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Subject:

Trumpeter Swan - Maybe Not

From:

Paul O'Brien

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sun, 2 Jan 2005 18:14:56 EST

I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I took a look at the Black Hill 
swan today and did not like what I saw.   It was at a fair distance, so I 
could be mistaken.   I was on the Rt 121 bridge and it was up against the far 
bank between the Visitor Center and the dam.   The body and bill shape certainly 
look good for Trumpeter, and especially the lack of yellow on the bill.   
However, the margin between the forehead and the upper mandible should come to a 
point, a shallow "V" shape, on a Trumpeter.   On this bird the margin was a 
uniform curve, as it is in Tundra Swan.   My best guess is that this is another 
one of Sladen's "trumpling" hybrids between Trumpeter and Tundra Swans.   If 
so, I have to express again my utter disbelief that Fish and Wildlife would 
permit anyone to breed and release such  hybrids.   What on earth does that 
accomplish?   We had an apparent Whooper/Tundra hybrid at Schoolhouse Pond in 2001.  
 All this does is cause confusion among birders and spread inappropriate 
genes around in otherwise pure gene pools.   If there is a valid reason for these 
birds to exist I would welcome the enlightenment.   And if I am mistaken about 
the forehead shape I would go with Trumpeter.   Take a closer look.   But I 
will admit that it is beautiful.

Paul J. O'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD