ML41916431

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Two adults plus one juvenile, first on MN side near shore (Dakota Co.), then swam upriver and across to WI shore at marina, where these photos were taken. Adults all white with curved neck, bill orange with black knob at base of upper mandible, bill and head pointed downward. Juvenile mixed dusky and white, dark bill with dull orange-brown tone, developing knob. Reported here two days ago by Kevin Smith and Dan Versaw, and a month ago (on WI side) by Dale Trexel and Jeff Eddy. Appeared to be a family group, with all three staying close together. Fed by tipping up, and I was able to confirm that both legs of all three birds were unbanded, although I couldn't confirm if halluxes were present. Juvenile flapped wings showing they were unclipped, but adults did not flap, although it's almost certain they arrived here by flying. However also tame as I approached within 75m and they showed no avoidance (but similar behavior occurs in local Trumpeters). This location is less than 20 miles upriver from Prairie Island, where there have been MUSW reports for some years (some are known to be Treasure Island Casino birds but others are of unknown origin according to Gabe Miller, Prairie Island biologist). I think these may be candidates for "wild" status.
On 3/2/15 I received a response to an email I sent Gabe Miller, Prairie Island (PIIC) Conservation Biologist: "We had a remaining pair here the summer before last, but one died in early June 2013. The lone remaining adult disappeared before the winter hit. There was another single adult from the year or two before who also disappeared not long after its mate died. I haven't seen a MUSW here since fall 2013. It's possible that at least one may be the Casino's, but I honestly don't know. I know they didn't have visible tags, but there may have been aluminum leg bands??. Also, at least one of the surviving swans that disappeared, I think one had a clipped wing."
This statement for Seasonal Reports was confirmed by Gabe Miller as correct on 3/2/15: "One member of the last Casino pair died in June 2013 and its mate was last reported in fall 2013, and there have been no further Mute Swan reports from Prairie Island since."

Technical information

Model

NIKON D7000

ISO

400

Focal length

300 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/9.0

Shutter speed

1/1250 sec

Dimensions

3588 pixels x 2691 pixels

Original file size

4.4 MB