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TUNDRA SWANS

(Cygnus columbianus)

Spring Visitors to Southern Ontario


Tundra Swans are the most widespread and numerous species of swan in North America and there are two distinct populations of these birds. One is the the Eastern population and the other, the Western population.

It is the Eastern Population only that travels through Southern Ontario, as they make their Spring migration between their Atlantic coast wintering areas and arctic coastline breeding grounds.

These birds spend their winters in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA, and up to 60,000 of them fly through this area in spring.

Tundra Swan, Aylmer The Tundra Swan (formerly named the Whistling Swan) is identifiable by its black beak and has a small patch of yellow close to the eye.

Mute Swans have an orange and black beak, and the Trumpeter Swan has a completely black beak.

The female Swan is known as a "Cob" and the male is known as a "Pen" and it is said that these birds mate for life.

The Tundra Swan is the smallest of the three species.

Tundra Swan Viewing

Here, the first Tundra Swans have arrived . . . . . . there will soon be more.

It is impossible to predict with certainty, the exact time of the beginning and the peak of the migration, however in my experience the swans are seen in this area from mid to late March and for about three weeks afterward.

The timing of the migration depends, I suspect, upon the weather conditions.

Mid-March 2010
This should be the peak of the Tundra Swan Spring Migration
Watch this space for more information

AYLMER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

The Main viewing stand to view Tundra Swans and other migrating waterfowl is behind the Ontario Police College.
There are paved trails where you may walk to look for other early spring birds.
Directions from London: take Elgin Rd 73 south towards Aylmer from Hwy 401, turn left (east) onto College Line, then right onto Hacienda Rd and watch for swan signs.

It is possible to observe many other birds, both migratory and non-migratory species at the Aylmer Viewing Area and I have seen Canada Geese , Mergansers, Teals, Mallard, Wood Ducks and many other water fowl.

There are always the more common birds too, such as Robins - which have also just arrived back in this area from wintering in the south and which have arrived here just ahead of the swans.

Tundra Swan viewing This picture was taken the following day . . . . . . now there are a few more birds

The Swans stop over at several staging areas around Southern Ontario and can be observed by the public in these places.

* Long Point

* Wildlife Management Area - Aylmer

* Rondeau Provincial Park

* South of Grand Bend in the fields between the Lambton Museum and Northville

This picture of the migrating Tundra Swans near Aylmer, Ontario, was taken March 21, 2009, by one of our readers from London - Thank you John Q.

Call 519-773-7926 (773-SWAN) for Aylmer updates on the migration.

This mass migration takes about three to four weeks for all the birds to pass through and is a spectacular sight to see.

The Aylmer Wildlife Management area has bathrooms and a large parking area, and it is also possible to observe the birds from the "Hide" shown below.

In this picture most of the birds have arrived at the wetlands where they will stay for between a couple of days and two weeks before they leave to complete the remainder of their journey

The Wildlife Management Area is located beside the Ontario Police College on Hacienda Rd, Aylmer and has 25 acres of wetland habitat.

Tundra Swans viewing DIRECTIONS TO THE AYLMER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

From Highway 401 follow Elgin Rd south towards Aylmer and watch for College Line on your left where you will turn east.

At Hacienda Rd turn right and watch for the Swan signs on your left at 10594 Hacienda Road.

From Tillsonburg and all points east, follow highway 3 until the curve at Hacienda Road, just before you reach Aylmer, turn right and watch for the right turn, just before the Ontario Police College entrance.

Spring 2010 - let us know when you see the Tundra Swans .......

When you spot them this Spring, let us know where and when - they should be arriving in Southern Ontario in early March ..... let us know - our readers would love to know when these magnificent birds arrive in this area.

You may be the first to see the Tundra Swans ......

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Swans at Long Point  starstarstarstarstar
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
We have traditionally ...

March 21 2009  starstarstarstarstar
These pictures were submitted by one of our readers who observed the migrating Tundra Swans at the Wildlife Management Area on Hacienda Road, Aylmer, on ...

Wonderful Sight Overhead  starstarstarstarstar
This morning, March 16, 2009, a flock of Tundra Swans few in formation high over our heads in Foxboro Green, a condominium community near Baden, Ontario ...

Flock of Tundra Swans flying over London  starstarstarstarstar
We saw a very large 'vee' of them flying over our house in South London this morning between 9:30 and 10 am. We are about 5 minutes north of the 401 near ...

Tundra Swans near Grand Bend and Port Franks  starstarstarstarstar
Saturday, March 14, 2009 - the first of the migrating Tundra Swans have arrived south of Grand Bend. This should be a good year for them, as the large ...

Greenway Road, Grand Bend  Not rated yet
Tanya from Grand Bend tells us about her sighting of the migrating Tundra Swans - While driving down Greenway Road between Grand Bend and Port Franks,...

We saw some in a corn field, west of Jarvis  Not rated yet
Deb, one of our readers asks - Every year we love to take a trip to St Williams. Does anyone know if the Tundra Swans are still in the area? Thanks!

Thanks ...

A field of Swans  Not rated yet
Ann, one of our readers sent this report today - March 14th, 2010, 4:30pm. What a wonderful sight to see, approximately a hundred Tundra Swans in a flooded ...

Tundra Swans  Not rated yet
These Tundra Swans were seen in the field behind the Lambton County Museum March 13, 2010. We only stayed a few minutes, as the wind was cold and strong,...

Wonderful to See  Not rated yet
A 'V' formation of Swans flew overhead, just south of our house today, around 5:30 pm.

We are located about 5 km north-west of Newbury, Ontrario.

It'...

Today is March 11, 2010 and we have swans in our back field  Not rated yet
We have a number of corn fields around us and the Tundra Swans have in the past swarmed the fields. There isn't that much standing water in the fields ...

Tundra Swans over Tillsonburg  Not rated yet
Maurice, one of our readers, sent us this report of his sighting of Tundra Swans - I saw several "V" shaped formations of huge white birds flying overhead ...

Swans flying over London, Ontario  Not rated yet
Greetings - this is Barb (your web-mistress) here. Today, when I was at a Tim Horton's drive-through at the corner of Wonderland Road and Southdale Road,...

Tundra Swans in Port Burwell  Not rated yet
11.00 am Wednesday March 10th, I just saw 30 - 40 Tundra Swans - they just flew over Port Burwell! They were heading north - it was quite a sight!

Thanks ...

Heard Tundra Swans migrating at night  Not rated yet
William, one of our readers in New York State, sent us this report - At approximately 12:30 am, March 10 2010, I was listening to the nocturnally migrating ...

March 9 at Aylmer Wildlife   Not rated yet
Suzanne, one of our readers, sent us this report of her sighting of Tundra Swans - On Sunday, March 7th, I visited Aylmer Wildlife Management area. The ...

Our first sighting this year!  Not rated yet
One of our readers, Kristina, from Port Stanley sent us this report of her first sighting of this year's Tundra Swans - We live near Port Stanley, Ontario,...

Links to The Tundra Swan

Naturally Elgin Website - Tundra Swans
 Check out the Spring Migration information at the site of the Wildlife Management Area in Aylmer

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