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Final Nesting Place
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
This is one of my favorite pictures that I have taken recently and I wanted to share it and it's story. This swan was an inhabitant of a local pond and has been coming to this same location for a while now. A few months ago I noticed that she was nesting and I wanted to try and see if I could get a decent shot. I made sure that she was aware of me so the stress level would be as low as possible and I kept my distance. I was in awe of how beautiful she was, sitting on her nest, and how the sun played on her making her look almost angelic. She was very calm and relaxed even tucking her head away while I took pics. It was one of those moments that stays with you forever and becomes very personal. After filling up my memory card I left quietly and went home to process.
This is the sad part that really bums me out. I went back a few days later to see if I could get some shots of her with the babies and I found her laying motionless on her nest. I was hoping that she was sleeping or looking for food, but later that night I went back and she was still in the same position. I notified the DNR and a few days later her body was gone. But, to my extreme enjoyment while I was standing there the father(I'm guessing) came swimming by with five newly hatched baby goslings in tow! So, with her passing five new lives were beginning which seemed a very fitting end!
It was a privlage to have witnessed such a beautiful creature in those surroundings. I'm still not sure what ended her life, whether it was natural or not, but it made me even more aware that we need to protect our wildlife as much as possible. They make the world a much better place and I'm glad that there are sites such as TN that are out there to help promote nature and it's preservation! Thanks for taking the time to view my image and read this story and now everyone can beauty and enjoyment that this swan gave while she was among us! |
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Hi Jeremiah,
Your story touched me a lot; it is as nice as your photo. You witnessed a tender moment which is now eternal… TFS
Claudine
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Swans are not native in Michigan, and although thats a good picture, i think they should be removed to lessen competition with other waterfowl, and they are pesky on a lake with lots of people, they chase boats, etc.