A beautiful day for a walk in the park. |
Wednesday April 16, 2014. Swan Lake Village area, Markham, Ontario |
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In the last two weeks we have gone from winter to srping to almost summer like weather and back to winter again. During all this Romeo and Juliet arrived on the lake to be welcomed by a parade and a celebration. Sal and his volunteers helped make that celebration possible by driving across south Ontario to pick up the swans and bring them home in time for the parade. Meanwhile Art & Clarice worked to make sure the volunteer Swan Feeders were organized and ready to deliver food twice a day through, rain, snow and freezing winds. Behind the scenes many of the Swan Care Volunteers have been very busy. |
Swan Lake Village - over the last week |
Ice Breakers |
The day before the Swans arrived the lake was still covered by ice and 3 of our resident volunteers ventured forth in a smal boat to break open the ice around the landing, feeding station and a path to the Pier Island, where we hoped the Swans would decide to nest. Sal Rocha, David Blinn and Ross Lunan were the brave souls who ventured out onto the treacherous waters of Swan Lake. Picture by Sal Rocha |
Special Delivery of needed supplies |
Once again our intrepid, heroes volunteered to take nest building material out to the pier island as it was bare of the much needed supplies. Picture by Sal Rocha |
Robin |
Walking along the path around the lake I ran into Robin red-breast on a tree. |
No this isn't a fat Robin. Actually he is very hungry and cold. The feathers are fluffed out, making him look very fat, in order to trap warm air between the feathers and it's body, allowing it to keep warm despite the winter like conditions. |
I ran across this fine fellow a little further down the path, hunting for food admist the snow and ice. |
Cormorant |
A Cormorant taking off from the water on the far side of the lake. |
Red-Winged Blackbird |
Sitting in a tree along singing it's territorial song. |
Pied-billed Grebe |
Also know as a devil diver, this tiny bird is hunting fish under the waters of Swan Lake. |
Mute Swan |
Juliet swims along the shore |
Juliet watches Romeo as he preens on the shore near the pier. |
Red Winged Blackbird |
In a tree along the path the Red-Winged Blackbird displays its colors. |