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My main blog; http://wildinidaho.blogspot.com has many other pictures of birds and other wildlife.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Trumpeter Swan invades area waters but finds danger


Winter is tough on all wildlife here in Southeastern Idaho, but with about 1000 Trumpeter Swan on the Teton and Snake River system, any open water gets a lot of attention.  Often landing on warm creeks are dangerous because of the telephone and electrical lines that run through the area.

This group is resting and feeding on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River.


Flashers are placed on wires near feeding areas and flight zones to alert the swans of the wires.



At times when groups of swan looks for water to rest and feed on, sometimes the lead birds block out the danger of the back birds.  Here is a dead Trumpeter that hit an electrical wire over the Texas Slough in the Burton area, probably breaking its neck.


This beautiful bird is flying over the area where the dead swan is laying.  Hopefully it will see and stay clear of all the wires along the slough.



See other great bird pictures at WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

13 comments:

joo said...

The last photo is fabulous!

theconstantwalker said...

Lovely images of a beautiful Swan

AFTERMATH said...

Very nice blog and great initiative to get all the photos of the birds in your county. The Trumpeters are divine and your banner shot outrageously good.

eileeninmd said...

They are beautiful birds. Great shots.

mick said...

Great photos. The Bird in flight is especially beautiful.

Dave said...

Nice series of shots.... unfortunate you had to witness a deceased swan.

Great idea of capturing on digital film all your county birds.... great way to get out and about.

holdingmoments said...

Love that flight shot.
Such a shame that some collide with man made objects though.

Springman said...

Its a strange gauntlet these magnificent birds traverse. It must be heartbreaking to see the results of these accidents.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Aren't those gorgeous birds, Bill????? I love to see them in flight...

Do you ever see the Sandhill Cranes as they pass through? My son sent me some pictures where they 'winter' in his area of Galveston, Texas.

Betsy

Anonymous said...

Lovely birds! Wildlife does sometimes fall victim to man's conveniences.

Sondra said...

SO upsetting to see the danger we humans create for the crittes of the Planet.--AT least they have tried to mark the lines...
Lovely photo of the swan in flight!!

Pat Ulrich said...

really interesting post about the swans, and how sad that the power lines cause them such problems. I wonder if small reflectors like that actually help or not.

Mike B. @ slugyard.com said...

Too bad for the swan- at least a carnivore probably got a meal out of it.