A rarely-seen mix of Canada goose and domestic goose was discovered paddling near Brae Island during the 13th Fort Langley bird count, held Saturday, March 2.

Event organizer Phil Henderson, a Fort Langley resident, called it an 乌鸦传媒渙ddball goose,乌鸦传媒� bigger, with a larger head and different colouring than a standard Canada goose.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 something unusual,乌鸦传媒� Henderson noted.

乌鸦传媒淚n addition to the size and facial differences, the orange legs of the hybrid [are different] 乌鸦传媒� a 乌鸦传媒榬egular乌鸦传媒� Canada Goose has black legs,乌鸦传媒� Henderson explained.

While Canada geese and domestic geese don乌鸦传媒檛 normally mate with each other, it has been known to happen, experts say, and hybrids can end up as part of a flock of Canada geese or domestic geese, depending on which parent they imprint on.

About 20 people braved cold and damp weather conditions to carry out the count at six different locations in the Derby Reach and Brae Island parks, including the Houston Trail, Derby Bog and peatlands, Edgewater Bar, and Fort-to-Fort Trail areas.

Henderson led the group that went to the bog, a sensitive conservation area which requires a permit from Metro Vancouver to enter.

乌鸦传媒滻t乌鸦传媒檚 not high diversity, but it乌鸦传媒檚 interesting in species that occur there,乌鸦传媒� Henderson commented.

Such as spotting a Sandhill crane, which Henderson described as a 乌鸦传媒渉igh point乌鸦传媒� of the day.

乌鸦传媒淭hey move around a bit, but the Derby Bog is an area that they do frequent,乌鸦传媒� Henderson said.

乌鸦传媒淲e were lucky enough to see them. We heard them initially when we went into the bog, and then we saw one flying over, so we confirmed at least one.乌鸦传媒�

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The highest number of species, 35, were counted along the Fort to Fort trail section, while the lowest number, 16, was counted in the bog and Houston Loop.

Overall, 44 species and 1,200 individual birds were counted. That represented a slight drop from previous counts, which have averaged as many as 53 species and 1,400 birds.

乌鸦传媒淪o the numbers are down, but generally I乌鸦传媒檇 say that things have stayed pretty consistent [over the years],乌鸦传媒� Henderson told the Langley Advance Times.

乌鸦传媒淭hank goodness for Metro Parks 乌鸦传媒� they乌鸦传媒檝e really done well to conserve that area.乌鸦传媒�

Henderson said beyond tracking bird populations, the goal of the event is to encourage people to learn about birds from experienced birders and experts.

乌鸦传媒淲e try to get the inexperienced people out, just to encourage them to develop a relationship with their environment, and that sense of stewardship which goes ultimately towards conservation.乌鸦传媒�

Results of the count are shared with participants and also Metro Vancouver.

乌鸦传媒淚 do a brief report every year,乌鸦传媒� Henderson said.

Anyone interested on taking part in future bird counts can email strix@uniserve.com.

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