English and Scientific names:	Trumpeter Swan
Number of individuals:	2, juvenile
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Ouachita
Specific Locality:	In pecan orchard on Hwy 143 just north of Bayou D'arbonne bridge.
Date(s) when observed:	January 26 - Feb 1, 2010
Time(s) of day when observed:	All times. Everyday from January 26 through Feb 1 usually in the morning but I've observed them in the afternoon too.
Reporting observer and address:	Gypsy Hanks Farmerville, LA
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Kelby Ouchley Keith Ouchley
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)	Steve Pagans
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	All light conditions
Optical equipment:	Digital Canon EOS with 500 mm lens
Distance to bird(s):	30 yards
Duration of observation:	1/2 hour at the longest
Habitat:	Flooded commercial pecan orchard. I saw them the week of January 10th on a cypress lake at Black Bayou Lake NWR but was unable to confirm they were trumpeters.
Behavior of bird:	Feeding, swimming.  If one gets too close, they call and swim away.  Lots of highway traffic and noise doesn't seem to bother them.  The two birds never stray from one another.  They are always very close together.
Description:	The bill is all black and heavy.  The length from the eye to the tip of bill is two times the distance from the eye to the back of the head.  The bill is wedge shaped giving the swan a canvasback like profile.  When looking at the swan straight on, it appears that the feathers come to a V shape on the bill rather than a U shape. The apex of the head is behind the crown or towards the back of the head rather than the rounded crown of a tundra.  The feet are all black and very large, probably 7-8 inches wide.  The plumage is white with dinginess or gray along the neck and head.  When swimming, the swans backs do not have a point or apex but are evenly sloped or rounded.    I cannot determine the color of their legs.
Voice:	A honking, usually two or one notes. Low pitched.
Similar species:	Tundra swan.  Voice.  Bill profile, head shape.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	Yes.  Gypsy Hanks.  Tape will have to be mailed.  Pictures attached.
Previous experience with this species:	None
Identification aids:	After observation, looked at Sibleys. Emailed  Donna Dittman.  Listened to Trumpeter and Tundra calls on the web particularly the Trumpeter Swan Society site.
This description is written from:	Memory
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	Pretty positive.  However, I\'ve never seen Trumpeters before.
Date and time:	2/3/2010