Saturday, January 2, 2010
Still Watching Birds in Michigan
8:52 PM | 
Posted by
Gabby Faye |
It was just an idle drive through the Erie Metro Park to kill a little time before an appointment. As I drove into the picnic area parallel to the Lake Erie shore line I began to make out a LOT of birds in the water just off shore...SWANS. A couple of other cars were in the parking area but they looked like they belonged to some walkers and runners on the trails. I grabbed the little ELPH camera out of my purse and strolled over to the rocks that line the shore. A few birds close to shore began to paddle away but most paid no attention to me. I took a couple of pictures and a video.
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| I loved the huge freighter on the horizon heading into the upbound channel toward Detroit |
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| I can't upload the video but several thousand from far right to far left is the estimate. It is a sight AND SOUND! The noise was deafening. |
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Here is a closer shot of the swans, these on a mostly-submerged island.
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The next day we drove over there together with the bigger Canon camera and a couple of lenses. It seemed awfully silent. I looked and looked again...NO BIRDS!!! Where could a couple thousand swans hide? They might have been migratory but ducks, geese (and swans) tend to stay here all winter where the water from the power plant keeps Lake Erie warm and flowing.
It was as amazing as the original sight to realize they were gone...bag and baggage.
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1 comments:
Waterfowl season was open on 1/2 and 1/3. This may be the reason for few birds this weekend.
On 12/30/09, I had counted 2 Mute Swans and 1350 Tundra Swans at this location.