He sure did stand out in those waters.... Acted like he owned the place and had been there forever...

dr bob

Just saw one on Boot Lake earlier this week.

I wonder if these trumpeter swans are getting more common in the canoe country. I saw four in Quetico last month in two locations.

I saw two in August on the river between Agnes and LLC.

quote arctic: "I wonder if these trumpeter swans are getting more common in the canoe country. I saw four in Quetico last month in two locations."

I wrote a story back in the late 1980s (as best I can remember) when the DNR released a couple pair of swans in Maplewood State Park in west central Minnesota as part of an attempt to re-establish them. Can't remember much else about the project. It has gotten so that seeing a trumpeter around here is no longer remarkable. Interesting that they have extended their range so far north.

I also saw a family of them in Quetico two weeks ago.

Those are so cool to see. Thanks

When my buddy does his pics, I'll post a couple. He was shootin that bird. We fished with that guy all morning two Fridays ago. Also hung out with a pair of tail slapping beavers. Walked the portage on all the rocks on the right looking at it from Malberg and came back on the trail just for fun and to exercize the gluteus maximi. Love that huge rock. I swear I almost had it over from the squat position. But don't fish the weedline in that bay, it's no good...

We saw a pair on LIS N in May this year.

My buddy promised me pics. I think he got it so tight you can tell if it's a terrorist goose by it's retina scan. Was awful friendly when we hung out with him on Malberg. We saw him a couple times. If he sends me the pics, I have another surprise to show about that bay. The suspense is killing me...

Have ended up chasing a pair up and down Stuart river the last couple years. Drives my lab nuts (she can leave a bird alone, but not two honking at her for 30 straight mins, lol), they kept swimming just around the next bend and honking LOUDLY at us, tried to give them space but they preferred keeping a watchful eye on us, they finally flew over a portage and circled back, honking LOUDLY as they passed over us.

Last year they had swanlings, which we also had a hard time avoiding. Swanlings would only go a little ways up the river, then would stop just short of the next bend. Finally had to get close enough to make them dive so we could pass. Watching them trying to dive was very cool, they have very buoyant butts, just like the cartoons.

Woke up to their echoing honks on White Feather Lake one trip too, seemed a fitting location.

Now that I remember a bit better, this bird was on Koma Lake when we came in and was teasing a big dog off a campsite. Staying just out of range of the swimming dog. The lady kept saying 'Titus, Titus!', which we assumed was the dogs name, not the swan's. Not sure, she had a somewhat odd look to her. Like she'd been in the woods too long. Then we did hang out with him while fishing on Malberg. Long live Titus the swan. Good luck charm.

Been a pair on Mud and Ella Hall for close to 10 years now. Getting to the point now where they are a very common sight in and around East Central Mn. Turkeys are the next thing you all are going to start seeing more and more of in the BWCA as they continue to extend their range northward.

A few weeks ago, we heard them early one morning on Cherokee.

We were on good earlier this year in June and it was lousy with them. We'd see 10+ daily just in good And the "helicopter" sound of their taking off around the area was every few minutes.

I have seen more swans this past summer than I've seen in my whole life combined. Must be on the upswing.

We saw a pair on Badwater & Omeme this Sept in Quetico. First time ever seeing swans in the Q in 30 years.

I was in awe of their beautiful, brilliant white plumage not to mention their surprisingly HUGE size and unexpectedly LOUD call.

A very enjoyable memory from this year's trip.

Old Hosier

Seen a pair off the horse river a few years back. Yesterday I saw the nesting pair and 2 young on Marshan Lake out my back window. first Nesting pair- been watching them on and off all summer. Beautiful birds.

I've seen them on several occasions. Always seems to be a pair on Lower Pauness.

Mike

We're up to about fourteen gathering here to head a South. There is a few pairs around here all summer the last number of years. They can be quite noisy when they want to be.

Saw two on the MN River within the last two weeks. Did a double take, but it was them. Huge birds!

quote MikeinMpls: "I've seen them on several occasions. Always seems to be a pair on Lower Pauness.


Mike"

In 2012 I saw them here going in then on the way out 10 days later they put on a huge show for me beating their wings on the water and honking loudly. I was camped during this and never found out why they made so much of a racket. I saw a pair in a back bay of North Bay Basswood last year. It's fun to see them around.

I've seen an entire flock of them two years in a row now. Both times on Iron...I also saw a nesting pair on one of the smaller lakes inside Itasca State Park about 3 years ago. They're definitely getting higher concentrations, love to see that.