Today I took about 300 photos of the gorgeous four Trumpeter Swans at Lake Estes. While reviewing my photos this afternoon, I discovered that one is a rare color variant. Three of the four swans have black legs and black feet. One does not. I'm seriously color blind, but I knew the fourth one did not have black legs or feet, not even close. I have several images of the bird, and my wife, Cheryl, says the outside of the nearest leg is orange and the inside of the further leg is yellow. I believe the feet are the same colors. At least one of my images is of all four birds "bottoms up" and shows the three birds with black legs and the one with orange and yellow. With a little searching, I discovered an article by Terry McEneaney of the NPS in the March/April 2005 issue of Birding, "Rare Color Variants of the Trumpeter Swan." I believe he first discovered this variant, first by snowmobile in Yellowstone, and later on an aerial survey in Montana in 2003. Interesting stuff. I'll post some photos when I get a chance, probably tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile, if you get a chance, you might enjoy seeing these birds at Lake Estes. David Waltman Boulder
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