Every year a pair of trumpeter swans visit the pond next to Ballaine Road. I was driving along the road and saw something that looked like a white light plane shooting through the trees. I thought to myself, "What is that?" and hoped I wasn't going to see a fellow crashed into the swamp. But as I came around to the pond I saw our two swans had just landed!
Trumpeter swans are very large, and two of them flying close together and seen spottily through the trees did a credible imitation of one of those one-man light planes!
They'll stay here for only a day or two, and then they are off to more northern nesting areas. I love seeing them every year.
I took these pictures about 9pm. The sun was rather challenging at that time, but I wanted to get pictures before they took off again.
More information on swans in Alaska can be had here: Alaska Swans
A great article about Alaska swans from the National Park Service.
Very sad article showing why we must not allow industrial contamination of our lands. A mining company left lead in such quantities that it's killing tundra swans on their way to Alaska, plus many other animals as well.
