Editor’s note: The following is from The North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club.
The Swan and Eagle Count occurs mid-January each year and the North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club is one of several interior naturalist clubs that contribute to the annual tally of swans and eagles.
The North Okanagan count zone covers four areas and a total of nine different routes throughout our region. The routes are covered by different groups, with one group going as far north as Sicamous, another to the south end of Mabel Lake via Lavington and Lumby and a third group counting from Enderby through Kingfisher and out to Mabel Lake. In the Vernon area, several groups scout the north and south end of Kalamalka Lake, Vernon Arm of Okanagan Lake and the Head of the Lake area.
The count numbers are compiled with others from the B.C. Interior and elsewhere and form a database used by university students and graduate ornithologists in various bird research programs. Fluctuations and trends in the number of birds are an important early warning signal regarding the ecological health of their environment.
The Vernon area count will be held this year on Sunday.
There are several routes this year that are in need of additional people to join the effort. We invite all interested people (new and experienced birders alike) to participate in this year’s count.
If you are interested in joining us for a day to count these splendid birds, please contact:
Aaron Deans, Swan & Eagle Count coordinator, at bishopwildbird@gmail.com or by calling 250-542-5122, and we will do our best to match you with a group of experienced naturalists.
