On the Olympia Christmas Bird Count, Gary Wiles and I started a tad too early and ended up
staring out over McAllister Creek valley bottom waiting for adequate daylight. It looked
like we were going to have a good start despite the driving rain as there were two big
white things floating out in the flooded pasture. As it got lighter, it became clear they
were swan decoys, with lots of duck decoys (and a waterfowl hunter) not too far away. This
was two weeks ago.

Today, I looked out over the same overlook and there were three white things floating out
there, the same two swan decoys and a live swan keeping them company. The live swan had
a long, arching neck and lacked yellow at the base of the bill. I believe it was a Trumpeter
Swan.


Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington
Reply to: mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov