![]() ![]() ![]() So many tundra swans are missing that yellow or have such a small spot that is hard to see from a distance. I spent a lot of time back in December looking for a trumpeter swan and my mind was convincing me that each and every tundra without yellow on the lores could be a trumpeter swan, but I’ve since learned that the lack of yellow is NOT a reliable field mark. Picking out a trumpeter swan can be a challenge, especially when birds are farther away and you can’t get a nice, close look at the bill. There’s no guarantee this year will shape up the same, but as of right now, there are still swans in the area for you to bird! I researched the frequency of tundra and trumpeter swan sightings in our area in February using eBird, and over the past few years both of these species were found throughout the entire month of February. Winter is a good time to be finding trumpeter swans in the Madison area, so keep your eyes peeled as you’re out scanning flocks of tundra swans or birding near places with patches of open water. But just yesterday, they were back at Tenney Park! I saw them near the boat launch last night around 5pm, so if you want to look for them, I’d start with Tenney Park and then check Yahara Place Park if they aren’t there. Near the end of the week, the trumpeter pair moved down to the open patch of water at the mouth of the Yahara River at Yahara Place Park, where they again stayed for a few days. It is rare to get such a close comparison of the two species and this was an educational opportunity for a lot of birders! Unusually, there was a tundra swan hanging nearby as well. This week’s post was inspired by a pair of trumpeter swans that have been hanging out near a small patch of open water near the Tenney Park boat launch throughout the week. ![]()
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