A trumpeter swan stretches its wings in a shallow lake in McHenry County, Illinois earlier this week. There is a family of 6 trumpeters along with a few others that have made themselves at home, and are enjoying a warmer than normal winter.
Trumpeter Swans are the biggest native waterfowl here in North America and can stretch up to 6 feet in length and weigh more than 25 pounds. Compared to Tundra Swans, they are about two times as big.
Through restoration efforts, Trumpeter Swans have made a great comeback in the Midwest and in Illinois, and they are a wonderful sight to behold.
There are a lot of resources for Trumpeter Swans, and here’s a good place to start: The Trumpeter Swan Society.