I have enjoyed watching the Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Canadian Geese and Mallard Ducks that frequent the area, but I have always wished for my favorite bird of all to settle in: Swans!
For years I would see a single swan (bachelor) come along in the spring and swim around, all lonely-like. After a few weeks, he would leave. Finally, last year there was a pair. He found a lady! (FYI Swans are known to mate for life)
Jeffrey named them Ricco and Daisy, and they were beautiful and not at all mean like people say swans are. I think this might be due to the type, which I think is Mute vs Trumpet.
Last year we watched them build a nest, but then they left it unattended, and when I eventually went to investigate on my kayak, I saw a pile of cracked eggshells on it. There are many possible predators out there such as those cranes, a pair of enormous Red-Tailed Hawks, and muskrats.
They swam around looking all sad for a few weeks and then flew away.
And then this spring they came back! And built another nest! I watched anxiously and was glad to see only one swan at a time swimming around for the last several weeks.
And today, a beautiful, sparkling day, I see this:
Is it possible for birds to look proud and happy? Could be my imagination but that's what I see here. A joyful day!
Now I'm trying not to think about the snapping turtles.
