Trumpeter Swan

Location: Cass County

Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Swans swimming on Holland Lake

Location: Norman Co. MN

Trumpeter Swan working on its nest and a whole lot of turtles hanging out on the outer edges. The swan was down in its nest but it got up before I could get close enough and started working on it pulling more cattail reeds up etc. So many turtles hanging out on the outer edge. The trumpeter didn’t seem to mind guessing long as they stick to the outer edges. A pond in Norman Co. Mn. This is a little better image than the previous one I sent, more natural looking.

Location: Norman Co. MN

Trumpeter Swan doesn't seem to mind the turtles on the outer edge of its nest. First time I have ever seen turtles on a swan nest.

My poem to share

SWAN.

Preening,
Soft, virgin white feathers,
Aware of my presence
But not of my world.

Before me, another world,
No analytic philosophy,
No targets, budgets or schedules,
No self-appraisal,
Or attempt to be
Something other than
Just part of.

Now she rests,
Head tucked under wing, 
Slowly drifting down stream,
Among the reeds and dragon flies
And the trees on either bank.

I stayed awhile.
In these treasured moments
Of quiet, serene beauty,
A memory to cherish,
A place to return,
A peaceful retreat

Location: Lake Wakanda, Kandiyohi Co.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

A pretty calm scene. However a little later on when most were on shore preening and resting a large bobcat bolted out fast and furious in pursuit of the trumpeter swans. Things were no longer calm.

Took place at a pond in Norman Co. Mn.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

Also recently seen at a pond in Norman Co. Mn.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

Seen them at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. 9-8-24

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

The trumpeter swans have pretty much regrown their new feathers from Summer molting, but they were still loosing a few small feathers during grooming/ preening in this photo. The one with that is seen with wings open was flapping them a couple times and a small white feather dropped out. You can see it midway to the ground under the right side wing area. The swan second from the right has a small feather temporarily stuck on its beak. That sometimes happens during the grooming/preening. I’ve seen them shake their heads trying to get one off. Sometimes they do fall off, other times a dip in the water works. 😊

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Long Meadow Lake Unit

Seen just off the Bluff Trail a little ways southwest of the parking lot at the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

June 2022 on a calm pond in Norman Co. Mn.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

This season is the first time I came across a pair of trumpeter swans that built a nest at the edge of a pond. The weather this spring was quite rainy, cooler and windier than most. Seemed more like May showers to bring June flowers. Slower to green up.

The pond water kept rising after each torrential rains and the nest which was once attached to the shoreline became an island. The female would take cattail reeds etc. and build the nest higher and higher as the pond continued to rise throughout the month of May 2022. Not to mention winds and colder temps didn’t make things easier. Anyway to my surprise the female was determined to hatch those eggs and did hatch the 6 eggs that were in the nest. This is the adult male taking all six for a outing on the pond on a calm day(finally a calm one) it gave the female trumpeter time for herself. I also noticed that once all 6 got back into the nest with the female the male would pull cattail reeds, mud etc. and threw it on the sides of the nest making it more secure. Amazing how responsible and caring the adult trumpeter swans are toward their young and each other.

This image is a frame grab from 4k video I filmed of them on a pond in Norman co. Mn. June 9, 2022. They are a couple days old here. This particular adult pair know me really well. They visited this pond over the past few years or so but this is the first time I seen them nest here. They are very calm around me and do not see me as a threat of any sort. To me that is a real gift. If they were to get anxious or disturbed by my presence I would stay away but they accept me as just another non-threatening thing out in nature.

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

… The adult female is the one on the left and the adult male trumpeter toward the right. They are really family oriented so to speak. Really responsible and caring for their young.

Beautiful too!

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

I came across this pair of nesting Trumpeter Swans recently out in rural Norman Co. Mn. A redwing blackbird just happened to be there adding interest to the scene. The female trumpeter on the nest had a small feather on the far side of her beak. She had been preening and a small feather stuck to it. Some seasons I had seen larger feathers temporarily stuck to the beak of a swan that was preening. Along the shoreline of a few ponds where swans have been sometimes I had noticed several smaller white feathers scattered here and there from previous swans preening.

Location: Norman Co., Mn.

... the swan was preening its feathers while I was filming it and this yellowlegs decided to investigate. It walked over to the far right side of the swan paused briefly to look at the swan then walked back the direction it came out of the scene.

... lighting wasn’t bad and light winds as well as approachable trumpeters was a memorable experience and the yellowlegs added its curious character making it better.

Location: A pond in Minnesota

In calm waters early Spring 2021.

Location: A Wildlife Refuge in Norman County, Minnesota

Location: Cass County

Trumpeter swan parents with three cygnets. They will stay until the day before the lake is completely iced over.

Location: in the air over Norman Co. near Sandpiper Prairie SNA.

Trumpeters are big and beautiful

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center, St. Louis Park, MN

While walking yesterday, I happened upon Trumpeter Swans bathing & grooming. A spectacular event. I took photos of the entire event.

Location: Vermillion River Watershed about 7miles SW of Crane Lake

Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Swimming in Jensen Lake

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Location: Becker County

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center

Location: rural Norman Co, Mn.

Trumpeter Swans in a previously harvested corn field in rural Norman Co, Mn. 2018

Location: Rural Norman Co. Mn.

Pair of Trumpeters, Geese, 2 distant wood ducks and a pair of Sandhill Cranes across the water.

Today (April 2, 2018) the water has froze there is a also a little more snow and they have gone elsewhere.

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

Location: rural Norman Co. Mn.

One is standing on one leg…resting the other I am thinking.

Location: Snelling Lake, Fort Snelling State Park

I tried to use the noise of the planes landing to cover the sound of my approach, but they became aware of me soon enough and gave a few warning honks.  Still, I was able to approach slowly and get to about 30 yards from them.  When I sat still to watch, they would tuck their heads back under their wings, but as soon as I started moving they perked up again.