Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

By Jim Hale

Longtime member of Orchard Ridge UCC, Jim Hale, has been a lifelong naturalist and writer. We will periodically feature stories from his writing for The Friends of the Arboretum.

Original printing was in 2000

A great outdoor experience in late October and November is to suddenly hear the mellow calls of a migrating flock of tundra swans. Pushed by a north wind high in the sky, sometimes above the clouds, a long string of these great birds conversing in their musical “woo hoo oo” notes is a sight and sound to cherish.
Tundra swans are impressively large birds, 5 feet long with necks extended, and a wingspread of 6 to 7 feet. They nest in the high Arctic and migrate through Wisconsin both in spring and fall. The migrants we see spend the winter on the Atlantic Coast, primarily in Chesapeake, Bay, Virginia and North Carolina. They are more often seen in Wisconsin in spring when they rest and feed on lakes, ponds and flooded crop fields. The Arlington Goose Pond, Lake Winnebago, Green Bay and the Mississippi River are major concentration areas.
Swans are less frequently seen on the ground in fall, since their migration to the east coast is completed more quickly than their journey north. Like geese, they fly in Vs or in wavering lines. Their voices carry remarkably well and are often heard before the birds can be seen. Three species of swans are found in Wisconsin Tundra (formerly called whistling) swans are by far the most common.

A second species, the trumpeter swan, probably was never common here and was extirpated decades ago. In recent years, trumpeters reared in captivity from eggs of wild Canada geese have been released in several Wisconsin areas and are slowly beginning to reproduce.

The third species is the mute swan, a European bird that has escaped or was released from captivity. It occurs in Wisconsin along Lake Michigan and several inland lakes. This species is very aggressive and usually drives other waterfowl out of its territory.

Both trumpeters and mutes are somewhat larger than tundras, but all 3 have white plumage. They should not be confused with snow geese, which are also white, but have black wing tips. Postures and bills vary between swan species. Tundras hold their necks straight up when at rest. Trumpeters often hold the base of their necks against their bodies. Mutes hold their necks in an S curve with the bill usually pointing down.

The heads of tundra swans are rounded, with a slightly concave profile between the head and all-black bill. Adults often have a yellow spot in front of each eye. Trumpeters bills are also all black, but their forehead slopes to the bill in a straight line. The mute swan has an orange bill with a large black knob at its base. It also sometimes swims with its wings arched over its back.

Keep listening; tundra swans are worth the wait. Reprinted with permission fro Newsleaf, The newsletter of The Friends of the Arboretum