Swans at Long Point

by Ken Summers
(Kitchener, Ontario)

One of our readers, Ken, from Kitchener, sent us his report of his trip to Long Point to see the annual Spring Tundra Swan migration

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We have traditionally traveled to Long Point during the week of March 16 - 20 for the past decade, to see the Return of the Tundra Swans.

This year we drove down on March 17th, but found that the Swans had returned a little early this year, and only a few remained.

Although we missed the great flocks, we were not stymied, as the picture shows - we found a few graceful Mute Swans in the Bay.

These Mute Swans are bigger and heavier than the Tundras and have an orange coloured beak, and although they are called "mute" they do vocalize.

These birds are of the genus Cygnus olor and not Cygnus columbianus which is the Tundra Swan.

We will go again next year, as it is a marvelous sight, and a sure sign that spring is returning ..... right on time!

Thank you, Ken, for your report and your lovely picture of the Mute Swans