5-8-2007

 Today was an exciting day.  The 3 Trumpeter Swans we've been treating had recovered enough to be released so they were loaded up and we followed Tom to the release area.  Three full grown Trumpeter Swans are fairly heavy so Jim and Tom each took a side of the cage and carried it down to the water's edge.

  The swans were anxious to get out of the cage so as soon as Tom opened the door the front swan was out like a flash and headed for the open water.

  The second swan was right behind the first one and the two of them were soon swimming away from the shore.  The 3rd swan however seemed to like the cage and didn't want to come out so Becky tipped it up from the rear and Tom reached in and lifted it out, turned around and set it down.

  The swan saw me standing there with the camera, took a sharp right turn, and headed for the road that runs along the shore.

  Rather than try to chase it down and risk having it go out onto the highway we just followed it a short distance to make sure it was going to get to the water.  In the meantime the first two had already made it halfway across the lake and were enjoying their swim.

  After they had spent a little time swimming they decided it was time to try out their wings.  At first they just went far enough to get airborne and then settled right back down onto the water.

  It takes them a while to get off the water.  They use their legs as well as their wings to get up enough speed.  It almost looks like they're running on the water.  At one point they almost looked like they were practicing synchronized flying.

  After a couple of practice runs they turned around and took off.  This is the last picture before they were completely airborne and gone.

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jl