That's no ugly duckling

I'm the kind of person that is always looking out the window to see what the neighbors are doing. Luckily for all you humans out there, my windows look out over a lake instead of houses.

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.