Many naturalists (and presumably wildlife) around Long Point are delighted when spring arrives, especially given warmer and longer days, and the return of life to the natural world after the long months of winter. In April, spring is in full force in the Lake Erie region. Chipmunks and woodchucks (groundhogs) are among the first animals to come out from hibernation. Silver Maples display red flowers, with large grooves (observed most frequently in swamps) creating a gorgeous display. Many species of birds (most notably, the Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, and American Robin) will begin to sing after many months of silence. They are joined by the sounds of Spring Peepers and Western Chorus frogs, which sing abundantly and are loudest at night. Year-round birds in the Lake Erie region are quickly joined by migratory birds. Waterfowl are usually among the first birds to commence their migration north. Many species are quick to abandon their wintering grounds along major rivers and the coasts of Lake Erie, preferring ponds and wetlands further inland. Among these species is the Tundra Swan (Cyngus columbianus), the smallest of Ontario’s three species of swans.
[Photo: Tundra Swan flock and a male Northern Pintail]Tundra Swans are large waterfowl, with a total length of 115 – 145 cm. They are smaller than Trumpeter Swans (C. buccinator., 140 – 180 cm) and the non-native, introduced Mute Swan (C. olor., 130 – 155 cm). While all three species are regularly observed in the Long Point area, Tundra Swans are only observed in Ontario during the winter and spring months (most often between February and April), while the other two species are observed throughout the duration of the year. In addition to Long Point Bay, Aylmer Wildlife Management Area, Rondeau Provincial Park, and Thedford Bog (just outside the Pinery Provincial Park) are migratory staging grounds for Tundra Swans, hosting large populations totalling several thousand individuals. Peak populations are typically recorded in March. In addition to Tundra Swans, migratory staging grounds are home to a wide variety of species, including ducks (especially Northern Pintails and Buffleheads), and migratory shorebirds, making these areas great birding hotspots. Tundra Swans do not return to the same migratory staging areas in the autumn, though they are often observed flying south in flocks between November and January. Tundra Swans fly in a V-shaped formation and flocks typically consist of at least 30 individuals (this behavior is also commonly observed in Canada Geese, but migratory Tundra Swans are usually observed much higher in the sky). While flying overhead, birders usually hear the Tundra Swan’s “hoot” call; and typically, these birds are heard well before they are seen.
[Photo: Tundra Swan flock in flight]Tundra Swans typically arrive at their breeding grounds in May. Likewise to other large waterfowl, they pair monogamously, with each individual having the same breeding partner for multiple seasons until one swan dies, afterwards, the other swan may or may not find a new mate. The typical incubation period is 30 days, with a clutch size of 3-5 eggs, each measuring around 11 cm in length. Similarly to both Canada Geese and Trumpeter Swans, the female Tundra Swans will incubate her eggs, with males monitoring the nesting site for potential predators. Afterwards, both parents will raise the young. Cygnets (young swans) are able to fly after around 60 days (late August – early September). By October, Tundra Swans leave their breeding grounds, forming the large flocks that are observed by birders in Norfolk County in the winter months. Tundra Swans feed on tubers, stems, leaves and seeds of various wetland herbaceous species, although they will also consume leftover grains in agricultural areas.
The Tundra Swan is a circumpolar species – the species occurs in both the Eurasian Arctic (Bewick’s Tundra Swans, C. c. bewickii) and North American Arctic (Whistling Tundra Swans, C. c. columbianus). Most of North America’s Tundra Swans winter in Chesapeake Bay (Virginia, USA) and along the Atlantic coast of the eastern United States, though small numbers occur in Lake Erie (including Long Point Bay) throughout the duration of the winter, especially in warmer years. This eastern population of Tundra Swans breeds across a large area of wetlands stretching from Baffin Island west to coastal Alaska. The western North American population of Tundra Swans breeds on the Alaska Peninsula and winters in California’s central valley, and also at the Great Salt Lake in Utah. There are also large breeding populations in coastal Siberia, of which the eastern population will winter in Japan and Korea, and the western population in coastal Europe. The Siberian population can be distinguished from North American birds by its bill – Siberian Bewick’s Tundra Swans have a much larger and more conspicuous yellow patch compared to North American Whistling Tundra Swans.
Written By:
Matthew Palarchio, Honour’s BSc in Environmental Science candidate, Western University
