The Swans and I

I have this place along the Minnesota River that doesn't freeze over and that about a dozen or so Tundra Swans call home this Winter. It's not the easiest place to get to, but that my be why I don't seen anyone else around. This is a place were you find a fallen tree and seat a watch the world go by. I always try to walk into the site as quietly as I can, to see how close I can come before one of the Swans spots or hears me. Most of the time I can get within 30 feet before the hooking alarm goes off. Once I have found a log or stump to seat on, the Swans relax and go back to being themselves. But it's just not Swans that are in the area. There are other ducks, hawks, eagles and other small birds around. Once in a while a Coyote will come out, just to disturber the quite. As I sat there this Sunday, I watched the Swans take short little flights as if they where just stretching their wings. I know I only will have the Swans around for an other couple of months and then it is back north for the Summer.