Tundra Swans

Tundra Swans can take off just as easily from land or water with their necks extended straight out. Tundra Swans are North America’s most abundant swan species. They are species of low concern, being allowed to be hunted in some states and parts of Canada. But on the other hand, Trumpeter Swans are a species that is continuing its comeback after almost being decimated by the late 1800s. Thanks to its features being used in hat fashion, as writing quills and for other uses. So, the Trumpeter Swans are protected in places where Tundra Swans can be hunted. The problem we have in these places is that we birders sometimes make mistakes in identifying these two species. Let along those hunters who may have less knowledge about the different swans.

The good news about this family of Tundra Swans, one adult is in the front, followed by three juveniles and one other juvenile and adult outside the frame. All six were spotted in Banff National Park a few days ago, where no hunting is allowed. There were a few of us on the shore of the lake, enjoying watching them before they decided to move on. As they slowly make their way south where the water will stay open during the coming cold months.

Tundra Swans

A week before this picture, I was looking at four Trumpeter Swans in the same open water. I did not have my camera gear on-hand, so I watched them take off and circle the water before gaining enough altitude to fly away. Then a few hours later, three trumpeters came down in the same area. I had my camera with me this time, but the three decided to stick around.  A week later, I spotted the other species of swan we see here during migration, Tundra Swans. Unlike the Trumpeter Swans, who have a much broader latitude in terms of where they nest. The Tundra Swans nest on arctic tundra. We get to see both species passing through Banff NP during spring migration and sometimes during the fall as well.

As soon as I saw the Tundra Swans about 100 meters from me, some of them were bobbing their heads up and down, they wanted to fly. But it took them about fifteen minutes to reach a consensus, they all moved to the very east of the water and started flapping their wings and running on the water. Due to the heavy winds from the west, they were quickly in the air. I got this picture when they were deciding whether to go left or right with the snow-covered mountain range in the background. For a few weeks, I was trying to get a black and white picture of the swans and the snow in the background. Having them in the air was a bonus.

Tundra Swan

We just passed the first day of spring, birds are making their way back or passing their way through as they head north. A few days back I spent several hours birding, the highlight was coming across about three hundred waterfowls. which included 21 swans. There beautiful large birds only pass through the park during spring and during the fall. Often they are too far away to get good pictures of, but this spring luck was on my side.

Swans

Few of the swans decided they needed to find a better place to feed, off they went to the back of first Vermilion Lake. But they only found ice there, so shortly after they were back landing where they left from.

Until next moment,

Amar