I have always been led to understand that only the Trumpter Swans are tagged with the green neck bands. I do know that the couple of times many years ago when I saw the Trumpters being released, all the released birds carried these neck bands. In fact, I got very excited a few years later when I saw a Trumpter that did NOT have the neck band...that meant it had been born in the wild. Now most Trumpters I see do not have the bands but it I do feel it always makes the id easier when maybe 1 in the group does have it. I do not have any direct specific knowledge of banding practices that include or exclude Tundras from also carrying these bands so I can't say for sure but I would put money on your swans being Trumpters"
Laura
________________________________
From: Robert S. Morton <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 7:50:55 PM
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Help needed in ID'ing Swans
Hello; I ran across three swans which look more like Trumpeter than Tundra
Swans- 2 adults and one juvenile. They were in a private marsh area on the
west side of CR 265. I drove east of Fremont on Rt. 6 towards Pickerel
Creek WA. CR 265 is on the left off of Rt. 6 about 7 miles out of Fremont.
Turn left onto CR 265 at Racoon Creek, which has a large sign with the
creek's name on it. Drive down CR 265 about a quarter mile and the swans
are on the left. There were no yellow markings at the base of the bill, but
I know not all Tundra Swans have this marking. They seemed to have a larger
black bills than Tundra's have. One had a green neck band with yellowish
markings, which I couldn't read. All three seemed very large, bigger than
most Tundra Swans I've seen earlier in the Fall. However, I've been looking
at Tufted Titmice and juncos all winter, to my perception has been
influenced...they seemed like dinosaurs! Plus, these swans were much closer
to me than any I've spotted before. Any one know if the green neck band
with yellowish letters/numbers is being put on Trumpeter, or on Tundra
Swans? This would verify the ID. I'd appreciate you letting me know.
Further down the road is another large and newly-created marsh with about
15 Swans on it, but they were too far away to ID. Definately not Mute
Swans, though. Also in the area in and around Pickerel Creek WA:
2 N. Harriers
4 Bald Eagles
20 Mallards
40 Canada Geese
2 RT Hawks
Thousands of Starlings(ugh!)
2 Great Blue Herons
Visit the Wildlife-Friendly Yards Blog at:
http://wildlifefriendlylawn.blogspot.com/ and look at the WW Crossbill
Video in right margin. Robert
______________________________________________________________________
Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
______________________________________________________________________
Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
|