Tundra Swans stop-over in North Idaho

Springtime is here and swans have returned to the ponds of North Idaho. The ponds at the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge currently host 40-60 and the Boundary Creek Wildlife Management Area host 200-300 hundred Tundra Swans and several hundred ducks and geese. The ponds of North Idaho are alive with quacks, honks, whistles, wing flapping and birds anxious to head north.

It is a major stop over for Tundra Swans headed north. Joining the swans is a delightful variety of migrating ducks and geese. Tundra Swans are magnificent birds; they have 6 to 7 foot wingspans and weigh 12 to 15 pounds. The magnificent, normally cold-loving tundra swan is large and vigorous. The adult has pure white plumage, a jet-black bill and feet, a long neck, and powerful wings. Highly gregarious, these swans migrate and overwinter in flocks.

These are the flying mega fortresses of the bird world. Big, strong and tough they fly thousands of miles each year. Most are returning from the Central Valley of California. They move north as the ice comes off ponds and lakes. The only waterfowl bigger than the Tundra swan is the Trumpeter swan, which can weigh up to 30 pounds and is the biggest flying bird in the world.

On the water Trumpeter and Tundra swans are very hard to tell apart until you hear them sound off. A flock of trumpeters sound likes an orchestra warming up. Tundra’s have a deep almost goose like sound that bounces off the water that is often mistaken for the Canada geese.

Within the flock; whether in the air or on the ground, tundra swans maintain tight family bonds. Not only do mated adults stay loyal for life; they teach and protect their offspring through the young swans’ first migration and winter. Juvenile tundra swans have variably gray heads and upper necks.

Voice is the matrix binding the swans together. They chatter among themselves while standing, while feeding, and even while roosting. When flying together--in strong V formations high overhead or in straight lines within a few hundred feet of the ground--tundra swans are often heard by humans before they are seen. Check for a shiver of bone-deep thrill if you experience this. The swan’s distinctive call — one to three flutey syllables, oo oh oo — pierces the spring air.

Both members of the pair build the nest, a mound of vegetation including grasses, sedges, other tundra plants, lichens, and moss. The clutch size is three to five eggs and incubation is 31-32 days. The Tundra Swans chicks hatch with their eyes open and covered in light gray down with light pink legs and toes. They are able to walk several hours after the down dries. The young swans are able to fly at approximately 65 days after hatching.

The majestic Tundra Swan is a strong swimmer and can take off from the water with a running start and beat their wings until airborne. Their flapping wings produce a sound that earned them the name “whistling swan.”

They migrate thousands of miles to enjoy milder winter in North America’s Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, bays and lakes. Twice a year, they fly approximately 3,700 miles round-trip between their summer and winter destinations.

Novice and experienced birders enjoy this springtime show. Tundra Swans and Canada Geese ignore bird watchers as they go through spring courtship rituals. They preen, chase other swans and geese away from their partners and go through a series of neck stretches and wing flapping to stake out their mate and the territory around them. It is a great show!

During March and into early April you can expect to see swans, ducks, and geese. You can stop at one of the pullouts beside the many lakes or ponds in Boundary County and listen to the gabble of waterfowl from your car. Don’t forget to take binoculars, a spotting scope and a camera and plan on enjoying watching and listening to these magnificent birds.

Enjoy the beauty of Boundary County.