I heard them before I saw them, a soft sound that was familiar but I could not quite place. As the sound swelled it became clear -– Swans! They emerged from the tree line and flew right over my head. Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) fly in a loose V formation, gracefully swaying like a ribbon high in the sky. I stood mesmerized by the splendor of these migratory birds. A quick estimate by groups of 10 revealed the flock numbered more than 30. Soon they were out of sight as Tundra swans fly ten-thousands of feet high and up to 100 mph with a tail wind.
Nesting during the summer in Alaska and northern Canada near the artic circle, Tundra swans migrate in family groups to spend the winter in the Chesapeake Bay estuaries. The Mississippi river between Alma and Lacrosse, Wisconsin, provides food and rest halfway through their trip. They dine on tubers of arrowhead, wild celery and sago pondweeds in the muddy river bottoms, accompanied by ducks who take advantage of the edible plant materials dislodged by the swan’s powerful legs. When the river freezes toward the end of November, Tundra swans leave Minnesota and continue their journey East.
Hear the Tundra Swan sound at Cornell Lab’s All About Birds.
November 19, 2010 38 degrees
Nesting during the summer in Alaska and northern Canada near the artic circle, Tundra swans migrate in family groups to spend the winter in the Chesapeake Bay estuaries. The Mississippi river between Alma and Lacrosse, Wisconsin, provides food and rest halfway through their trip. They dine on tubers of arrowhead, wild celery and sago pondweeds in the muddy river bottoms, accompanied by ducks who take advantage of the edible plant materials dislodged by the swan’s powerful legs. When the river freezes toward the end of November, Tundra swans leave Minnesota and continue their journey East.
Hear the Tundra Swan sound at Cornell Lab’s All About Birds.
November 19, 2010 38 degrees
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