Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Cemex Reserve, Fairborn, Ohio
“It is unnatural to fear something natural.” - Steven Magee
A fairly common wintertime resident of large bodies of water such as lakes. Mute Swans are sure to stand out with their large white appearance. Look for their necks to be typically curved with their heads facing downwards. Do not mistake them for an American Pekin or Snow Goose either, Mute Swans uniquely have a black knob near their beak and face. They are not truly mute, although will on occasion make low pitch grunts and squawks.
Mute Swans are in fact non-native, previously brought over from the Old World and Japan. Due to their alien status in America, these swans are seen as aggressive and will displace other native waterfowl from the habitats. Some misguided people may question why non-native species matter. The problem is that a majority of them have no natural predators in their new environment, so they tend to dominate and remove native species from existence. Natural predation is perfectly acceptable and a sign of a healthy ecosystem, however alien species throw a curve ball in that cycle of life.
I enjoy the very early morning light that bathed the swan and background here. Birds tend to be more active in the morning and evening and this day had a large collection of various avifauna to photograph. Never stop exploring!
© 2018 Ryan L. Taylor Photography. All Rights Reserved.
