Graceful landing

Every winter we have about 15 trumpeter swans who stay for a few months as long as the lake doesn't freeze. They are very camera shy and these are the first group that haven't instantly swam the other way when I've stopped.

The trumpeter swan (cygnus buccinator) is reportedly the heaviest bird in North America. They breed in Alaska and migrate south in winter to the southern regions of British Columbia and the Pacific coast. They are beautiful and they do indeed make a trumpeting call that is unmistakable.

They used to migrate further south but hunting rendered them almost extinct in the States in the early 20th century. They have rebounded in Canada and Alsaka and the northeren populations are healthy.

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