Seward, Alaska
After a long period of scant
sightings and worried speculation, today I finally got a good view of the Nash
Road TRUMPETER SWAN family. Two adults, three cygnets; all accounted for! I was
amazed how much the cygnets have grown! At nearly 3 months, they are almost
full-size.
The family hung out at the
original nest site mound in the middle-back of the wetlands. One adult and one
cygnet busily preened, casting lovely feathers adrift like little boats to sail
on the pond. The other adult paddled into view, then other two cygnets appeared
and walked up onto the nest site to join the preen party.
All those long necks, three
gray and two pure white, looping around every inch of their sleek, beautiful
plumages! When the all-gray cygnets stretched and beat their growing wings,
white primary and secondary feathers flashed.
If they’re not yet flying, it
won’t be long.
The Lagoon underground power
line project is moving along, but unfortunately, the wires will be above ground
until November. I hope the deflectors will serve to alert this precious swan
family of the presence of the killer wires. Just a few more months!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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