 |
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
Above and below: A first-year Trumpeter Swan that has lingered Schoolhouse Pond in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/15/2006). Fred Shaffer, who has been keeping tabs on this bird, first reported that, "It is part of the same group of birds banded as part of the Ontario Wye Marsh Trumpeter Swan program. This program has been working to reestablish Trumpeters in the Ontario area since the late 1980s or early 1990s, and the birds have been successfully breeding in the wild in that area. Some have even completed short winter "migrations", traveling to areas in the US and then returning to breed in the Wye Marsh area in the following spring. The web site for Wye Marsh has a lot of good information on the program." Check out the Wye Marsh site. The second photo in particular shows the diagnostic bill shape. Hopefully the ongoing effort to restore this species' populations will bring increasing numbers back to the Chesapeake in years to come!
Below: Trumpeter Swan #962 continuing at Schoolhouse Pond, Upper Marlboro, Maryland (12/21/2008). The bird has shed its wing tags, but wears a ring on its left leg (619 20962).
Below: Two first-winter Trumpeter Swans in Harford Co., Maryland (2/16/2009). They were found by Dave Larkin on 2/8/2009.
Below: Trumpeter Swans at the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming. (6/25/2005).
