Mute Swan in Dakota County
2015-02-27

'Rare Regular' in Minnesota

First reported in the Prescott WI area a month ago by Dale Trexel and Jeff Eddy, and on 2/25 by Kevin Smith and Dan Versaw. Today from Freedom Park I found this apparent family group (2 adults, 1 juvenile) in the Mississippi R. near the MN shore (Dakota Co.). They swam upriver and crossed to the WI shore near the marina (where this photo was taken). As they fed by tipping up, I was able to confirm that all six legs lacked bands. This location is less than 20 miles upriver from Prairie Island, where Mute Swans have been reported for years. Some of those were known to be Treasure Island Casino birds, but others there have been of unknown origin.

Bruce A. Fall