Swan song #phenology

It was nearly one year ago that we noticed the swan pictured on Bone Lake. We never did learn how that tale ended.

Trumpeter swan straggler, Bone Lake, 2016

Photo by J. Harrington

For more years than last, we've been promising ourselves that we would set aside time in December or January to track down and photograph trumpeter swans we've heard about, reputed to Winter over around Hudson, WI. From time to time, we see an occasional swan, or handful, near the river as we're driving around Stillwater and vicinity, but never in large numbers, and even more frustrating, never in a location we can safely pull over and take pictures.

The return of cold air and snow on the ground reminds us that it's once again time to dig out the "to do" list and move "find and photo swans" to near the top. It seems an unusual but fitting phenology event. SWans along the St. Croix in Summer are no particularly big deal. Wintering over swans is a different story. So far, it's bee like trying to get a picture of a "will-o-the-wisp," although I'd be more inclined to search for one of those further North, where there are more bogs.

                     The Silver Swan

By Orlando Gibbons

The silver swan, who living had no note,

When death approached, unlocked her silent throat;

Leaning her breast against the reedy shore,

Thus sung her first and last, and sung no more:

“Farewell, all joys; Oh death, come close mine eyes;

More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.”

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