Blog Archives
Rough Waters
Friends, these Trumpeter Swans are swimming in the rough waters of Phantom Lake in Crex. I used the detail extractor in Color Efex Pro 4 to bring out the white feather details. These birds have now gone south, but i still have the images in my head and in my hard drive to keep me warm in this cold weather. I went to Crex yesterday and found a few hawks, eagles and redpolls to keep my camera happy.Stay tuned for these birds in the near future. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Reflections
Friends, another entry to this weeks theme: reflections, i needed a warmer image this morning to stimulate my morning, coffee is not doing the trick this morning, still really groggy, blame it on the weather. This image was taken this summer, but the background as is was too busy, so i put the swans on their own layer and blurred the background and gave it a slightly foggy feel. These trumpeter swans are now floating in a non-distracting background with a lovely foggy reflection. Sometimes the differences between sharpness can also be used to make the subject more prominent. til Tomorrow MJ
The Chase
Friends, this is Trumpeter Swan 47E and i think he/she woke up cranky. As these swans were settling into their nightly roost, there was lots of chasing and jostling to vie for space. After about ten minutes of this activity all were quietly preening and tolerating the presence of others. Not your typical swan image but tells of behavior not often shown, I love the feathering on the underside of the wing, til Tomorrow MJ
Mother and Child -Trumpeter Swans
Friends, this is not a mating pair of Trumpeter Swans, but an adult (in front) leading a youngster from this years hatch. The young swan is gray with a pink bill, while the adult is white with a black bill. There are many Trumpeters on Crex Meadows right now, gathering for their migration. This family of five didn’t like all the noise that the Sandhill Cranes were making, so they departed. til Tomorrow MJ
On the Meadows
Friends, this morning we are back at Crex Meadows in Northwestern Wisconsin, where the Trumpeter Swans are passing through on the migration. This beautiful bird is preening her feathers and admiring her fine figure in the lake water. A ballerina balanced on one foot, all she needs is a tutu, this week has been a bit gray in the meadow and we are out walking the young dog and mourning the passing of our old dog. The Meadow colors make life a bit more bearable. Below is an image of the grass colors and the pond where thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Mallard ducks are also gathering to help with the harvest of wild rice. til Tomorrow MJ
Rusty Swan
Friends, this trumpeter swan is getting some good food off the bottom of this swamp, lots of wild rice blooming and arrowhead root that is a favorite food. He is very stained by the iron-rich water but after the molt he will again be pure white. He was not alone on this pond, a couple of swans were chasing him away but he was still getting plenty of food. Also wish to share a new book on Texas birds with you, Bob Zeller of Texas Tweeties has published a book on Texas birds, the link is http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3431406, check out his preview. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused
Friends, this image is technically focused, but the subject, a Trumpeter Swan, is definitely unfocused. He has his nose tucked in and is napping peacefully in the early spring sunshine. He will be startled when he awakes to find a photographer taking his picture from a very close vantage point. til Tomorrow MJ
Dysfunctional Swan Behavior
Friends, not the pretty swan picture that you are accustomed to seeing, but normal behavior during the breeding season, chasing away the competitors, and this takes place in Crex Meadows before the ice melts on the lakes, i like to think of them chasing away the cold weather and ushering in the warm, no Pasque flowers yet but 66 degrees F yesterday so warmer times are coming 🙂 I am ready, til Tomorrow MJ
Trumpeter Swan, summer
Friends, this summer Trumpeter Swan is stretching his wings and sports the latest in neck bands. This flapping of wings is thought to be a form of exersize or simply a stretch of his chest muscles. These muscles need to be very strong to propel him back and forth on the migratory route. His pectoral muscles serve to push the wing down, while the supracoracoideus muscles raise the wings. His red band suggests that he was released from Iowa and now makes his summer home in Wisconsin, Crex Meadows. Your anatomy lesson for the day . :), til Tomorrow MJ
Swans on the Ice
Friends, The ice (and snow) are still on the lakes and covering Crex Meadows, but the Trumpeter Swans return anyway cause they know it is nearing time to nest. Last spring, we watched a pair of swans build a nest in Crex, lots of pulling up vegetation and piling it on a muskrat house. When they first return a lot of chasing behavior establishes the area boundaries and eliminating possible competition for mates. This specie was almost extinct and has rebounded well in the last few years. Lead poisoning is still the biggest threat so please make sure your fishing weight is secure and doesn’t land in the bottom of the lake. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 