[TN-Bird] Possible Predation of Trumpeter Swan(s) in Williamson County, TN

  • From: "Bob Hatcher" <hatcher2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "TN-BIRD@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 18:12:58 -0500

My cousin emailed me on August 30, with attached recent photo,  that the two
trumpeter swans returned to her pond at 6270 Lamkins Bridge Road of
Williamson County, TN on August 27, 2012.   Betty and I observed them there
on Saturday, September 1.  They had remained on the pond until this morning,
September 9, when she emailed the following:  

 

"The swans were not on the pond this morning.  There were, however, white
feathers all over the water.  We pray nothing befell them last night and
will keep you posted."

 

At least one of them may have been attacked, and possibly taken by a
predator, during the night of September 8.  I therefore recommend that we
report any trumpeter swan sightings, beginning today, September 9, in the
Middle Tennessee area.

 

These are the same swans that Chris Sloan (a former attorney colleague with
my cousin) first reported on June 26 his viewing of photos of the swans on
this pond, where they had been seen for the prior "week or so".  The swans
remained on that pond, which is an estimated 0.3-acre in size, until they
departed on July 4.  They were then reported by several birders two miles to
the east on Cox's Lake from July 6 at least through July 31.  Cox's Lake is
just north of the west bound lane of I-840, just east of the Harpeth River.


 

My cousin has advised that the trumpeter swans were on her pond for several
days after Christmas during the past two winters.  She advises this is the
first summer for their sighting there.  

 

Her pond is an estimated 500 feet east of Lampkins Bridge Road.  Any swans
at the pond can only be seen from the road if out of the pond, or if on the
far end of the pond at relatively full water levels.  The 600-foot driveway
to the adjacent home is usually locked, and all perimeter fences are
well-secured by four horizontal strands of electric fencing.  

 

Bob Hatcher

Brentwood, TN

Attachment: 12TrumpSwanLampkinBridge08_30.jpg
Description: JPEG image

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