When I was last on the Trail, April 29th, while checking bluebird houses, I saw the most interesting thing.  In a pond on the northern part of the trail, two big trumpeter swans were digging in the shallow pond mud with their long necks, and stirring up vegetation.  Two beautiful little wood ducks were alongside nibbling on what vegetation floated up to the surface. Pretty neat encounter.  I thought that they were just feeding.  I snapped a couple photos and moved on.  

Our next ride on the trail was Mother’s Day, May 11th, or 10 days later.  My wife Carol and I, plus two good friends, were out enjoying the day and checking the 18 bluebird houses again.  Now, at swan pond, there is a very large mound of mud, with a swan sitting on top, likely on eggs.  10 days ago there was nothing there, just two swans digging in the mud.  Quite a construction project in only 10 days.  I looked up swan nesting behaviors and this is typical.  They usually build on top an existing muskrat or beaver hut, but absent that, they will build their own nesting platform.  They lay 4-6 eggs, which take about a month to hatch.  So, in mid June these proud parents should have a group of cygnets to chase around the pond.  I think I’ll name these swans Siegfried and Odette. 

(See photo below)

Bonus: Update on the trail bluebirds.

Currently there are 8 houses occupied by our bluebirds.  Two of these houses have 11 babies already hatched.  And there are 26 eggs distributed among the other 6 houses.  So, 37 total eggs plus babies for the first nesting this spring.  The bluebirds typically nest twice per year, but they lay fewer eggs the second time. Since 2014 when we first started the Gateway bluebird trail, over 600 of these little blue gems have fledged and flown away. Such a joy.