The birds are back in T'kumlups marshes, located close to the Yellowhead Highway, in the Kamloops region of the Fraser River valley.

The marshes were once drying out as a consequence of highway development and neglect. Drought had made things worse. The Kamloops Indian Band, Ducks Unlimited, and the federal government are supporting a project to breathe new life into the dying marshland.

The band has agreed to set aside some its land for wildlife and community enjoyment. The restoration work has included pumping healthy, fresh water into the stagnating interior wetland. This action has already resulted in the emergence of new vegetation, bulrushes, and marsh grasses that naturally purify polluted waters.

Yellow-headed blackbirds, with their yodeling call, have returned, once more, to attach their nests to growing marsh plants. Redwing blackbirds, mallard ducks, and geese have also made their way back home to T'kumlups marshes.

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