Neighbors celebrate return of trumpeter swans to Lodi Township marsh
Swans and their cygnets swim in the marsh in Lodi Township.
Courtesy of Michelle Czerniawski
A family of trumpeter swans has nested in the marshes at the corner of Scio Church and Parker roads in Lodi Township, near the spot where the death of swans in 2009 caused an outrage. Swan lovers who mourned that loss are celebrating the swans' arrival.
Two years ago, a family of swans living in the same marsh was killed when a passing vehicle struck them. The swans had been a fixture in the local community. When they were killed, a Facebook group in their honor had over 750 members.
Michelle Czerniawski was one of the first to see the new cygnets.
“After the extreme tragedy of the last pair that lived there, it’s so happy for us to see this new pair nesting,” she said. “They’re pretty much out there; it’s really cute to see.”
When the swans were killed two years ago, one young cygnet survived and was cared for by Carol Dangler. Despite some speculation, she says she can’t be certain whether the new family is really a return of the old.
“We have no way of knowing. The swan we had grew up and flew away,” she said. “We don’t mark them or tag them.”
According to Czerniawski, this isn’t the first time this pair of grown swans has been to the marsh.
“They came last year in the spring and they spent the whole summer here, and they nested and nothing came of it,” she said.
Czerniawski added that everyone seemed to be excited by the hatching of the cygnets.
“The parents were nodding their heads to each other like, ‘Look! We got babies, hah!’” she said.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the trumpeter swan is the world’s largest water fowl, and in 2005 there were approximately 728 swans in the state, including about 188 cygnets.
Ben Freed is a summer intern at AnnArbor.com. You can reach him by email at benfreed@annarbor.com or by phone at (734)-623-4674. Follow him on Twitter @BFreedInA2.
Comments
Kade
Tue, Oct 11, 2011 : 3:54 p.m.
I regularly bike out scio church road to see the waterfowl on the marshes out that way and this last time I went (last night--10/10/11) I only saw one remaining trumpeter swan. Is there any news on the family of swans that was nesting there this past summer? (2011).
Spooner
Tue, Jun 21, 2011 : 1:36 a.m.
A mom, a dad, and 7 beautiful babies. I am still watching out for you.
Jack
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 5:34 p.m.
I was driving by - always very slowly - the other day and saw them. And yes, it made me happy, too. I stop by there every so often to listen to the frogs and the redwing blackbirds. I love that corner and often wonder if the area is protected. Does anyone know if it is? Thanks for covering this story.
Epengar
Wed, Jun 22, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
I just looked at the map on the county website. I didn't run down the parcel numbers, but it looks like the area is all privately owned. The land is all cultivated up to the edge of the wetland.
Ann English
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 10:29 p.m.
Sounds like an area for a short video, in which we hear the sounds of nature like you do; I never forgot those short videos of a flooded Island Park recorded earlier in the year, taped at close range of the footbridges and trees.
Berda Green
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.
beautiful mama and daddy and the kids
ViSHa
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
The neighbors might want to set up a neighborhood watch to keep a lookout for rogue Hummers.
Spooner
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 3:25 p.m.
The swans that died were killed in the middle of the night. After dark they went to their nest in the middle of the swamp, no where near the road. Their death was no accident. They were my friends and their death made ME cry. To those responsible, I will be watching, along with many others. HANDS OFF!!!
SonnyDog09
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
"No more tragedies!" Puhleez......The Tsunami in Japan was a tragedy. The tornado in Missouri was a tragedy. Hyping two dead birds in to a "tragedy" shows how out of touch the typical Ann Arborite is with reality. It's nice that some birds have returned and all, but please, get a grip.
timjbd
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
Why do you hate America?
Peter Jameson
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 2:41 p.m.
Where will the celebrations be held? I'd like to celebrate too
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.
Now people will be stopping and feeding them again and the same thing will happen as the last time. DON'T STOP AND FEED THEM!
Sooze
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 12:20 p.m.
So many people love these swans! If the proud parents choose to show off their babies near the road we must all take great care to protect them. No more tragedies!
Rork Kuick
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 12:19 p.m.
If you want trumpeter swans to return, get rid of the mute swans on your lake. There are programs to assist you.
Rork Kuick
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
It's Michigan DNR for sure. This page may hold many of the contacts to get info and permits to exert some "animal control": <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_25065---,00.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_25065---,00.html</a>
Epengar
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
Got a link? Who to contact? DNR?
tim
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 12:16 p.m.
I bet that those swans grew up in that marsh-- if there are so few of them it seems that it wouldn't be that likely that they would pick that spot with so many nesting sites available . Good to see them back.
Anne Savage
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
I love this story. Made me smile.
Chandelle German
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 11:28 a.m.
I am so glad they are back, it is so nice seeing them there! :)