Tundra swan cygnets

fishhead · #1 06/03/12, 12:33 PM

I wish I had remembered to bring my camera today because a pair of tundra swans crossed the road in front of me with 8 cygnets. From what I've read 5-6 is more than normal. They were lucky to cross today instead of yesterday when traffic was heavy.

The cygnets looked about the size of a week old domestic goslings but that was in comparison to their huge parents. They were still down covered.

The parents both looked dirty so there must be some film on the swamp water.

tinknal · #2 06/03/12, 12:48 PM

Fishhead, are you sure they are not Trumpeter swans

Tundra swans do not nest here.

fishhead · #3 06/03/12, 01:00 PM

No but I'm guessing Tundra because Trumpeter are less common. Also they were about 4' tall.

tinknal · #4 06/03/12, 01:11 PM

Tundra Swan, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

I'm sure they were Trumpeters, they are becoming more common.

**Cabin Fever** · #5 06/03/12, 01:37 PM

Trumpeter swans are getting more and more common in our area. We seem them almost every time we are out driving. At dusk and dawn, we can hear them "trumpet" from a nearby wetland pond.

fishhead · #6 06/03/12, 02:10 PM

Well we have 8 more now.

There's a pair nesting on Lily Pad Lake too. I saw them Memorial weekend. They left the beaver house where the nest probably is when I walked by even though I was at least 200 yards away.

fishhead · #7 06/09/12, 04:16 PM

I just walked the Old Grade again this morning. There were 3 pairs of swans on the ponds next to the Grade. The one on Lily Lake has at least 4 cygnets. Dirty House Lake had a pair but they flew away so they must be nesting on a different pond. With all the ponds and beaver houses in that area the swans should really multiply. I can't see too many predators willing to expose themselves by swimming to the nest. Even a wolf would probably get a beating on that trip.

**Cabin Fever** · #8 06/09/12, 06:14 PM

Geez, you were only 5 miles from us when you drove through Crosslake. Next time let me know and maybe we can get together.

fishhead · #9 06/10/12, 03:25 PM

Will do. I've been hiking the Grade lately because there are too many ticks in the grass. Today I saw a coon hunting the little pond next to the Thompson Creek trail head. That explains why I saw a single duckling with the hen last week in that pond.