Trumpeter Swan

Description:

Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl in North America. These big birds may weigh as much as 32 lbs. and have powerful wings that span about 6 feet. They are white with black bills and feet.

Habitat:

Trumpeters in Minnesota use wintering areas on open water on larger river systems, such as the St. Croix (where these photos were taken) and Mississippi Rivers. During warmer months they are found nesting in wetlands.

Notes:

In the last photo, a group of swans from two different family groups are engaging in a scrum in an effort to intimidate the other family and drive them from a preferred feeding area. Trumpeter Swans were completely gone from the US Midwest and only a small population continued to survive in Idaho. Most were killed for their skins and meat and the population suffered from habitat loss and degradation. In the 1960s there was a concerted program to reintroduce these beautiful birds back to the Midwest and today we have several thousand living in Minnesota and adjacent states. It is one of our greatest conservation success stories. Use the links I've provided in learning more about the conservation efforts and the birds themselves.