Wichita For only the second time since 1955, more than 100 species of birds were found in Kansas in the annual census of the nation's bird population.
The annual bird count, organized nationwide by the National Audubon Society, includes more than 2,000 counts throughout the Americas from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. It's in its 111th year.
Kevin Groeneweg, Wichita compiler, said the count Saturday in that area found about 20,000 Canada geese and 5,000 mallards. He also told The Wichita Eagle that one of the most unusual finds was a great egret, which is common in the summer but usually gone before the first frost.
In northwest Missouri, counters spotted 43 species of birds and nine species of waterfowl. They also found 12 bald eagles and 19 trumpeter swans.