Mute Swan

The Mute Swan can be distinguished from other swans such as the Trumpeter Swan and the Tundra Swan by the orange beak. This lone Mute Swan was on the lake on April 7, 2008. We were out on the lake in our pontoon boat for the first time this year and came across the Mute Swan, some Canadian Geese, a Mallard and a domestic duck along the shore. As we approached, the Mute Swan started to walk away from us and then decided to lift off and flew about 300 yards before landing in the water. The following sequence of pictures shows these events. The Mute Swan is about 5' tall with a wing span approaching 8'. In flight it is a graceful bird with its long neck stretched out straight and its massive wings producing a humming sound. On land and in the water, the Mute Swan holds its neck in a graceful S-curve, unlike other kinds of swans which hold their necks straight. Also, the secondary feathers are often raised when it is swimming as seen in the last of these five pictures. The Mute Swan was introduced into Eastern North America from the Old Country and is therefore not native to our country.

Genesis 1:20-And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.