By Angela Hatton
Golden Pond, KY – Thirty volunteers counted 93 species of birds during this year's Land Between the Lakes annual Christmas Bird Count. Naturalist Aviva Yasgur says significant sightings this year include the Barn Owl, which hasn't been observed in this area for a long time. Volunteers also sighted Trumpeter Swans and Tundra Swans, which are also unusual to the region. Some birds typically sighted didn't make it on the list at all this year or were significantly reduced in numbers. Those include the Northern Bobwhite, which has seen an 82 percent decline since 1967. The bird count is a national event. Volunteers at LBL have been participating for over 40 years.