Trumpeter Swan? Trying to Solve a Mystery Noise

Every morning at sunrise, a series of eerie horn-like blasts welcome in the day. I’m highly doubtful that it’s a newbie French horn player or an wild elephant trumpeting, but there are definite similarities!

The first time I heard the sound was in April, after the snow storms finally ended. Since then, I have been trying to solve the mystery of it’s origin.

It only occurs at sunrise – much like a rooster. It had never dawned on me before today that a bird could actually be making the noise.

Following that line of thinking, I began to Google for birds that make a trumpeting sound.

The Wikipedia entry on the Trumpeter Swan says that it was, “named for its trumpet-like honk which some compare to the sound of a French horn.” I think that it is a pretty accurate description.

Below is a recording I made this morning. First, the morning chirps of birds in the rice field and trees can be heard, then the trumpeting noise in the distance.

What do you think it is?

(Note: If you are having trouble viewing the movie, try clicking on the title of this post to open it on it’s own page.)

3 Replies to “Trumpeter Swan? Trying to Solve a Mystery Noise”

  1. Hi Sarah, I don’t have a facebook page yet so I could not listen to the recording but I’d love to. We’ve read the Trumpet of the Swan by E.B.White. It’s quite a book. Anyway, I would really love to know if your sound is the Trumpet Swan. :)

  2. Ugh. Sorry it can only be heard when logged into FB. Will work on putting it on YouTube instead.

    (I wish YouTube had a rotate-video feature! Would make uploads from cell phone so much easier!)

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