Tundra swans are migrating now over western Pennsylvania. They’re traveling 3,600 miles from Canada’s Northwest Territory and Alaska’s North Slope to Chesapeake Bay and eastern North Carolina.
Steve Gosser photographed this flock on November 12. I saw 60 at Moraine State Park on November 13.
The flocks are composed of families: mother, father and one or two youngsters. In the fall their trip takes about 12 weeks, a slower pace than their springtime return because their “kids” are young and need to rest longer.
Sometimes they’re hard to see. On an overcast day they’re white birds in a white sky so listen for their voices and look up.
Do you know their call? Click here to hear. Start the player at the 6:00 minute mark to hear a flock approach and land at Pungo Lake, North Carolina.
Tundra swans are on the move.
(photo by Steve Gosser)
I saw them! A magnificent V of about 40 birds announced their presence, causing me to look up. Always wonderful to witness–I’m so glad I did not miss this year’s flight. This was just north of Greensburg on November 13.
The last several times I’ve seen them in the Tarentum/Brackenridge area, it’s been after dark! Hear them first, see them second.