Some of the birds are arriving back from the south, like the trumpeter swans. The oldest known Trumpeter Swan was at least 26 years, 2 months old female when she was identified in Wisconsin in 2015.
Swans Arriving Back
Picture of the Day for June 8, 2023
When I was at my sister’s place on Tuesday and heard the trumpeter swans, I expected them in the area as there is lots of marsh land open water where they nest. I didn’t expect to hear them this evening flying low by my pond as there is no body of water nearby big enough for them to take flight since they need over 300 feet of water runway for the large swans to get enough lift.
Unexpected Swans
Picture of the Day for June 6, 2023
This afternoon, I heard a couple of trumpeter swans making their honking calls. Trumpeter Swans form pair bonds when they are three or four years old and they stay together throughout the year, but nests for first time at age 4-7 years.
Couple of Trumpeter Swans
Picture of the Day for May 21, 2023
A Sunday evening drive around a marsh yielded three deer, a Great Blue Heron, a few ducks and birds, including 21 Trumpeter Swans. There was a nesting pair, but the others appeared to be juveniles that looked like a bunch of teenagers hanging out.
Sunday’s Trumpeter Swans
Picture of the Day for March 16, 2023
Yesterday I saw some trumpeter swans flying overhead, and maybe with the melting, there might have been some puddles of water but not enough for them to land and swim around in yet so I don’t know where they were headed to.
Trumpeter Swans Return
Picture of the Day for September 9, 2021
A group of of a dozen Trumpeter Swans were enjoying some sunshine on a small lake. With a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet, they are our largest native waterfowl and heaviest flying bird. That size requires 100 yards of open water runway to get airborne.
Swans in Sunshine
Picture of the Day for March 9, 2020
Today’s full moon is also a super moon and so it is called Super Worm Moon. The worm part coming from a time when the ground is beginning to soften enough for earthworms to reappear and enticing robins to return. It is also called Sap Moon, so it could be Super Sap Moon instead as the sugar maple sap is beginning to flow. The warm temperatures yesterday didn’t bring any robins back yet, but the killdeer, red-winged blackbirds and a pair of geese did show up. My pond isn’t big enough to support the trumpeter swans but they sure would look prettier than the geese I get.
Returning Swans
Picture of the Day for February 14, 2020
With the very cold start of this Valentine’s day, it may have been smarter to send chocolates to their sweethearts than flowers as the blossoms won’t take long to freeze if outside for a few minutes. And it was doubtful that there was very many romantic strolls or outdoor activities, so no swans swimming on ponds around here in February.
Sweetheart Swim
Picture of the Day for June 25, 2019
A pair of Trumpeter Swans are taking a leisurely stroll on a small pond. The males average over 26 pounds, making them North America’s heaviest flying bird. So since they are heavy like a big cargo plane, they need long runway of open water to get enough loft for flight.
Strolling Swans
Picture of the Day for January 7, 2019
The melting snow has created a pool of water on top of the ice layer on my pond. But since it still is the start of winter and not approaching spring, there shouldn’t be any swans swimming in the small patch of water. And by tomorrow, my pond will be frozen over again.
Patch of Water
