Trumpeter family

Trumpeter swans are coming by and a family of six (two parents, four youngsters) were seen for the last few days. The advantage of viewing them from Kokanee Creek Park is that the swans can be seen at eye level and are often fairly close.

The parents are mainly white with a black bill and feet. Well, the head and neck may be stained a rust colour as a result of iron deposits in the sediment and water in which the swan has fed. Such is the case with these adults. There is a small difference in size of the two sexes with the male being slightly larger. The swan in the front is probably a female.

Here is the whole family, with the two whitish adults and the four greyish juveniles or cygnets. Come summer, the cygnets will have turned white. Here, one cygnet is tipped up as it feeds in the shallow water.

The four cygnets all gathered close to the shore and preened. Photo by Cynthia.

Here are three of the cygnets, but one has its wings spread revealing the distribution of grey colour on the wings and body.

Another cygnet with wings spread reveals a rusty colour on the underside. This colour probably results from the feeding area in which it was born. There are two other cygnets in this picture. Photo by Cynthia.

Even the adult has some rusty feathers on its underside.

There are two cygnets here. Both are preening. The one is using its bill on the feathers to clean and tidy individual feathers. The final stage of preening is demonstrated by the bird with its wings spread. Here the feathers are all coaxed to line up.  

A moment of tenderness between parent and child? Photo by Dorothy.