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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Photo: Turnbull trumpeters tending to young

A trumpeter swan tends one of its cygnets on Middle Pine Pond in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge on June 30, 2013. (Carlene Hardt)
A trumpeter swan tends one of its cygnets on Middle Pine Pond in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge on June 30, 2013. (Carlene Hardt)

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Photographer Carlene Hardt and numerous other wildlife watchers have been watching trumpeter swans at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Cheney as they raise their young that hatched last month.

Here's the photo and the note she sent this week after spending some time watching the family of two adults and four cygnets off the paved walking trail near Middle Pine pond.

The rules say I can't go off trail on Cheever so I will not be able to see the second family. 

Isn't it wonderful that there are two Trumpeter pairs and two new families! The cygnets are so adorable and I know they will grow up fast! I watched them imitate their parents eating and preening. 



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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