGRADE -- At 7 a.m., Jean and Bill Witkin boarded their boat and set out on Great Pond to take part in an unusual task.

"I just like to get up and go boating in the morning," said Jean Witkin.

But for Witkin and her husband, it is more than getting a chance to go boating; they are counting loons out on Great Pond.

The pair took part in the 24th annual loon count across Maine. The Maine Audubon Society organizes the event every July as a chance to count and monitor the loon population in Maine. The Audubon Society has been collecting data on the loon population since 1983.

"Before that (1983), we never knew anything about the loon population in Maine," said Susan Gallo, count director.

More than 800 volunteers, like the Witkins, do the counting each year. They've been volunteering for more than 20 years. The couple comes to their camp on Hoyt Island every summer from Chappaqua, N.Y.

Witkin has served as the regional coordinator for Great Pond. She divided up the lake into 18 different pieces. People set out from 7 to 7:30 a.m. on Saturday to count the number of loons on the open water and along the shore in their respective areas.

Before even setting out on the water, a loon flew overhead.

Unfortunately, the Witkins could not count it because it was not in their territory. Bill Witkins said hopefully it would land somewhere in their territory.

While in search of loons, Jean Witkin, a teacher at Columbia University Medical School, recounted one of her favorite memories from her adventures counting loons.

A few years ago, one morning she set out in her small tin boat to count loons alone. She said the motor wasn't running well.

Despite this, she made it out into the water and got the chance to see a loon with a chick on its back out on the lake.

Then the motor died, and Witkin was stuck out on the water. Eventually, the flow of the water helped her drift toward the shore.

"It was the most exciting moment," she said. "Mostly because of the loon with the chick."

It was times out on the count like those moments that make the loon count enjoyable, said Witkin.

But out on the choppy, chilly waters of Great Pond, Witkin said she couldn't guess how many loons she'd see.

The numbers have ranged from as few as 22 to as many as 65, said Witkin. In 2006, the total for the lake was 60 adults and 5 chicks.

But overall, the data for the lakes sampled show a decline in the population, according to Gallo. She said the sample includes lakes from the 45th parallel down.

"Over the years, the loon count has shown a steady increase in the loon population," said Gallo. "2006 was the only year there was a decline in the population."

The data from the Maine Audubon Society showed a 14 percent decline from 2005. The final count included 2,595 adults and 141 chicks. Gallo said this is most likely related to the rainy weather last June.

Because of the rainy weather, many of the eggs had yet to hatch when the count rolled around in July.

"The rain was difficult for them last year," said Gallo.

Witkin said besides the weather, chemicals and trash in the water and the condition of the shores could also affect the loon habitats.

"It is so much a product of the weather," said Witkin.

But as the time for the loon count was getting closer to the end, another boat of counters passed by indicating they had yet to see any loons.

"It may be low this year and 60 next year," said Witkin.

But even as the count ends, the Maine Audubon Society will not release the data until September or October, said Gallo. "It takes us surprisingly a lot of time," said Gallo.

Arriving back at the dock, Witkin said, "Luckily, we've had some high years so we don't get too depressed."

After a heron, some ducks and a gaggle of geese, the Witkins didn't get to count a single loon this year.

"The herons scare the loons away," said Bill Witkin.