One of my favourite signs of spring is the return of the tundra swans. Each year thousands of tundra swans breed, nest, and raise their families in Canada's High Arctic. They span the far north from the Yukon to the Ungava Peninsula on Hudson Bay's east shore. They travel south in small family groups to winter at Chesapeake Bay on the eastern United States coast. In spring, they mass for the 6500km journey north, passing through Lambton and Huron Counties in southern Ontario. I often saw them in flight when I lived in Huron County but the best place for a good look at these majestic birds is in Lambton. Just south of Grand Bend near The Pinery Provincial Park is the Thedford Bog. Now drained for agriculture, this massive wetland area is a traditional stop for swans, geese, and ducks on the migratory path north. They rest and feed on last year's crops in the wet fields. In a good season, 10,000 swans might be gathered along Greenway Road behind Lambton County Museum. It is an amazing and beautiful sight! Also, the tundra swans have a lovely sound as they rest and chat!
So far this year, the Thedford Bog is mostly dry but we saw around 500 swans resting and feeding in a flooded field along Highway 21 just south of Northfield. The Lambton County Museum has wonderful displays and art on exhibit from March 14 to April 5 highlighting the 31st Return of the Swans Festival. The museum posts daily updates on the tundra swan migration. I hope you get visit them this year, and enjoy it as much as I do. Have fun!
www.returnoftheswans.com
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| The Pinery Provincial Park has great trails through the pine-oak savannah native to the area. |
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| Tundra swans at rest in flooded farm field. |
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| More swans feeding, resting and chatting. Canada geese join in. |
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| A sure sign of spring! |
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