[obol] 2 Trumpeter Swans & 1 Whooper Swan (still not wild) at Suver Junction

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

This morning I stopped by Suver Junction on my way home from Luckiamute
State Natural Area in SE Polk Co.

At Suver Junction (Airlie-Suver Rd. x Hwy 99W south of Monmouth) I found
the swans close to the road in the usual "swan field" on the NW side of
the intersection. I quickly counted 29 TUNDRA SWANS, no Trumpeters.
However, as I continued west along Airlie Rd., hoping for a Prairie
Falcon or something like that, I saw a really big, fat swan trying to
gain altitude near the first farmstead west of Hwy 99W. 

Suspecting that this was the infamous, not-so-wild WHOOPER SWAN OF
SUVER, I quickly rolled down my car window as I passed (I guess
automatic windows are good for something). I heard this fat swan's
calls, which sounded right for Whooper Swan though a bit more squeaky. I
also got a glimpse of yellow on the bird's schnozz.

Figuring that I'd better check this out, I turned around and went back
to the "swan field." There was the WHOOPER SWAN walking around, near a
couple of TRUMPETER SWANS which must have flown in from another
direction.

I should be clear (for anyone new to these lists) that this Whooper Swan
is known to be a bird kept by a local swan fancier. "Escape" is not the
right word since the bird is not really kept confined. It goes out more
or less daily and then returns to its pen at night. Last year there were
two Whoopers but apparently one got shot by someone with a .22 during
early summer.

As for the Trumpeters, I'm guessing that these are the same couple that
Roy Gerig and Cheryl Haskell saw there on 17 & 18 Feb, respectively ...
and that their association with the Whooper Swan has something to do
with their staying around long after the rest of the wintering Trumpeter
flock has headed north. Last year Mike Lippsmeyer reported that one
Trumpeter stayed around long after most of the flock departed, and tried
to mate with one of the two Whoopers.

After seeing this notoriously not-wild swan, it was a funny coincidence
to come home and read on OBOL that speculation is once again being
raised about the origins of the similarly notorious RED-BREASTED GEESE
that have been seen in the Willamette Valley in past years.

Just to set the record straight, for last year's Red-breasted Goose
there was credible information that one escaped from a breeder who keeps
about 30 near McMinnville, just before the one was seen near McMinnville
and subsequently worked its southward through the Corvallis area to
Finley NWR.

As for Luckiamute SNA, I searched the areas where various rarities had
been found in December and early January. There was a good diversity of
sparrows but nothing particularly rare (see www.birdnotes.net for full
report). A big flock of 30 rather large, crisply marked SAVANNAH
SPARROWS struck me as not one of the usual wintering types, nor the
local breeding type. I'm guessing they might be early migrants passing
through. Does anyone else remember seeing a flock of Savannah Sparrows
like that in the "Sedge Wren" area in January?

Happy birding,
Joel

--
Joel Geier
North of Corvallis (Camp Adair area)