|
English
and Scientific names: |
Trumpeter
Swan, Cygnus buccinator
|
|
Number
of individuals: |
Two, in possible sub-adult plummage |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
Ouachita Parish |
|
Specific
Locality: |
East of Highway 143, 0.9 mile north of
D\'Arbonne Bayou bridge which is on the north side of West Monroe, La. |
|
Date(s)
when observed: |
There were many days including 2-02, 2-06,
2-07, 2-08, 2-14, 2-18 when I took pictures. There were other days when
I did not take pictures including 2-21. |
|
Time(s)
of day when observed: |
Morning, mid-day and afternoon. |
|
Reporting
observer and address: |
Stephen Pagans |
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
Joan Brown and Charlie Lyon. |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
John Dillon, Rosemary Seidler, Hubert Hervey |
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Varied from cloudy to clear depending on which
day it was. |
|
Optical
equipment: |
Binoculars, 10x |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
Anywhere from 70 to 100 yards. |
|
Duration
of observation: |
Varied from a few minutes (on the first day)
to as much as 20 minutes on later days. |
|
Habitat:
|
Partially flooded pecan orchard. |
|
Behavior
of bird: |
I saw the birds feeding, resting, flying. |
|
Description: |
I saw two large swans with dark bills, mostly
white bodies with slightly grayish colored necks and a bit of slightly rusty
looking color on their backs. The feathers on their foreheads come to a
peak. The pictures I have speak volumes. |
|
Voice: |
That of a Trumpeter Swan that I heard on at
least two occasions and compared to actual recordings of Trumpeter Swans. |
|
Similar species: |
Tundra Swan. Tundras, as shown in
bird books, generally have yellow markings on their bills but not always. Tundras'
foreheads are usually rounded, not pointed feathers. |
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
I have many, many photographs from multiple
angles. |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
None |
|
Identification
aids: |
Multiple bird books and Google images. |
|
This
description is written from: |
Memory and photographs! |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Positive |
|
Date
and time: |
2-24-10 |