Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Trumpeter swans on China Lake

A review of the photos seems to show less than adult swans ( note the off white dorsal coloration ) with the head and bill shape of Mute Swans.  The exposure is such that any color at all is difficult to discern but one bill appears to be not black but pale. I do not believe these swans are identifiable from these photos with any certainty but mute swan can not be eliminated. I do not accept that the bills "are clearly not orange".

Now to Merlin. If birders spent more time writing accurate descriptions and less feeding info into a flawed program, we all might have information that can be used. Merlin allows lazy birding and forces identifications that are
Inaccurate and not a product of careful study and observation. Writing notes and making field sketches are worth so much more than a droid reinforcing sloppy id skills. 

Mark Szantyr

Storrs, CT

On Jun 27, 2022, at 9:13 PM, Jay Pendleton <jkpen57@gmail.com> wrote:



Mark Szantyr, 

Instead of snarking that "Merlin is incredibly inaccurate" without offering any corroborating evidence, why don't you address the original poster's comment that 

"clearly, the bills are not orange," as they should be for mute swan? 

And for the record, I have no skin in this game beyond a concern for accuracy and fairness.

Jay Pendleton, Camden

On Sun, Jun 26, 2022 at 10:06 PM Mark Szantyr <birddog55@charter.net> wrote:

Merlin is incredibly inaccurate. Just sayin. 

Mark Szantyr

Storrs, CT

On Jun 26, 2022, at 9:06 PM, JMSmith <jeanette.m.smith@gmail.com> wrote:


Based on this photo Merlin says Tundra swans.  Clearly, the bills are not orange

On Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 7:40:16 PM UTC-4 Birddog55 wrote:

I might seriously consider mute swans for this group. 

Mark Szantyr

Storrs, CT

On Jun 26, 2022, at 5:45 PM, andrew...@gmail.com <andrew...@gmail.com> wrote:

Sure they're not Mute Swans?  Hard to tell without blowing up the photo, but the posture, heads and bill color look good for that species.

Andrew

On Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 2:47:04 PM UTC-4 JMSmith wrote:

4 what i believe, are trumpeter swans are located at the north end of China Lake.  I tried identifying my photo on Merlin and it did not come up with an answer.  

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