This is apparently the same banded Trumpeter Swan that was reported to DNR 
on May 4th.  A Trumpeter with Tag Number 960 was reported at the head of 
Indian Creek near Benedict on May 4th, several days after the swan showed 
up at Schoolhouse Pond.  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 bird 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.

Both Swan #960 and the Schoolhouse Pond Trumpeter Swan (tag number 962) 
are 1st year birds.  The Schoolhouse Pond Trumpeter Swan is still present 
daily, usually near the fishing pier/platform off Governor Oden Bowie 
Drive.  I enjoy hearing it vocalize on some mornings.  If the Schoolhouse 
Pond bird hangs around a few more months, I look forward to seeing it 
acquire its adult plumage.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS