Trumpeter Swans Flying #13

The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest of the swans in the United States. They measure about 60 inches in length, and about 26 pounds... more

by Morris Finkelstein

Title

Trumpeter Swans Flying #13

Artist

Morris Finkelstein

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest of the swans in the United States. They measure about 60 inches in length, and about 26 pounds in weight. They prefer wooded ponds, marshes, flooded farm fields, and rivers. The all-white Trumpeter Swan is distinguished from the smaller Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) by its longer, all-black bill with a straighter base, and by the absence of the yellow spot (lores) before the eye. Trumpeter Swans are known to mix with other species of swans. This species was near extinction in the 1930’s and was preserved by reintroduction and conservation methods. From 1968 until 2010, the population of Trumpeter Swans increased from 3,722 to about 46,225 birds. Trumpeter Swans usually mate for life and live for more than 24 years in the wild.

This group of 3 Trumpeter Swans flying over Heron Pond was photographed soon after sunrise at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, in West Alton, Missouri on 11-18-2021. I used a Nikon D850 camera body and a Nikon 600mm f/4.0E FL ED VR lens to capture this image. Settings: 1/2000 sec, f/5.0, ISO 2000. This 3,700 acre sanctuary located on the Mississippi River watershed is managed jointly by the Audubon Center at Riverlands and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The migratory Trumpeter Swans began returning to this migratory bird sanctuary within the past week.

I am honored that my photograph was featured in the Fine Art America groups:
10 Plus, 11-27-2021
Ducks Geese And Swans, 12-13-2021
Animals Photographs, 12-14-2021
Birds In Flight, 1-9-2022
Midwest America Photography, 1-18-2022
Nikon Full Frame Cameras, 1-18-2022

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Uploaded

November 22nd, 2021