Kip’s Comments - November 28, 2025

The Seeker Becomes the Hunted - And Dead Swan

For another year some of our family migrated (with apparently thousands of others) to the Wapsie Pines Christmas Tree Farm in Southeast Bremer County. As we have done many times, some of the grandkids played “Hide and Seek” with Gramps.

This year was different as Gramps was able to stay out of view long enough the kids resorted to calling with their cell phone to listen for my duck call ring tone. They called using their phones “taking advantage of their resources.” Gramps thinks it was cheating. For Rounds 2 and 3 Gramps was the clear winner. In fact, even though I was supposed to be the “hunted” (the hider), I turned things around and hunted them hunting me. When I showed them I was close enough to take pictures of them it spooked them. We really did have fun and came home with Christmas trees for the homes.

Hide and Seek at Christmas Tree Farm - Image 1046566

Once again the observant side of me found an earth star fungus at the tree farm. Such luck has happened the past few years, so now I watch for them. This year I found only one.

Earth Star Fungus - Image 1046564

On a more serious note… As we drove to the Christmas tree farm I noticed several dozen swans in a field near the road.

Trumpeter Swans in Field - Image 1046641

As we continued east I saw a white object under power lines. I was pretty sure I knew what the white was.

Dead Adult Trumpeter Swan - Image 1046600

On our drive home from the tree farm we stop and I walked out to investigate my suspicions. Sure enough, it appears an adult trumpeter swan hit one of the many power lines overhead and did not survive.

Dead Adult Trumpeter Swan - Image 1046593