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| A PAIR OF NATIVE TUNDRA SWANS ON LOWER CHEQUAMEGON BAY... |
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| ...NOTE THE BLACK BILL |
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| Cornell Ornithology Lab |
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| DOESN'T LOOK MUCH LIKE SPRING |
We saw our first migrating native tundra (also called whistling) swans of spring yesterday on lower Chequamegon Bay, just outside of Ashland, yesterday. We assume we will see a lot more of them from now on.
The Chequamegon Bay region is a good stopover for them on their way to northern Canada and Alaska in the spring; they often pass over us on a good tailwind in the fall. Note their black bills, which easily distinguishes them from the European mute swans, which have orange bills. We sometimes see the later as escapees from captivity that are able to fly (have not had their wings pinioned). The somewhat larger and quite rare trumpeter swan is quite similar in appearance to the tundra swan but larger.
The Chequamegon Bay region is a good stopover for them on their way to northern Canada and Alaska in the spring; they often pass over us on a good tailwind in the fall. Note their black bills, which easily distinguishes them from the European mute swans, which have orange bills. We sometimes see the later as escapees from captivity that are able to fly (have not had their wings pinioned). The somewhat larger and quite rare trumpeter swan is quite similar in appearance to the tundra swan but larger.
I also saw two bald eagles flying over the ice in what was obviously part of a mating ritual. Sort of a first date, I would guess. The swans are obviously already paired up.
Ah, spring, when a young bird's fancy turns to love!
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