Sights to treasure: swans and eagles

Banded adult Tundra Swan with juvenile Trumpeter Swans on the ice on University Bay..Photo David Liebl

As often on his walks inside the Preserve and along the lakeshore, David Liebl is presented with beautiful and interesting sights. Along the border of clear ice and water, viewed from Lakeshore path, he saw this gorgeous adult Trumpeter Swan surrounded by likely offspring, immature Trumpeter Swans. In addition to the usual white feather dress reflected brilliantly in the sun and the contrasting black beak, the adult wears a large yellow collar band around it's neck. The number (37C) indicates that it had been banded in Wisconsin, likely when much younger or slimmer, because here the band looks rather tight. 

Below, Tundra swans feeding and resting along the thin ice rim of University Bay, and in flight over the open lake after having been flushed off the ice shelf near James Madison Park.

Tundra Swan on University Bay. Photo David Liebl.

Bald Eagle perched along the main path at Picnic Point Beach. Photo David Liebl.