Posted April 20th, 2010

Trumpeter Swans’ Band Practice

Spring has arrived and the annual migration of the swans is well underway. They stage in large numbers at locations where the ice opens early over shallow water and they can reach the bottom to feed on vegetation. This photo was taken at “Swan Haven”, a particularly important staging area where Marsh Lake drains into the Yukon River at its source. This has been a record year for them with over 2000 Trumpeters counted at this spot at the peak, though they are dwindling now as warm weather makes habitat accessible further north along their migration paths. Starting to take their place are the Tundra Swans whose shorter necks necessitate that shallower water be ice free for them to reach their food sources on the bottom. Note the “headless” birds in the photo that are eating; in slightly deeper water they often look rather comical with their butts raised and feet clawing the air.
I find photographing this congregation aesthetically somewhat challenging as it is quite a chaotic mass. Though you can get fairly close without disturbing them, a 250 mm lens still isn’t long enough to isolate more orderly groupings by framing tightly. Even this composition is heavily cropped from the original image. 
Pentax K10D, SMC Pentax DA* 60-250mm f/4 ED [IF] SDM @250mm, 1/500 sec @ f/6.7