About that trumpeter swan we sited at the beach on June 21st . . . I've since had information on it:

IT'S A GIRL!

She was hatched in 2004 (most likely May, when swan & geese clutches are hatched).

She was released from the Grand Valley reserve on September 2nd, 2004.

She showed up in Rochester, N. Y. and spent the winter there.

March 11th to the 29th, 2005 - seen in Ironoquait Park, Rochester.

March 30th she was tied up in a fishing line - a couple managed to release her.

May 10th - seen at Grenadier Pond, Toronto (High Park)

June 2nd - seen at Humber Bay (Lake Ontario, Toronto) where a lot of swans are.

June 21st, 2k5 at Sunnyside Beach, with a flock of mutes - identified by US - me and Jeff.

Sooooooooooo . . . an interesting history has Ms. Trumpeter Swan # 846.

What's the big deal about the swan citing? Well, Trumpeter swans aren't usually seen in Ontario - they are more to the northwest Canada.

I was complimented by the leader of one of the birder associations for siting and getting an i.d. on this illustrious boid.

So if you see her - # 846 - you'll know all about her.

About the sex - how do they know? Well, they 'sex' them when they're released.

If you ever see a mated pair with a clutch of cygnets (babies) look at the beaks of the parents (the Cob and the Pen). There's a line goes down the beak - it's longer in the male. Also, the male is bigger.

That's really cool Carly! Thanks for updating us on the info of that swan.

Meg

Well, if ya' see # 846, say hello to her for me. Tell her not to take any guff from those mutes.

That is so neat!

'Tis.

Another sighting was just reported to me - somebody saw her a couple of days ago at an area west of Humber Bay, and WITH another trumpeter swan!

So she has a mate - yahoo!

Swans mate young but they don't breed till they're around 4 years.