Today's adventure

[Karen]

Swans are not native to North America, but to Europe and Russia specifically. Think Swan Lake!

Here they were imported for their beauty, but in some places they can be destructive of underwater plants that native species prefer. The Canadian Geese are also getting to be a problem, numbers-wise in some places, and have extended their range further south than it traditionally existed. Swans, funny enough, have been brought in in some places to cut down on the number of Canadian Geese, as swans are monogamous and very territorial, unlike the geese who can hang about in ever-increasing flocks.

Paul is by far the most patient photographer ever, so gets better wildlife pictures! My camera batteries were dead, so I didn't take any that day!

[Queen of Poop]

Fabulous pics Paul. Thank you Karen for sharing them.

[phesina]

Oh, what a lovely day.. and what beautiful photographs of so many beautiful creatures! Thank you, Karen and Paul!

[Freedom]

Great photos! I've not heard of Broadmoor before.

Some turtles feed on the cynets when they are very small. We have the turtles, Canadian geese, ducks, swans and herons at Turner Reservoir (where I walk the dogs at Bridgham Farm). I hate going in Spring as you see 9 cygnets and then there are only 8 . . . . I know it is Nature, but it makes me sad.

Did not know swans will move the geese out; that hasn't occurred at the Reservoir, lol, they all seem to co exist.

[Alysser]

I can vouge that Swans are very territorial and just plain nasty. I interned at a wildlife refuge last summer and was attacked by a Swan every other day walking into the building.

[smokey the elder]

At one of my old jobs we had a pair of swans in the pond; they always lost their cygnets to the snapping turtles who also made that pond their home.

Great pics!

[Karen]

Did not know swans will move the geese out; that hasn't occurred at the Reservoir, lol, they all seem to co exist.

I don't think they "move them out" rather, they limit how big the flocks will get, as they compete for similar resources ...

[Randi]

Great pictures, Karen... well, Paul! We have swans in the lakes here, but mostly ducks. They're all beautiful. People have been asked not to feed them, since the lakes are swamped in bread, which is not good for other life in there. Have never seen a turtle here, other as a pet.

Some swans even get tangled up in the wires and fall down in the street.
http://2200n.dk/2011/03/08/se-video-...g-louises-bro/

[Casper]

Wonderful photos! I love the ones of the heron. Those are my favorite birds (aside from my own feathered kids, of course!). Like many others I have a heck of a time trying to photograph them. They are just so aware of everything going on.

Its so odd to read of PTers who rarely see turtles in the wild. The lake I live near has many species of turtles that call it home, so not seeing them on a daily basis in the warmer months sounds downright foreign to me!