Six Trumpeter Swan Rest for the Night
Late in the afternoon the phones were ringing around the lake spreading the news that six Trumpeter Swan landed and were cruising the shoreline. All eyes were glued to windows watching these gorgeous creatures! As evening approached the swans settled comfortably in our cove, feeding and resting.
We watched them as they dove headfirst with tails up in the air, pulling grasses from the bottom of the shallow shoreline. One swan seemed different. He didn’t dive and was skimming the freshly picked grass from the surface, gifts of food left for him by the others. I saw that he was crippled, his neck bent as if it had been broken, then healed with a large lump like a neck joint. His family was caring for him instinctively, as if they knew he couldn’t survive without their help. As darkness fell all bedded down to sleep safely in our little cove, heads snugly tucked under wings. We have been blessed tonight to witness such a wonder of nature.
Gail Niebrugge, Artist of Alaska
