Trumpeting with Canada Geese! - Photos and Text by Bob Kelly

All around the midwest on most any good sized lake or pond numerous Canada Geese can be found this time of year.  Because of several mild winters, large numbers of them all over the midwest, have elected to not fly south for the winter, but just stay here instead.  These geese are large birds of 7-14 pounds, with a length of 20-50 inches, and a wing span of slightly more than 5 feet

In Ames they gather in Ada Hayden Lake, at the South East corner of the park where the water is not frozen over.  On Wednesday morning, March 6 I drove by that area, and spotted two large white birds in the water with them.  I parked my car in a small parking lot there, walked over, and to my surprise I saw 13 Trumpeter Swans sharing the waters of the lake with the Canada Geese.

The Trumpeter Swans have been lovingly restored in the midwest, and now are rather common in lakes such as the one at Ada Hayden Park.  The Trumpeter's are aptly named as they emit a low sound that similar to the blowing on a trumpet!  They are quite large with weights up to 30 pounds, length in excess of 5 feet, and a wing span of up to 8 feet.  Compared to a Canada Goose, which is a large bird, the Trumpeters are much larger.  One of them here is wearing an ID tag collar around its neck.

The Trumpeter Swan is a graceful and elegant bird....

…..except when it goes "bottoms up" to feed off the bottom of the lake!  If you have never seen Trumpeters or heard them, venture down to the South East corner of Ada Hayden lake in Ames, Iowa, while they are still with us, and enjoy what you see and hear!