Talkie Zoo: Swans in Arkansas

Entertainment doesn't always consist of movies, music, TV, or live appearances. Sometimes, entertainment can be as close a short drive to see swans. Here in Arkansas, we are blessed to have swans migrate to the north central part of the state, to Magness Lake, and stay from around Thanksgiving to around Valentine's Day.

These magnificent Trumpeter Swans began appearing here in 1992 and have returned every year since then, in greater numbers each year. The lake, privately owned, is now a wildlife refuge for the beautiful birds. It's free to go see them. All the folks ask is that you not cross the fence that runs along the shoreline of the lake, and only feed the birds shelled corn, which can be purchased at any feed store.

Though we were hoping for a sunny day for our outing, it was overcast and cool Still, these amazing birds were no less impressive. It's pretty special to view such large birds from such a close distance and to have them flock to the shoreline, trumpeting and stretching their great wings as they slide across the water barely creating a wake.

The birds mate for life and remain together with their offspring for up to four years, until the cygnets are old enough to start their own families. The males have no need of testosterone cream. Their sheer size makes it easy to distinguish them from the smaller females. Cygnets (young swans) remain gray colored until they reach breeding age.

If you have such wildlife in your area, its' certainly worth the time to spend an afternoon admiring them.