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]