Trumpeter swans in the Okanagan

A pair of trumpeter swans on Okanagan Lake near Kelowna, BC.

I never get tired of seeing swans.  Large majestic birds, they are both graceful and powerful.  At first, I mistook the pair for  boat float buoys, the kind that boats hook up to offshore.  Their heads and long necks were originally nestled close to the body or under a wing; they were likely resting before continuing onto some other destination.

These birds typically don't breed on large lakes, rather they prefer small ponds with lots of cover and food.  They mostly nest north of here or along the coast; you can see a range map here.  Trumpeter swans eat aquatic vegetation and some small water insects or even fish; they will take grass and grain if available.  

Trumpeter swans are North America's heaviest flying bird, males coming in at an impressive 26 pounds.  Although that may not seem like much, having an angry one come at you would be nothing to sneer at.  I had a male Mute swan approach me once as I was photographing birds on a pier.  It was impressive how lake he made himself look, and you could tell he meant business.  You can see from the image below.  I photographed it in Maple Ridge in 2013 with my D600 camera and a 300 mm lens.

Male Mute swan showing an aggressive display.

I photographed the trumpeter pair on Mar 28 using my D500 camera and 500PF lens.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com