Trumpets, indeed

They ARE Trumpeter Swans - our local weekly paper confirms. (And yes, my week has evidently been dull enough that I am still on the same subject I was on a week ago. Some weeks are like that.) Anyway, we tried once again for pictures - this time with the tripod to help - but still didn't get any really good ones.

They are interesting birds, according to our local reporter, even if not (probably) worth a week's concentration. They have an 80 inch wingspan and have been recorded migrating at 27,000 feet (strong wings taking advantage of ribbons of thin air.) They are heading for their breeding grounds in Alaska. The largest population settles for a mid-migration rest in the Skagit Vally north of here, but we are blessed with this group, evidently every year. Who knew? And they are facing extinction largely due to their unfortunate habit of inflicting themselves with lead poisoning, through swallowing lead shot (from hunter's hunting other sorts of birds) to use as grit in their gizzards. I guess they also manage to collide with power lines as well. Alas.