Adios, amigo - or amiga? The most photographed bird at Hagerman NWR for 2010 has disappeared. Yes, the much reported, much discussed, and much photographed Mute Swan is not around anymore. Mystery bird - from where? To where? The swan first appeared in late March, 2010, and was seen regularly until late November, 2010.
According to Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North America (2008), the Mute Swan was introduced from Europe, and its range is slowly expanding. The year-round range is along the upper East coast and Great Lakes area, and irregularly, all the way to Iowa and Minnesota. The summer range is along the southern boundaries of Indiana and Ohio, nowhere near Lake Texoma or North Texas.
So - how did the Mute Swan make its way to the Refuge - probably we will never know. If only it weren’t mute…
If you would like to know more about what to see and do at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, please go to the official website for the Refuge, http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/hagerman/index.html and for information about the programs and activities of the Friends of Hagerman at the Refuge, see http://www.friendsofhagerman.com.
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Why do you continue to insist that it is a mute swan? Because you can't encourage a whistle? Do you look like a swan? The whistling swan is the dominant species and the mute swan is a sub-species. This swan, until it can be proven otherwise in the company of other swans is most likely a whistling swan.
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