I wanted to add a bit of information we observed about the Trumpeter Swans at the Edgewood stormwater management pond. Yesterday just before sunrise, Winger West and I arrived and observed the two swans from close distance. One of the swans was tip-feeding and we were able to determine that swan had no leg bands. We noticed that both halluces were present. It appears these young swans have no patagial tags (Ontario Project), no neck bands (Virginia Project), and no leg bands (at least Ontario, probably both projects).

Regarding the question about the brothers, Trumpeter Swans #960 and #962, they are part of the Ontario project. The brothers were hatched in 2005 and flew from Ontario to Maryland.

April 30, 2006: Trumpeter Swan #962 first observed at Schoolhouse Pond in 
Upper Marlboro
 
May 4, 2006: Trumpeter Swan #960 reported to Larry Hindman, MD DNR waterfowl biologist, at the head of Indian Creek near Benedict

June 14, 2006: Trumpeter Swan #960 observed by Jay Sheppard at the Little 
Patuxent Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve

#962 adopted Schoolhouse Pond and #960 adopted Oxbow Lake as their territories, although both have left for short periods. These swans are reaching maturity and could be thinking about leaving in the spring to return to Ontario to mate. Trumpeter Swans mate when they reach 4-5 years old.

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD


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Harvey Mudd wrote:

Forgot to mention: there was no yellow on the bills.

Yesterday, Marion Mudd and I had a chance to study the two immature swans 
at Lakeside Business Drive through the telescope as they fed calmly 30-40 
yards from us in good light.   There were no other swans present to 
provide size comparisons, but the ones in question seemed larger with 
proportionally longer bills than those on Tundras.  They were darker 
brownish gray than might be expected on juvenile Tundras in early 
February.  In both,  the forehead where it met the bill formed  a V-shape 
pointing down onto the bill, and, also on both, the area of the black at 
the base of the bill encompassed the eye rather than leaving it 
isolated.  The latter two features are clearly seen in photographs 1-4 
posted by Dave Ziolkowski (see below) and each are characteristic of 
Trumpeters rather than Tundas ( see Sibley Guide to Birds, 2000, p. 73 
for the former; and Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding, Vol 1, 1983, 
p 140 for the latter).  On the basis of all these features our opinion is 
that the identification as juvenile coming into first summer 
plumageTrumpeters is adequately establishd and use of "probable" or 
"possible" Trumpeters is no linger necessary.  As I understand the 
situation, Thumpeter Swans are not officially on the Maryland list except 
as extirpated. The MDDCRC has a number of Trumpeter sighting reports to 
review, but the question of origin has held up decisions.  No wing bands 
were seen on the two being discussed, but the question of origin may 
still not be definitively decided although some of the populations 
established through reintroduction programs  in Ontario or elsewhere are 
said to be breeding in the wild and producing increasing numbers of offspring.