Trumpeter Swans at Duffins Creek mouth (Rotary Park)

[Pruss]

Last night at 6:45 I was treated to a parade by five beautiful swans.  Three of the swans were still showing grey-beige feathers around the head and neck and are, I suppose, first years who are finishing up their molt.  One of these birds had bright yellow wing-tags with 101 in black numbers.  Two of the birds were all white, and one of these birds was also banded with two bright yellow wing-tags with 192 in black numbers.

I have confirmed that 192 and her partner are Ajax residents and had a clutch of 5 cygnets last summer in a local marsh. Three of the cygnets were reported to have survived to young-adulthood.  The last report of these five swans was in November 2009 in Scugog.

Nice to see them back in Ajax.

Happy birding,

Pat

[Christine]

Hi Pat,

I watched this family grow up this past summer on the marsh side of Rotary Park.  There were 5 cygnets in total and 2 unfortunately didn't make it.  But as you saw the other 3 did very well and I saw them a few weeks ago back at Rotary.  I actually saw them take their farewell flight last fall which was amazing to witness and it is so nice to see them back!

I believe one of the cygnets is tagged now - did you happen to see the number?  

Chris

[Pruss]

Hi Christine,

Thanks for the note.  Nice to know I made a decent ID and to know these birds are local.  The cygnet was tagged with 101, the other two were untagged.  All five seemed pretty comfortable with people, as they swam right up to me at the canoe launch.  I look forward to seeing more of them this summer.

Best,

Pat
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March 21, 2010

Hi there, just an update to let folks know that I heard back from Harry Lumsden who champions the tracking/reporting of Trumpeter Swans out of Wye Marsh.  He let me know that 101 is a bird that was hatched in 2006 and has been a regular in southern ON since.  So 101 is likely not one of 192's cygnets from last year.  

Thanks,

Pat