Over the years I’ve probably photographed Trumpeter Swans in or near Montana’s Centennial Valley a couple of dozen times. But usually they haven’t had cygnets with them (especially young ones), they’ve often been in poor light and they’ve typically been far away. Trumpeter Swans are shy and territorial, particularly during the breeding season.
But all that changed last week during another camping trip to the valley and Red Rock Lakes NWR.
This pair of swans and their three young cygnets didn’t even give me a chance to get my trailer unhooked from my pickup before they came in very close to investigate me. And over a period of three days they did so repeatedly. They were often so close I could only get one adult and a cygnet or two in the frame. This is one of my few photos of the whole fam damily.
Here the little dab of shoreline greenery in the foreground at lower right is an indication of how close the swans were to the shore. And to me.
In this photo the slightly larger male is the adult on the right. Even when the male wasn’t near his mate he was easy to identify because on this particular day, all day, he had…
an errant feather poking up on his back.
The plumage of adult Trumpeter Swans is entirely white, although their head and neck are often stained rufous by iron-rich waters and muds in which they forage. Here the adult female appears to be trying to keep an eye on her youngsters while she’s feeding.
I’m not sure what the adult male was doing here. He wasn’t calling or making any other sounds. As close as I was, I’d have heard it. Maybe he was yawning.
But I do know why his bill was open in this tightly cropped shot. He had mud in his bill from feeding and he was…
spitting it out. In this next shot in the burst we see the mud daub falling.
I took this shot in the early evening while sitting in camp and enjoying a drink before dinner. There were a couple of times when I thought one of the adults might swim a few more feet to the shore, climb the shallow bank and join me for a toddy. This was one of those times.
There was at least one other pair of Trumpeter Swans with young cygnets on the very large lake. They had four cygnets but they were always far away. This is as close as they got.
My time(s) with these swans won’t soon be forgotten. Trumpeter Swans, with cygnets (young ones at that), up close and in reasonably good light, in the primary place (this refuge) that was used to save Trumpeter Swans from extinction.
For this bird photographer it doesn’t get much better than that.
Ron
Notes:
- I never approached these swans. They always approached me.
- When I took many of these photos the light was a little harsh, especially for white birds, resulting in image techs that wouldn’t be very instructive. So I’m not including them.
- I suspect that many of my readers have noticed, and lamented, that I’m still having issues with WordPress. Both my text and my photos are smaller than they should be. I’m still trying to figure out why.
How SWEET and AMAZING! I loved your swan families!! Great photography. Thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoyed your dinner that evening.
These are stunning, what a wonderful experience to have them so close to your camp site.
REGARDLESS of publishing hiccups the swan pix are so clear and interesting to see up close. Thanks you Ron.
Beautiful photos, Ron! A pleasure to view!
Thanks, Joanne.
How wonderful. WHAT a treat. For you and for us.
Thank you also for reminding me of a President who effected positive change.
I love this elegant family and am very glad to view them well before sparrow fart here.
Thank you, EC. If I remember my history correctly, FDR had a lot of dealings with Australia – particularly during WWII. I suspect many folks in OZ became quite familiar with him and his policies.
What an all-around great post — your images and descriptions, along with the comments from the other readers and your responses, truly enjoyable, Ron. I really appreciate all the effort you put into this blog (which still looks fine to me.)
Thanks also for the Trumpeter Swan/Red Rocks Lakes NWR/FDR history lesson — quite a comeback from the brink of extinction — and a hat tip to Michael for the reminder that “you get what you bring.” Ain’t it the truth! 😊
“which still looks fine to me”
Chris, I’m beginning to think that the problem is only showing up on my computer. If I have to, I can live with it but I know that at least some others wouldn’t be able to if it showed up on their device.
I remember not long after I started my blog, readers were complaining that the print was too small. So I made it bigger and they liked it. I’m relieved that apparently others aren’t having the same issue.
I’m definitely a fan of larger print and truthfully, I nearly always choose the “Reader” view to see both larger type and images, then switch back so I can see all the comments. Tricky! 😉
What an extraordinary post today, Ron. 🥰 So glad you’re the kind of person a Tundra Swan can get close to. Thank you for the history lesson. I wish we had more leaders at all levels of government who respected wildlife and the planet (and the importance of maintaining infrastructure and the arts). I was an E.B. White fan when I was younger and read The Trumpet of the Swan many, many times — this post brought back those fond memories.
Thank you, Marty. I probably should have included that “history lesson” in my actual post, instead of in the comments. I just ran out of time for it.
Whoops! I meant TRUMPETER Swan, not Tundra Swan — not sure where my brain is these days. 🤪
Easy to do… 🙂
I did not read the Trumpet of the Swan when I was younger, but I did recently listen to the audiobook with EB White himself as the narrator. A magnificent book.
Thanks for filling in the story about President Roosevelt, creating the
new refuge, and its long-term success…..my heart REALLY NEEDS
TO HEAR such stories these days. Reminds me that not all is lost
unless we throw in the towel…….
We used to have presidents that did such things…..
Thanks for another soul-soothing post. So glad you’re endeavours are being so deliciously rewarded
“Soul-soothing”. Well said, Burrdoo.
These photos and words were a revelation to
me, beautiful and thrilling. I have only heard of these swans and sen a few in the air once. And to see this family , parents and cygnets, was a joy beyond words. Thank you so much.
I’m delighted that you enjoyed this post that much, Eloise. Thank you.
Trumpeter Swans are shy birds and prefer to be disturbed as little as possible so getting to see them up close via photography is always a delight! Thank you for sharing your trip with us!
Whenever you post Trumpeter Swans it always brightens my day. This was how I happened upon Feathered Photography. Reading E.B White’s Trumpet of the Swan led me to look up Red Rock Lakes Montana one day to see where Louis and his family always spent winter in real life.
It’s a beautiful place and your photos make me wish I could jump in and be there.
Amy, I’ve been doing some research on the history of the Centennial Valley. It’s a fascinating place, especially when you can still see so many of the old, crumbling homesteads.
Your historical posts are always fascinating to read! I learn more from those than I ever did sitting in history classes. Coupled with pictures, you can almost imagine yourself with the people who journeyed and lived there centuries ago.
Amy, speaking of historical posts, have you ever seen this one? It’s partly about the Beaver Canyon Stage Station and my great grandfather. The station is very close to the Centennial Valley.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/06/16/a-few-more-birds-and-a-personal-observation-from-our-recent-montana-camping-trip/
Yes! That’s one of the posts I was thinking of when I said I learn a lot from them. 🙂
I found it incredible how you were able to trace your family line and allow me to say I can see the resemblance between you and your great grandfather minus the mustache.
Actually, I have a mustache – at least at the moment. A goatee, really. I haven’t shaved since the beginning of my MT trip. I doubt I’ll keep it though. Too much trouble.
SO precious! Love the imaginary image of one of the adults joining you for a drink!
Thanks, Kathleen. That’s all I’d need – a tipsy 23 lb. swan in my camp.
Your photos and words about the trumpeters and their cygnets are beautiful and thrilling. I don’t think I have ever seen these swans except in the air.This post is a treasure and a joy. I just want to view and review them!
Thanks very much, Eloise. I hope you enjoy them time and time again.
Font and images look normal to me. It may be your screen resolution has changed. Great images and story, professor.
I don’t think it’s my screen resolution, Arwen. Nothing else has changed. Only the various WordPress pages have changed, including my blog and Dashboard. Nothing else.
But it is beginning to sound like it’s only showing up on my computer and that would be a good thing.
I will add… Awesome!
Thank you for sharing with us.
Thanks, CJ.
It’s neat to see their eyes in the closeups. Further away they just blend in to the beautiful black mask. Such beautiful birds! And the cygnets are adorable – they all look like they are smiling.
Interesting observations, Carolyn. You’re right.
Lovely and educational! Your posts are such a great way to start the day. Glad you had such beautiful moments on your journey.
Thanks very much, Brett.
Wow Ron – dripping with envy. These are about as special as
nature photos can get. Lucky you. I have never seen the Trumpeters here, but we do get annual visits from the Tundra Swans. Only once have I seen a cygnet, but technically more of a juvenile and slightly more brownish than your white cygnets.
Thanks, Everett. It may be hard to believe but Trumpeter Swans are very much larger than Tundra Swans (23 lbs. versus just under 14 lbs.)
Yes I knew that from reading up on them – thanks – such beautiful birds
Wow– a creature which embodies “elegance”– even when spitting out mud ! I so enjoyed seeing this family, first thing in my morning.
Thanks — I’d be interested as to how this particular refuge helped
save the swans from extinction. What is that story ?
“a creature which embodies “elegance”– even when spitting out mud”
I liked that a lot, Kris. Made me LOL.
It’s a long story. Here are the basics. By 1935 there were only 69 Trumpeter Swans left. Then President Franklin D. Roosevelt took action in 1935, establishing Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to safeguard a remote wetland near Yellowstone where most of the known remaining swans nested. Restoration programs began successfully transplanting swans from Red Rock Lakes to refuges in Wyoming, Oregon, and Nevada.
Today there are about 63,000 Trumpeter Swans, thanks in large part to Red Rock Lakes NWR. And to Roosevelt of course.
What a great picture set! And what an opportunity for observing – especially for one of your favorite species in a favorite place. I am glad you have persevered and found a way to get back to your valley!
Thanks very much, Art. I was in my Nirvana.
So lovely! Cue the Tchaikovsky score (you know. . .Swan Lake, right?)There’s even a section for four cygnets.
Interesting about the section for four cygnets, Sue. I was intrigued so I looked it up.
You’re still teaching me, just like when I used to sit in your classroom… 🙂
And I have learned plenty from you! It’s reciprocal!
Great photos and a great read. Close encounters of this type are magical, and I have found that they almost always happen on a solo journey. It might sound goofy or perhaps not understood to some folks, but you get what you bring. Thanks for sharing.
BTW – Other than the odd typo under the first photo, the post looks just fine to me.
Thanks, Michael. What typo? Other than “fam damily”, which was deliberate, I’m not seeing it.
Sorry. That was it.
No need to apologize, Michael. Our ‘quaint’ little MT wordplays aren’t appreciated (or even recognized) by everyone.
Beautiful and unforgettable for sure! 🙂 Hopefully they only picked you to get close to and not some random jerk that comes along….. 😉 Luv their interaction with the cygnets and the snuggling of the 2nd set of adults in the last photo.
I’m sure it’s been interesting with storms to the N of you and fire to the S.
“Hopefully they only picked you to get close to”
They had no choice, Judy. I was the only one in the area for the entire three days, except for two small groups of birders that came by for just a few minutes. The swans weren’t there for either group so those birders didn’t even know they were around. And they didn’t ask me so I didn’t tell them. I stayed hidden in my trailer until they were gone. When it comes to bird photography, I prefer to be a hermit. And besides, I didn’t want to make a spectacle of the swans.