Both critters got their name from the 1950's TV show, The George Gobel Show , where the star referred to himself as Lonesome George. Wilson Cady
Skamania County, WA


---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Wayne Hoffman" <whoffman at peak.org>
To: "'Wilson Cady'" <gorgebirds at juno.com>, <winnett at pacifier.com>
Cc: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>, <obol at oregonbirds.org>
Subject: RE: [OBOL] mute swan at Steigerwald in Washougal
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 19:20:37 -0800


Hi &ndash;

There is another &ldquo;Lonesome George&rsquo; some people may be thinking of; Lonesome George the last Pinta Island Galapagos Tortoise.

Wayne

From: obol-bounces at oregonbirds.org [mailto:obol-bounces at oregonbirds.org] On Behalf Of Wilson Cady
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 12:38 PM
To: winnett at pacifier.com
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu; obol at oregonbirds.org
Subject: Re: [OBOL] mute swan at Steigerwald in Washougal

The Mute Swan at the Steigerwald Lake NWR was first spotted on Feb. 6, 2006, with a small group of Tundra Swans. When the Tundras moved on he stayed behind and has been there most of the time since then, only disappearing during the extreme cold periods when most of the open water freezes over. we have not found out where he moves to but he returns shortly after the weather moderates. I believe the swan to be male from his aggressive displays and behavior during the breeding season. Some of the locals that live above the refuge nicknamed him, Lonesome George, but you have to be a well-seasoned person to remember who "Lonesome George" back was when TV was in black and white.


Wilson Cady
Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Vannessa <winnett at pacifier.com>
To: obol at oregonbirds.org, tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [OBOL] mute swan at Steigerwald in Washougal
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:16:24 -0800

I got another question about my trip out to Steigerwald.

So, does anyone know if the mute swan out there is a vagrant or an
escaped domestic?

Just curious about the history and collective knowledge about this bird,
or if it recently dropped by the PNW for some coffee.

And I wanted to thank everyone for answering my questions on the geese
in trees. I really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Vannessa
Vancouver, WA

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