Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 11:11:58 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Schoolhouse Pond Swan MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I had initially responded to Susan's inquiry about the swan off-line, but since there is still some discussion about it, I figured that I'd forward my thoughts to the listserve. After I sent this reply, Susan informed me that the link to the website which I reference (and looked at in February) may no longer exist, but I have copies of the pictures (of the bill types for Whooper and Bewick Swans) which were on the website. Also, as there is apparently a population of escaped Whooper Swans becoming established in Pennsylvania and New England, I'd be curious to hear what bill type these birds have and if they match the bird found earlier at Schoolhouse Pond. Good birding, Fred Shaffer Crofton, MD -------------------------------- Susan, I last saw the swan in early March. It is my understanding that a pair of Mute Swans (which are still present) came to the pond, harassed the swan, and drove it off. I have not seen the swan in question since. Regarding a determination of the bird's identity, I've heard of no "official" word. My understanding is that the MD records committee may not make a determination as the bird was probably an escapee. While I am certainly no authority (and have no prior experience with Whooper Swans), my opinion remains that the bird is a "Black Striped" variety of the Whooper Swan. I base this conclusion largely from the information I got on a web site showing variations of both Whooper and Bewick's Swans. The amount of yellow on the bill is much more extensive than the "maximum" amount seen for a Tundra Swan (as shown in the Sibley guide) and the shape of the yellow (coming to a point at the lip) is different from a Bewick's Swan. The yellow on the pond bird came to a triangular type point (like the black striped Whooper Swan), not a more rounded, curved edge like a Bewick's. Regarding the color of the bill, all of the standard field guides show the yellow occurring across the "bridge" or top of the bill of the Whooper Swan. I think that this is what caused much of the confusion. Given the choices illustrated in the standard field guides, the bird did look more like a Bewick's than Whooper Swan. However, the web site shows that there are three varieties of bill patterns possible for Whooper Swans (not just the one shown in the field guides), including the Black Striped, which matched the bird at the pond. In fact, in two of the three varieties of Whooper Swans possible the yellow does not extend completely across the bill, as shown in Sibley and other guides. I hope this helps. Again, this is just my opinion, for what that's worth. The web site really confirmed it for me. The web site is (http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/archive/heading_south/bill.htm). Fred Shaffer. Crofton, MD pamthept@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================