Thursday, January 10, 2013

Big Bird

Today's post is a collection of images I have made over the past few years, of one of my favorite birds to encounter ... a really, big bird ... the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator). Various reference books will differ slightly in the facts they note, but the Trumpeter Swan is ~60 inches long ... and males may even get up to ~70". Their wingspan ranges ~73-98 inches, and the swan usually weighs in the 15-30 pound range. So, definitely a big bird!

Until the last few years, I would only find the swans in my travels to Alaska. But they are now becoming quite familiar in my state (Missouri). There are a few pairs that are beginning to mate and nest in the state, but their locations are usually pretty difficult to learn ... the state conservation department is pretty tight-lipped to the locations, to provide privacy to the newcomers.

However, in the winter, it is becoming quite common to find Trumpeter Swans laying over at a well-known wildlife refuge in the northwest part of Missouri, the Squaw Creek NWR. Their numbers have been steadily increasing in late November/early December and this year, there were nearly 300 swans on the refuge when I visited in early December!

Let's get to the goodies ... the images. Here are a few of my favorite Trumpeter Swan images I've made over the past few years. Enjoy Big Bird ... sans Bert & Ernie! :o)





















This post was submitted by Jim Braswell of Show-Me Nature Photography

15 comments:

  1. Great images Jim! The Swans are beautiful!!

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    1. Thank you, Tammy. The swans are always a highlight for me as winter approaches!

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    1. Yes, beautiful birds, aren't they! Thanks for the comment, Adam.

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  3. Grace, elegance, and power all together...the Swan is an incredible creature. Super shots Jim, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Laurence! Yes, they are all that ... and more! :o)

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  4. Gorgeous images Jim. They are such that my souls says "ahh".

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  5. Beautiful shots. We don't see them in the southeast.

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    1. Thank you! That's too bad ... they're so humbling to watch, especially when they make a close fly-by.

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  6. A most beautiful collection of swan images, Jim! The variety of scenic settings really enhance this glorious series. Lovely!

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    1. Thank you, Julie! I still think the Alaska images, with the swans in flight with the snowy Chilkat Mountains in the background, are my favorite!

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  7. Wow! Awesome! Beautiful! I don't think I've ever seen those swans. They are lovely. And, your pics of them are great.

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  8. What beautiful images! I love them all! Thanks for posting these. How wonderful that they are making a comeback in Missouri! I would never have thought of them as being there!

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  9. Wonderful post, Jim! The flight photos of the swans against the mountains are full of romance; recall for me the wonders of childhood, of wonderful travels and marvelous tales.... Thanks for sharing them!

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