Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 09:01:07 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Schoolhouse Pond Swan I just wanted to add some observations concerning the now famous swan at Schoolhouse Pond. Regarding the yellow in the bill, as the photo in the paper showed, it does not extend across the top of the bill. However, it is much more extensive than the "maximum" yellow for a Whistling Swan shown in the Sibley Guide. Also, it does extend down to a point on the "lip" of the bill. These two points are not really clear in the photograph. In addition, two mute swans appeared at the pond last week and the Swan in question is very comparable in size to these two birds. Finally, the bill shape is not that of a Tundra Swan. Fred Shaffer Crofton, MD PamthePT@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================