Marvin Kunce of Jefferson enjoys wildlife and photography. Recently he found this trumpeter swam family taking a swim at Dunbar Slough, southwest of Scranton.
Trumpeter swans were reintroduced in Iowa several years ago. A pair was released at Dunbar but it is unknown if this family is related to the original set.
The trumpeter swan is the largest species of waterfowl, and both the heaviest and longest native bird of North America. Adults usually measure 4 ft. 6 in. – 5 ft. 5 in. long. The weight of adult birds is typically 15–30 lbs.
The adult trumpeter swan’s plumage is entirely white. The cygnets of the trumpeter swan have light grey plumage and pinkish legs, gaining their white plumage after about a year.
They typically migrate, leaving Iowa in the fall and returning in the spring. ~courtesy of The Scranton Journal
