Yesterday morning I felt the need to shake up my normal walking route, so I decided to walk over to Swan Lake. I hadn’t walked that way in a few weeks, so I was looking forward to the change of scenery.
As I started my loop around the lake, I passed a woman walking her dog who stopped me and exclaimed, “HAVE YOU SEEN THE SWANS???!!!” To which I replied that I hadn’t, but that I was I happy to hear the lake had swans again. She went on to say that the swans had just been brought in the night before and everyone in the neighborhood was so thrilled about it.
A minute or so later I passed another woman who also exclaimed, “HAVE YOU SEEN THE SWANS??!!!” And once again, I replied that I had not yet seen them, but I was very excited about it and headed that way!!
Finally, a few yards up ahead, I saw the swans! And naturally I stopped to take a photo.
I showed the pictures to my Merlin app and it told me these are Trumpeter Swans. In case you are curious (like I was), trumpeter swans are the largest, heaviest, and longest species of waterfall in North America. Their diet consists of aquatic plants and insects (occasionally). In addition, like other swans, trumpeter swan pairs mate for life and both parents help raise their young.
Anyway, as I made my around around the Lake, I saw several others on my walk and yes, we all exclaimed to each other, “HAVE YOU SEEN THE SWANS??!!!” When I was about a mile from my house I saw a woman walking and I laughed saying, “I don’t know if you ever walk to Swan Lake, but the swans are back and everyone was excited and asking me if I had seen them, so now I feel compelled to tell you about them.” She laughed too and told me that she just might have to walk over there right then. I also texted my family once I got home and told them about the swans.
So let me just pause here to add a bit of context with a brief backstory…Swan Lake was orginally a natural spring that was turned into a cattle watering hole in the late 1800’s. After it was sold to a local business man in 1917, he then donated the property to the City of Tulsa. In the early 20th century, it was developed as a residential area with homes, duplexes, and apartment building in variety of architectural styles. And In 1998, Swan Lake was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Last year Swan Lake underwent a huge restoration project that involved rebuilding the old fountain in the center.
Yesterday evening, I decided to drive over to Swan Lake to take a few photos with my big camera. The fountain is a beauty centerpiece in this lovely aquatic sanctuary.
There haven’t actually been any swans at Swan Lake since the previous pair died several years ago which is why the residents were understandably excited. Besides being a beautiful addition to the pond, swans are such elegant, photogenic creatures. And It was a joy to get to witness the happiness and excitement of the day.
I am so happy that I saw the swans.
Love, Kelly
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