At last Shadow Lake, south of Snohomish, defrosted so we could get out to do
the swan survey for sick birds.
Just as we launched the boat, an adult eagle came in and began to challenge
a duck by swooping on it. The duck dove, as it came up the eagle swooped
again, this went on for several minutes. Finally, the exhausted duck was
caught and the eagle flew back over the lake for all to see. A nearly mature
eagle came by at the end of the chase, but was not able to intimidate the
duck hunting eagle.
We did a survey of the lake: one adult swan still able to elude us but
too ill to get off the lake, one dead juvenile- lead poisoning, and several
duck feather piles indicating well fed eagles. Coots are scooting here and
there, and evidence of coyote and otter were seen.
It was beautiful out there today.

Martha Jordan
www.swansociety.org

"Perception is your sense of reality,
Perspective is your grip on reality."