The BG News

Issue date: 9/8/08 Section: Local

Media Credit: Alaina Buzas Swan at the golf course: Golfers at the Bowling Green Country Club have enjoyed the unusual sight of a rare swan swimming in one of the golf course's water hazards. The swan was first noticed early in June and has become an attraction for club members.

From atop of the elevated tee box on the seventh hole at the Bowling Green Country Club, golfers have another obstacle besides the watery quarry to avoid - or admire.

A Black Swan, or Cygnus atratus, was first noticed swimming in the country club quarry in early June and has since become somewhat of a spectacle amongst club members, said Paul Keller, country club secretary.

"We don't know how he got here, but he's been here all summer," Keller said.

How the swan made it to Bowling Green, Ohio, is a good question.

Vern Bingman, who teaches an ornithology class at the University, said he knows little about the bird other than that they are native to Australia, but doesn't believe the swan flew across the Pacific Ocean to settle in the black swamp.

Bingman said he is "almost certain" the black swan is an escapee from a captive population.

"It could of come from the Toledo Zoo as far as I know," he said.

But where it came from is lesser of a concern to its spectators.

Country club member Deb Smith hopes to see some cygnets, or baby swans, swimming in the quarry soon.

"We keep wondering if it's a mister or a misses," she said. "People keep saying there's two, but we've only seen the one."

But in the next few months as temperatures drop, there may be none.

"The question is whether or not the swan is captive," Bingman said.

If the swan was born in the wild, Bingman said it may know it's time to fly South when the days get shorter. If the swan was born captive, Bingham said it may not know to leave before it gets cold - really cold.

"Bottom line is this: I find it hard to believe it would have a successful time over winter here in the wild," Bingman said. "Do they migrate in Australia? I don't know enough about it. But there's nothing in Australia, I mean nothing, that resembles the winters in Bowling Green."

Until the weather does drop to the swans discomfort, country club members will continue to enjoy the special visitor.

"It's just been a really nice addition to playing golf this summer," she said. "Just looking at him and trying not to hit him."

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