Tundra Swan Staging

Description

Over the past few years I’ve noticed that Tundra Swan migration patterns have been shifting to the north and east in southern Ontario. In the past there was a big staging area at Lambton Shores near Pinery Provincial Park on Lake Huron. For the past two seasons numbers there have been noticeably smaller. At Hullett Marsh, inland to the north and east, the numbers have increased significantly in the past 5 years. I recently chatted with multi-generational Farmers who live 40 km north of the Marsh about this hunch. They report that they did not see any Tundra Swans historically but have started to see them around their fields the past two springs. I have no idea what this shift is about. Could be any number of factors, but it is interesting. I suspect it may have to do with weather patterns and the availability of food while staging. It coincides with a massive alarming decline of 53% in the overall Eastern Population of Tundra Swans from 2023 to 2024 - as noted in the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s 2024 Waterfowl Population Status report. The decline warrants ongoing attention. I made this image from my floating blind at Hullett Marsh in mid-April. I spent 3 outings attempting to get close to the swans staging there with marginal success. On this particular morning they unexpectedly came to me. I’ve learned over the years that just when you begin to expect a wildlife encounter won’t happen… it will likely happen. Persistence and time spent in the field has paid off time and again for me. I was able to make several good close portrait images as well as some of them in wetland habitat. This is one of my favourites for the marsh colours and textures it portrays.

Taken By

Doug Gordon

Taken On

June 4, 2025

Tagged

tundra swans waterfowl migrants staging white marsh environment spring ontario animal bird swan ducks beak tundra_swan wildlife water_bird nature_reserve

Assignments

Things With Wings