What did you take a photo of on your walk today? (feat. CHUNK)

Janie · 2018-12-23 14:15:44 UTC

Ok looked up the Trumpeter Swan and yes, definitely that is the species. They were almost extinct with less than 70 swans known to exist in 1933. An aerial survey of Alaska found a large population of Trumpeters and they were gradually re-introduced to N America and the population exceed 40,000 now.

Magness Lake in Heber Springs, Arkansas was specifically mentioned in Wikipedia as one of their large winter habitats. There are actually 3 lakes - Magness and 2 smaller ones and we went to one of the smaller lakes.

Shortstuff · 2018-12-23 15:19:35 UTC

That’s a real success story for the Trumpeter’s we get the occasional black swan here but otherwise I’ve only seen mute swans in the wild, and in recent years I’ve learnt they’re anything but mute

OldDoug · 2018-12-23 16:47:02 UTC

The nature of our physical world… That’s a beautiful, stirring photograph. I was going to say it gives me goosebumps (and it did) but nobody would believe the pun was not intentional.

Shortstuff · 2018-12-23 17:28:24 UTC

This is Tommy. He’s 100% wild and free but we have a bond… and he loves his feed bucket

Elle79 · 2018-12-23 18:03:06 UTC

Are you actually Dr Dolittle???

Shortstuff · 2018-12-23 18:07:23 UTC

Some people actually say I am

monsterjuice · 2018-12-23 19:15:03 UTC

Had to look up what that was, never seen one before! Looks neat! Ant eater it says!

anon54735292 · 2018-12-23 19:27:10 UTC

They’re adorable when they’re on the move - they waddle

juice · 2018-12-23 21:30:55 UTC

daddyoh · 2018-12-23 21:44:00 UTC

What a snout. Very cute.

Janie · 2018-12-23 21:57:04 UTC

Thank-you, Doug. My cell phone pictures don’t do them justice. It was around 4:00 pm and a beautiful clear day and the late afternoon light was just perfect on the swans and water. The droplets of water on their backs was sparkling like tiny diamonds.

They were close enough to watch their feet in the water. They would give a strong kick and start gliding, tucking their feet against their body like oars.

juice · 2018-12-23 22:16:52 UTC

Nothing quite like going to the ATM at 0530 and having some poor homeless guy asleep inside

Keto6468 · 2018-12-23 22:23:20 UTC

Wonderful picture, I had to look this animal up, never heard of such a thing, but kind a looks like an opossum or hedgehog. Not clear on mammals that lay eggs. Is this a marsupial?

juice · 2018-12-23 22:28:53 UTC

You’re no orphan there The echidna and the platypus are the only mammals that lay eggs.

Is this a marsupial?

I believe not.

Ruina · 2018-12-24 02:40:54 UTC

Yeah, if I have to pass where people are sleeping rough I always feel like I’m intruding on their personal space. Especially a place that has a semblance of privacy, like on the foot bridges here.

Happyheart · 2018-12-24 13:26:18 UTC

I have one of those! But she’s 11 and pickier than she use to be, which just means I have to pick up and throw some items away myself. Time for a puppy!