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Almost every day for two weeks in May I hiked the Island Trail at Ludington State Park, hoping to see newborn swan cygnets appear in this nest. I had envisioned making a photograph with several cygnets and one or both parents for this book. Instead of the picture I had pre-visualized, I was finally rewarded on May 17 with a simpler, more unique shot. A lone first-hatched cygnet crawled out of the nest and waddled precariously around the top edge until coming face to face with its mother. I tripped the shutter at the instant world-famous French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson liked to call "the decisive moment."

Swans Over Ludington

I have photographed mute swans hundreds of times and now try to look for peak moments that will produce more original and interesting pictures. This proud swan rose up as I was observing it on the Sauble River at Ludington State Park.

Swan on Lincoln Lake in Front of Epworth

Mute swans use their wings as sails to cruise the Sable River in perfect symmetry on a winter afternoon. Though not as rare as the trumpeter swans that are occasionally spotted at the park, the mute swans with their telltale orange bills are equally beautiful and awe park visitors wherever they appear.

Nikon D850. F6.3 at 1/200, ISO 6400. 60-600mm lens at 480mm. On a tripod without a flash. January 29, 2020 at 5:54pm.

Like a 747 dwarfing the smaller planes at an airport, a mute swan makes a big impact as it touches down near smaller waterfowl on the Sauble River at Ludington State Park.

A pair of trumpeter swans graces the Sable River at Ludington State Park. The threatened native Michigan species has been getting some help in launching a comeback. The band on one of these birds marks it as one introduced to the area by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The "11K" on the band helps naturalists keep track of its whereabouts.

A rare trumpeter swan fans out its wings on a sunny afternoon at Ludington State Park. With a wingspan that reaches six to seven feet, the impressive trumpeters are the world's largest species of waterfowl.

An unseasonably mild February day appears to suit a rare trumpeter swan just fine as it rests in the sunshine on the Sable River at Ludington State Park.

A mute swan cruises the Sauble River near its outlet to Lake Michigan on a winter afternoon. Waterfowl flock to the river in winter to find open water. Bird watchers and photographers also flock there.

Open water is often difficult for Michigan waterfowl to find during the heart of winter. This mute swan rests on the ice on Lincoln Lake while taking a break from feeding in adjacent open water.

It was a picture that looked like a Monet painting. I was reminded of Monet's garden series as I made this photographic "painting" of a pair of mute swans and their newborn cygnets in a marshy cove on Lost Lake. Monet observed that the water lilies in his pond were "merely the accompaniment." And that's the way it was on this occasion on "my" pond at Ludington State Park.

Brad and I have watched closely how man and nature have coexisted at Ludington State Park. With few exceptions, we have been impressed with how well they have shared the space. State Park management and staff and state conservation officers set the tone and the rules. But they cannot be everywhere at all times. So many times Brad and I have witnessed people truly appreciating and respecting the park and its wildlife residents. Lovers of the park

Few creatures in nature stand out like mute swans. This proud bird was finding winter refuge in some open water on the Pere Marquette River. Mute swans have become a common sight in northern Michigan but one that continues to rivet my attention.

Nikon D850. F6.3 at 1/800, ISO 1600. 60-600mm lens at 600mm. March 11, 2020 at 8:47am.

Swan Carring Baby on Back

Swans at Epworth

365 Week