Tundra Swans

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Marked Tundra Swan, Erin, Ontario, Spring 2010
Richard, one of our readers from Burlington, Ontario, asks this question, and submitted more pictures - My son in law has pictures of a Tundra Swan taken ...

Up close and personal March 21, 2010
Jennifer, one of our readers from London, Ontario, sent us a beautiful picture, and her report of her Tundra Swan sighting - I saw thousands of Tundra ...

Heard Tundra Swans migrating at night
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 ...

Our first sighting this year!
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,...

Swans at Long Point
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
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
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
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
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 ...

Swans between Tillsonburg and Ingersoll Not rated yet
While driving from Tillsonburg to Ingersoll last week, I saw about 100 Tundra Swans in a field, to the left of the highway, near Daniel Road.

They were ...

Yes, maybe! Not rated yet
I was driving to work at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday March 23 2010. and I saw 2 large white swans flying overhead.

I was driving west on Edworthy Road just ...

First that I have ever seen Not rated yet
Ginny, one of our readers from Monkton, Ontario, sent us this report - This is the first year that I have ever seen the Tundra Swans. I have seen a ...

Rondeau Park Sighting Not rated yet
Linda, one of our readers from Sarnia, sent us this report of the Tundra Swans - We took a trip to Rondeau Park on March 17th and there were hundreds of ...

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 ...

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 ...

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

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