TUNDRA SWANS

The Tundra Swan
Weight  7 kg.  (15 lbs.)
Top Air Speed:  55 mph.
Mates for life
Life expectancy :  15 years
Formally known as the whistling swan
The most widespread swan in North America
Is entirely white with black bill, legs and feet
Today these impressive birds are protected from hunters during their long migration

In early spring the tundra swans leave their wintering grounds on Chesapeake Bay along the east coast of the United States and begin their 6500 km (4000 mile) journey to their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic
Along the route they stop at staging areas - wetlands and fields where they can feed and rest.  The Thedford Bog is one of the staging areas along this vast migration route.

Over the past week or so Joe and I have made 4 trips to the 'Bog"

Because of the cold weather and icy fields the swans have been late arriving

Last Sunday morning we checked on the swans

You can see where the swans are nesting on the ice One swan had broken through and was having a hard time getting back up on top of the ice

Across the road swans were nesting in another field

They were 'sleeping' on top of the ice

Tuesday morning we went to see if there was any action

This was our best day yet!!!!!!!

Interesting to the 'eye' to see the different colour combinations of the bird's 'bodies' against the sky

The swans were flying from field to field with the road separating the fields

This is where I got  the overhead photos

I stood on the other side of the truck so they would not see me

As soon as there was any movement on my part they would immediately fly further away

Swans joined by Canada Geese

Starting their decent

Neat how the camera caught the position of their wings

This pair were in sequence

They have taken off

There can be two

There can be three

or

There can be many who take off together

I must say..........

It was quite the morning

I was like a child in a candy store

Fascinating

Simply fascinating