It is a delight to watch Trumpeter Swans. They are beautiful, big, and have recently returned from near extinction.
A walk in the Park: two people, three swans.
Size
The Trumpeter Swan is the largest species of native waterfowl in North America. It is considerably bigger than its cousin, the Tundra Swan, and it dwarfs the Canada Goose.
Numbers
By the 1930s, hunting had reduced the Trumpeter Swan to a few dozen breeding pairs in all of North America. While it has made a spectacular comeback, it is still not all that common. The bird is now largely confined to the West where it might visit Kootenay Lake on its spring and fall migrations.
Beauty
I leave that to the pictures.
A small family of Trumpeter Swans visited Kokanee Creek Provincial Park on Saturday. Two adults and a juvenile swam along the shore and fed in the shallows east of the creek mouth. Although I saw Tundra Swans last April, these were the first Trumpeters I had seen this year.
A family swims through the shallows: male (largest, left), female (middle) and juvenile (right, greyish plumage).
A quick shake helps to dry the head after probing underwater for food.
Suitable for the Trumpeter family photo album: mommy and me.
The proud parents—Trumpeters usually mate for life.
A Trumpeter Swan towers over two Mallards feeding alongside.
Gorgeous – plumage rich as clotted cream. Thank the Gods, whomever, these creatures have increased. You mentioned, Alistair, that the birds visited the park on Sat. Would they possibly be staying there for a few days; say, until Tues? Naive question, I know.
Pamella, I went out looking for them at noon today. They have already moved on. Yet, more may come—it is that time of year.
Nice, Alistair, as always. Making me restless on this warm, but extremely windy day.
Haven’t been out this winter to our local Kamloop’s swan residence, about a half hours drive. Getting time to make our first of a few winter visits. Still haven’t got the pictures I would like. A windy, open location, with the light from the wrong side in the warmer part of the day, so sometimes a bit of an endurance test for this old gal. But wonderful to watch the regular take off and landings and the many groups moving around while they feed in the Thompson River. Even the sound of these is a delight. It’s also prime hawk and waxwing country along the way. Never know what you might see.
Ferne, Kamloops