On my first visit to Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Missouri, we came across not only the massive numbers of snow geese (which the refuge is known for) but also a fair number of Trumpeter Swans. Up to this point I hadn’t really seen all that many swans, but I found them to be beautiful, massive, birds that are about as regal as you can get.
When a swan takes off the sound is unmistakable. You near this deep slap, slap, slap as their wing tips hit the water…they come out low and slow, and after a bit of running and flapping they’ll get airborne and continue this long, drawn out, climb…and if you get a group of them lined up over the water in this formation, it’s just something special to see.
Trumpeters were, at one time, highly endangered, and driven to near extinction in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Hunting pressure for their meat and feathers had reduced the number of swans down to only 69 known birds in 1935. With conservation efforts put in place, the numbers have risen steadily to nearly 35,000 in 2005. And although the population continues to improve over time, swans still face various threats, including lead poisoning (from ingesting lead shot), power line collisions, and occasional shootings.
The two swans pictured here appear to be enjoying a spring courtship on a lovely spring day.