Kip’s Comments - December 3, 2025 — LadagePhotography.com

How Can This Happen? (And positive stuff)

Early today I was notified of a possible swan that was down for unknown reasons. (I cannot disclose the location or further details at this time.)

My first concern was avian influenza had reared its ugly head again in our area, but no, that does not appear to be the case. After seeing a picture it appeared the swan was not afflicted with an illness, but was suffering from several injuries. Once on scene more injuries were visible but not included here. This young-of-the year swan appears to have been shot.

If someone mistook this swan for a snow goose, then clearly the shooter (not a hunter… hunters know what they are pointing their weapons at) was not familiar with their target and needs to learn their birds before they go out again. The shooter needs to study their hunter education manual… the wildlife identification section. Know your target!!! If this was intentional, then may karma strike and you are ratted out. The penalty for shooting swans is considerable. I hope you get caught.

This is the second swan I have been around that was shot. The first (a year or two ago) died due to a cross-bow bolt to the neck/throat. Time will tell if this young bird from today will ever fly wild again.

I am beyond irritated by both cases. These birds are swans, not geese and not random targets. Come on… be responsible!

If you know something about this swan, feel free to message me. I am interested.

On to more positive content…

This morning I paddled my canoe on Brinker Lake to continue my decades long streak of paddling every month of the year. I had to break a little ice to get to open water and I had to fight wind and waves, but I continued the “every month paddling” pattern. Once out I saw plenty of waterfowl and eagles. Also seen - at close range - was this ring-billed gull (one of many).

I mentioned the wind and waves. I failed to mention the lack of sunshine and the overabundance of drab, muted colors. In fact, this picture is not a black-and-white image. This was reality - a dark, dreary, monochrome outing.