Wesley Kusemka, age i0, of Donora, Pa., for his question;
Which is the largest American waterfowl?
Our biggest water bird is also the most handsome water bird. You might judge him the most beautiful bird in the world, that is if the proud peacock did not happen to be in sight. He is half a foot longer than the lanky whooping crane and he weighs more than twice as much 88 the whopping white pelican of the West.
The trumpeter swan is our largest native waterfowl. We seldom see him or bear his bowing voice, for he is a shy bird and very rare. But we often see his handsome cousin, the mute swan, whose only void is a warning hiss. The cloud white half tame mute swan was brought from the Old World to adorn our lakes and streams. His bill is as yellow as a pumpkin and he is slightly smaller than the wild trumpeter, who has a black bill. No one could decide which of these two beauties is more elegant.
A stately swan gliding on a calm, summer stream is a lovely sight. Sometimes he adds a tender touch to this peaceful picture. Mr. Swan takes junior piggy back riding over the water. The baby swan, who is called a cygnet., sits high in the middle of Papa's graceful back. The fluffy, honey colored youngster dips his tiny head and arches his little neck in imitation of his elegant parent.
Papa is called a cob swan and Mama is called a pen swan. The pair mate for life and show great affection far each other. Both parents are devoted to their growing Cygnets. We seldom see the family of the rare trumpeter swan. A few nest in the lakes near Yellowstone Park but most of them nest in Canada. The nest is made of reeds and water Weeds and lined with softest swan down. A favorite spot is on top of the home of a muskrat or beaver. The nest is six feet wide and perhaps two feet high.
The tronpeter cob swan can grow five and one half feet long and his snowy wings can spread eight feet wide. The big beauty tips the scales at 40 pounds. Sometimes he looks like an idle fellow, but when his cygnets are threatened, Mr. Swan can sprint t0 the rescue like a speeding sail boat. When he takes t0 the air, he swims fast, spreads his great wings and runs the last few splashy steps on the water. Migrating trumpeters fly in V formation, perhaps at 50 miles an hour, trumpeting as they go.
Trumpeters once nested on the Great Plains. But as the land was farmed, they were driven from their nesting grounds and their numbers dwindled. Hunters shot and slaughtered the big beauties without mercy. Wi3en there Were only a few hundred trumpeter swans left., laws were passed to protect them. Nowadays, no one is allowed to harm our biggest waterfowl