Trumpeter Swans sunning themselves on the Crooked River        photo courtesy PGNC member Gail Ross

Prince George, BC – After heavy snowfall postponed the annual Swan and Eagle Count earlier this month, members of the Prince George Naturalists Club were met by sunshine for last weekend's outing to the Crooked River.

Count organizer, Sandra Kinsey, says members counted 23 adult and 3 immature trumpeter swans, along with two adult bald eagles.  Kinsey says the tally is normal compared to count numbers in the last 10-years or so, but she says the ratio of young-to-adult is low.  She says the eagles were a nice surprise, as they're usually not spotted during the count.

In addition to the swans, the naturalists noted 19 common goldeneye, two mallards, two belted kingfishers, two american dippers, four red crossbills, and a small flock of 20 pine siskins.  Kinsey says it's unusual to find siskins in the winter months, but says they've been common this year, perhaps because of the mild weather.