One of the most amazing things about Boston Lake is that a pair of swans choose to nest on the north end every summer. They are bold birds, apparently finding the shore of our farm tranquil enough to frequently skim alongside. For as often as I see them up close, I rarely pursue them with a camera. They seem to know when I am just out doing my chores and when I'm trying to spy on them. I prefer to help them feel as welcome as possible.
In the early spring and late fall, several swans congregate here. They spend quite a bit of time socializing before they migrate. The sound of their wings beating on the water is loud enough to hear from inside the house. Which reminds me of one of the greatest gifts of living next to Boston Lake: hearing the swans talk to each other in the middle of the night. They have the clearest voices which can be heard in the wee hours as they gently speak to one another. It is hard to describe. Suffice to say that their midnight calls are in complete keeping with the awe-inspiring beauty of the Milky Way and depth of heaven.
These photos were taken from my truck, on the road that borders the south end of Boston Lake. My camera's zoom seems to be broken...or the batteries are low. But if you click on them, the photos might give you an idea of just how lovely these majestic birds are. My heart-felt thanks to the folks that worked so hard to bring Trumpeter Swans back to Minnesota.
3 comments:
Beautiful. We are fortunate enough to live close to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge where a great number of birds reside. My supervisor (since retired) was the endangered species coordinator for the DNRE her in MI and he flew out to Alaska to get the eggs that were incubated and the juveniles released on the refuge. It has been a great success story here and I'm so glad to hear in MN as well! They are incredible birds...how lucky you are to be graced by their presence every day.
Thank you for your story, Sherry. The Trumpeter Swan comeback has really brought home to me how grave our loss is when even one species becomes extinct. I grew up on this lake and never missed the absent swans. Now that they are here again, I cannot imagine the seasons without them.
Society not caring about disappearing wildlife probably has a lot to do with society NOT being "graced by their presence." Once you've experienced the perfection of how all creatures/plants are woven together, you begin to realize the enormous void even a single lost lifeform would leave behind.
Beautiful :) Very cool Sabrina, you're really lucky.
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