I was thrilled to see Trumpeter Swans swimming at our nearby marsh this month.
Though partially covered with ice, there was open water in a couple sections of the marsh.
The four swans looked at home as they lazily swam with the Mallards in the open water at the south end of the marsh.
Why was I so excited to see the swans?
I haven’t seen Trumpeter Swans at our nearby marsh for over two years.
The aggressive Mute Swans arrived at the marsh two years ago and didn’t allow the Trumpeter Swans to remain there.
I was sad, because I heard from other birders that a Trumpeter Swan pair had nested at the marsh for over a dozen years.
For two years, my husband and I watched the Trumpeters raise their young at the marsh.
It was one of our summer pastimes to go to the marsh to watch the young cygnets as they grew up.
Until two years ago when the Mute Swans arrived.
Unfortunately, the open water on the marsh didn’t last this month.
Deep cold moved in four days after I took this photo. The swans have moved on since the marsh is now completely frozen.
