Birds

Tundra Swans In The California Central Valley

January 30, 2013 by Larry 5 Comments

Now you know why the most numerous and widespread of the two swan species in North America used to be known as the Whistling Swan.

The North American Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) migrates in flocks of family groups…

leaving their Arctic breeding grounds in late September and arriving in their wintering grounds in November and December¹ (click on photos for full sized images).

Range map courtesy of Terri Sohl of South Dakota Birds and Birding.

They feed primarily on the seeds, stems, roots, and tubers of submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation but drastic declines in such vegetation at some migratory stopover sites, and especially at wintering areas, have driven this species to feed extensively in grain fields¹.

That is where I found this group of nearly 100 Tundra Swans northeast of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge as they flew in to the flooded agricultural fields.

They are impressive birds as they approach in these small groups…

some weighing in at nearly fifteen pounds with a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet, calling as they come in…

greeting the other birds already feeding (note the size of the swans in relation to the shorebirds here).

It was mesmerizing…

watching them make those big…

wide turns…

like a big jumbo jet…

flaps up…

steady as she goes…

on final approach…

coming in for a landing.

References: ¹North American Birds Online

Written by Larry

Larry Jordan was introduced to birding after moving to northern California where he was overwhelmed by the local wildlife, forcing him to buy his first field guide just to be able to identify all the species visiting his yard. Building birdhouses and putting up feeders brought the avian fauna even closer and he was hooked. Larry wanted to share his passion for birds and conservation and hatched The Birder's Report in September of 2007. His recent focus is on bringing the Western Burrowing Owl back to life in California where he also monitors several bluebird trails. He is a BirdLife Species Champion and contributes to several other conservation efforts, being the webmaster for Wintu Audubon Society and the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Urban Bird Foundation. He is now co-founder of a movement to create a new revenue stream for our National Wildlife Refuges with a Wildlife Conservation Pass.

5 Comments

ingrid January 31, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Larry, this is such a beautiful photo essay. I’m totally into the videos you shoot. They add such a dimension to the atmosphere, the behavior, the calls. The imagery and sound in this one is positively mystic. I also like the size comparison shot. I probably haven’t even noticed the shorebirds when I’ve seen the swans, since they tend to take over the landscape.
Larry February 1, 2013 at 1:51 am
Thank you very much Ingrid but I’m afraid I cannot take credit for this particular video. I found it on YouTube and wanted to share the behavior and sounds with everyone 😉
Anni [I'd Rather B Birdin'] February 1, 2013 at 5:54 am
Incredibly beautiful…they’re so graceful.
ingrid February 3, 2013 at 3:52 am
Oops, should have waited for end credits, guppie mistake. Thanks for clarifying that. The fact remains, you shoot great vids.
AnnaP November 12, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Hi Larry,
I would love to go up north (from SoCal) to view these beautiful swans this season. Would you please inform me with more details like where (physical address)? how? …. I found the site with guided tour only and they’re full. I signed up for waiting list but no respond so far.
Please help!
Thanks.
Anna P