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Re: Trumpeter Swan status

From:

Patricia Valdata

Reply-To:

Patricia Valdata

Date:

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:45:32 -0500

I can't weigh in on the status of these birds, since I am completely
ignorant about these issues, but I was able to see them up close today. They
were feeding near the north edge of the lake/pond and I parked in the lot of
a building that is still under construction. They were a bit wary of my
presence and slowly moved toward the other shore, but I still had great
views of them in binoculars. They tipped up to feed and I got clear views of
their legs. Both seem to have blackish feet, but I don't know how much color
is skin and how much is mud. One had gray legs and the other had legs that
looked greenish-gray in the shadow and more flesh colored in the sunlight.

I've been away and haven't followed the whole discussion so I don't know if
they have been positively identified or not. Do Trumpeter and Tundra swans
hybridize?

Regardless of what they turn out to be, they are lovely, graceful creatures
and I am happy to have had such a close up view. The only time I saw
positively identified Trumpeters they were distant and flying away from me,
so I've never felt that was a sighting I could count.

Also in the pond were two Canada Geese, a Coot, and a half-dozen or so
Ring-necked Ducks.

Pat Valdata
Elkton, where the snowdrops are blooming