The Marion County Conservation Department released their December Nature Notes on Friday. According to Marion County Naturalist Marla Mertz, waterfowl are beginning to appear and North America’s largest waterfowl, trumpeter swans, started coming into the area the last week of November.  Canada geese are being seen frequently flying from their feeding grounds to open water, while groups of ducks and coots are being seen in backwater areas and throughout the open water of the lake. The resident bald eagle pairs have been busy adding sticks, cornstalks, and grasses to their nests and guarding their territories from intruders.