English and Scientific names:	Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
Number of individuals:	2 (one adult, one juvenile)
Locality: LOUISIANA:	East Carroll Parish
Specific Locality:	jct. of Delta Rd. and Levee Rd., s. end of Gassoway Lake, nr. Millikin
Date(s) when observed:	25 January 2009
Time(s) of day when observed:	8:50 - 9:00 AM CST
Reporting observer and address:	Devin Bosler Baton Rouge, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Justin Bosler
Light conditions:	Overcast sky with low ceiling and fair light conditions. Sun glare or backlighting not a problem.
Optical equipment:	Zeiss Victory FL 8x42, Nikon Fieldscope w/ 20-60x optical zoom (all equipment in good condition)
Distance to bird(s):	ca. 30-40 meters at nearest point (flying overhead)
Duration of observation:	~3-5 min. (noncontinuous)
Habitat:	Semi-open bottomland hardwood forest and fragmented batture woodlots along Mississippi River levee system. Shallow oxbow lakes and backwaters with adjacent agricultural fields and livestock pastures.
Behavior of bird:	Only observed in flight. The two swans were first spotted (from the open driver side window) through the leafless trees of a small batture woodlot as they passed overhead going S-N. The swans were flying side by side at low altitude- just above treetop level. Unfortunately, this initial sighting occurred at the base of the levee (edge of borrow pit) where surrounding trees blocked any further observation as the swans continued north. We hurried back up to the top of the levee and immediately re-sighted the swans. From here, the two swans were in view for another two to three minutes and were studied through binoculars and scopes. The swans banked slightly toward the east and eventually dropped out of view behind a distant row of trees, presumably in MS.
Description:	Two large, entirely white swans with shorter neck-to-body ratio. Adult-plumaged swan had entirely black bill that appeared moderate in size relative to the head, however a yellow loral patch at base of bill was not discernible in flight at increasing distance. Juvenal-plumaged swan had a smudgy-gray cast to upperparts and a mostly pale pinkish bill. Black tarsi and feet on both. The swans exhibited a slow, laborious though steady and graceful flight style. Neither swan was wing-tagged or neck-collared.
Voice:	No, silent.
Similar species:	Mute Swan (MUSW) can be eliminated by lack of orange on the adult’s bill and overall size and structure. MUSW are much heavier and bulkier, making them appear more awkward in flight. Trumpeter Swan (TRUS) can be reasonably eliminated by the shortness of the neck and relatively small, non-triangular bill shape. The juvenile’s largely all-white plumage in late winter is also suggestive of TUSW, which is paler than other swans at this age. The pink base to the juvenile’s bill is also indicative of TUSW, whereas MUSW and TRUS show a black bill base. TUSW is the expected, casually-occurring swan in winter in LA. Most accepted records pertain to single individuals shot and killed by hunters, but a few records pertain to small groups of up to 6 birds at a single location. Nearly all accepted records from n. LA. TRUS has never officially occurred in LA, and although some move south in winter, the species is generally resident in the northern tier of the U.S. Only one of seven accepted records from Texas pertains to a non-tagged juvenile at Brazoria Co. on the Upper Texas Coast from 2 Jan- 3 Mar 2002 (fide TBRC). In Arkansas, TRUS are more or less restricted to the nw. corner of the state, where 125+ individuals reside annually in winter at Magness Lake (Cleburne Co.). Nearly all TRUS occurring away from Magness Lake in AR are tagged and neck-collared.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Considerable experience with Tundra and established resident Mute Swans from the mid-Atlantic states where ranges overlap during late fall/winter. Over a decade of experience seeing hundreds of MUSW and thousands of TUSW from New York south to North Carolina. Less experience with TRUS from WY, MN, and Ontario-breeding (w/ neck collars) strays in PA.
Identification aids: at time of observation:	National Geographic Complete Birds of N.A. (Alderfer et al. 2005).
Notes made from memory?	notes made during the observation, notes made after the observation, memory.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Yes.
Reporter:	Devin Bosler
Date and time:	11 February 2009 4:00 PM CST