20110214-2141 Trumpeter Swans were a once rare species. In fact, in the 1970s I'd travel all the way to Idaho's Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to find and photograph them. The photographic results were less than stellar. There were only a few there and they were often far too far away to get good photographs. That, however, wasn't a deterrence even though it was a 2,600 mile trip from my then home in Wisconsin. 

Today, Trumpeter Swans are fairly common in the upper Midwest after reintroduction programs. These are really big birds, weighing up to 38 pounds, and they can pack a powerful blow from the wings driven by muscles capable of lifting their big bodies into the skies and keeping them there for hours. They are wild animals that can be aggressive and need to be treated with respect, so I'm always cautious around them.

I have a couple of favorite places to photograph these birds. My favorite place to get flying shots of these big birds is just up the road at Monticello, Minnesota. (I now live in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.) They winter on the Mississippi River right in town and they are a big draw as any magnificent animal would be. About 2,000 winter here at a feeding station. They fly in and out regularly and offer a constant parade of aerial opportunities.

The second location is in Hudson, Wisconsin on the St. Croix River. It is possible to be sitting on the edge of the ice and have Trumpeter Swans swim--or waddle--past within a few feet. This is the area the photo above was taken. While I've taken lots of good flying photos of Trumpeters here, I prefer Monticello for those type of shots. Here it is more about behavior. Most of the winter the Trumpeters are pretty placid, but as spring approaches and hormones begin to peak the birds start to become more aggressive in defending their personal space and their mates. Fights like this one are common, but one has to be watching behavior as pairs slowly approach each other bobbing their heads and be ready as these fights don't usually last very long.

In summer, a good place to photograph Trumpeters and their young would be the Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area in northwestern Wisconsin. If you spend enough time here, you will find them near the roads. But, as one might expect, they are more cautious around people and a bit more wary when they have young.

Photographic Tips:

• I like to photograph these birds in late morning at both wintering areas. At Swan Park in Monticello, the photographer is pointing east so a sun streaming over the shoulder is good. Food, however, is put out for them in the morning and this is when they are flying the most. At Hudson, the photographer is pointing west, so the sun is in the east in the morning. Wind direction can also play a part as these big birds like to land against the wind. At both Monticello and Hudson, I line a wind from the north. 
• I use a 300mm + 1.4x converter on a full frame and cropped sensor cameras.
• Flying shots usually require a blue sky, just to help set off these brilliant white birds. But don't forget shooting white birds in the fog. The results can be simply gorgeous.

SPECIAL NOTE: The number of swans at both of these locations has dwindled significantly as they are no longer being fed.