Originally native to Ontario, the Trumpeter swan’s extirpation from eastern Canada over 200 years ago was primarily due to hunting pressure and habitat loss.

Biologist Harry Lumsden began a provincial reintroduction program in the early 1980’s to re-establish the Trumpeter swan in its former habitat and range.

Trumpeter swans are well named and we heard a few of their brassy “blasts” today.

Other birds:

Species list: trumpeter swan, Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, herring gull, rock pigeon, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, blue jay, common raven, eastern phoebe, black-capped chickadee, European starling, cedar waxwing, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, American tree sparrow, song sparrow.  (22 species)

Some botany:

Park scenes:

Recently much soil slid from the top of the bluffs here.

Today’s groups:

NATURE POETRY

Bright yellow, red and orange,
The leaves come down in hosts;
The trees are Indian princes,
But soon they’ll turn to ghosts.        – William Allingham (1824–89)

Miles Hearn