| Actual Image
"On Golden Pond" (38)
jchemas
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 561 W: 30 N: 749]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif) (3390) | I could not resist posting this picture.
It was taken on an outing my wife and I did last Sunday to a park right next to a water reservoir for the town of Howard up north in the State of New Jersey. The light was so beautiful reflecting the brown vegetation on the water and giving the water a golden look.
Swans are very elegant birds that glide across the water with their long necks stylishly arched.
Since ancient times and in many countries the swan has been a symbol of gracefulness and a favorite motif for music, art, literature and legends In Greek mythology, Zeus in the form of a swan courted Leda and fathered Apollo. They have been material for myths and legends since storytelling began.
The swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, and it weight goes up to 17 kg (38 lb). The young swans in this shot are about 5 Months old, and as you can see the white Feathers are starting to show through.
Swans take off by running across the water as fast as they can with their wings flapping. Once airborne they can reach speeds of up to 55mph.
When swans come into land on water the feet behave like water-skis and enable the swan to glide gently to a halt (a much more elegant procedure than take-off).
The V-shaped formation adopted by swans flying in groups is called a 'wedge'.
I still remember the fact that not too many years ego, to find a swan anywhere in a body of water in the State of New Jersey, was a very happy occasion but now the happy thing is to see them back everywhere.
This family of swans in the picture belongs to the Trumpeter Swan family, (Cygnus buccinator) and it is the North American species very similar to the Whooper Swan. Swans that as the American cousins were hunted almost to extinction but now these species are in the way to recovery.
HOPE YOU LIKE IT.
Thanks for visiting me and thanks in advance for your comments/critiques
JC |
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