The Trumpeter Swan by Skylar Hansen (June 14-20, 2004)
I haven't read a books about nature and wildlife for so long. This book reminded me of what I've been missing and taught me about a year in the life of four Trumpeter Swan breeding pairs. The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest waterfowl species in North America. These birds and their offspring were followed through a year, and particular attention was paid to their parenting behavior and the survival of their offspring.
The males are called "cobs" and the females "pens." Though their historical range was vast covering most of Canada and the northern United States, the breeding grounds are now localized in small regions. Once the pair bonds form between the cob and pen, they will nest together for life or until the death of the mate. They form strong attachments to particular nest sites and guard their nesting territory fiercely.
My favorite thing about the book was the photographs. All were taken by the author during her observations, and all were beautiful.
