Text and photos copyright Brian E. Small, all rights reserved

O.K. – let’s have some fun. Bird photography doesn’t always have to be quite so serious. I want you to break out your Tarot cards, Ouija board, crystal ball, lucky rabbit’s foot, Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America or any other device that may help you predict the future. In my case, a few well-placed phone calls to some of those folks “in-the-know” along with a bit of educated guessing helped me look a little bit into one aspect of the possible future of North America’s avifauna, namely, which sub-species, races or perhaps color morphs of birds that currently breed in North America may someday become fully recognized species.

Trumpeters are the largest swans. Larger individuals have a wingspan of eight feet and weigh about 35 pounds. They differ from other swans by not only their size, but also by their loud trumpeting voices and a red border around their bills that looks like lipstick.

Ever since I first laid my hands on a mini series of books based loosely on Marguerite Henry’s 1947 classic Misty of Chincoteague, I had dreamt of going to Virginia - to this magical island that I couldn’t quite pronounce where wild ponies run free. I didn’t know many people who would find the endeavor appealing: roughly a day’s drive from northern New Jersey to Virginia to stand in the cold just to catch a glimpse of an undersized mustang, but I did know at least one person who might.