Peak Season For Trumpeter Swans

I’ve recently introduced my toddler to the story of the “Ugly Duckling” by Danish poet Hans Christian Anderson. He loves the way the ugly duckling (actually a misfit swan living with a family of ducks), eventually turns into a beautiful swan. It is a story of personal transformation that still inspires today.

Swans are age-old symbols of grace, beauty and fidelity (they mate for life). The three largest swan species of the northern hemisphere are the Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan and Whooper Swan. The Whooper Swan is the national symbol of Finland, and five flying swans symbolize the Nordic countries.

Many myths and legends surround the Mute Swan, which is native to Europe and Asia. One of the most famous is the Greek Myth of Leda and the Swan. Zeus, disguised as a beautiful swan, seduces Leda the Queen of Sparta, who later gives birth to Helen of Troy.

Swans have inspired many great works of art and music, and are featured in Richard Wagner’s opera Loengrin and Tchaikovsky’s famous Swan Lake Ballet.
Even the stars remind us of the swan’s beauty. The constellation of Cygnus, otherwise known as the Northern Cross, is thought to resemble a long-necked swan in flight.

Here in the Comox Valley, we are lucky to share our home with a population of up to 3000 wintering Trumpeter Swans. Watching these large beautiful birds rising and landing from farm fields, estuaries and sloughs is one of the highlights of the winter months.

Trumpeter Swans are the largest native waterfowl species in North America. An average adult weighs 20-30 pounds, has a 7 ft wingspan and stands 4 ft tall. They are distinguished from other species by their trumpeting call, black wedge-shaped bill and large black feet. Juveniles are gray and slightly smaller.

Populations of swans are increasing on the coast, but numbers haven’t always been high. In the 19th century, Trumpeter Swans were hunted to near extinction. Swan skins were sold in Europe, where the down was fashionable for lady’s powder puffs and hats. In 1916 the Migratory Bird Act legislated protection of Trumpeter Swans throughout the US and Canada. Over the decades, swan populations have gradually increased, and today their numbers are healthy.

Trumpeter Swans arrive in the Comox Valley in early November. Voracious vegans, they use their large paddle feet to dislodge roots and tubers covered by shallow water. Traditionally, swans fed in tidal marshes and natural wetlands, but since many of these habitats have been lost, swans have adapted to feeding in agricultural fields. Swans can wreak havoc, causing “bathtub sized craters” in farm fields as a result of their foraging. For this reason, the Comox Valley Waterfowl Management Project fosters co-operation between farmers and swans. Special cover crops are planted to lure swans to specific fields, while they are scared off of other fields.

Almost all of our swans are Trumpeter Swans, but two others species of swans may be found in our area. The Tundra Swan may be spotted amidst a flock of Trumpeters. Tundra Swans are smaller than Trumpeters, with a concave bill that often has a yellow spot at the base. An S-curved neck and downward pointing head distinguishes the Mute Swan, introduced from Eurasia. The bill of the Mute is bright orange, with a fleshy black knob connecting the bill to the forehead.

Swans mate for life, and pair bonds are established on the winter-feeding grounds. Right around Valentine’s Day they begin to depart, migrating to breeding grounds in extreme Northern BC and Alaska. By late March, the swans have all gone.

Swans nest on large mounds of vegetation, surrounded by water. The female swan or “pen” incubates a clutch of eggs for about a month, while the male or “cob” keeps watch of the nest. By mid September the baby swan or “cygnet” is ready for its first test flight. Just before freezing, swans get ready to migrate south. Mated pairs return to the same nesting sites and winter-feeding grounds throughout their life span, which may be up to 20 years.

Trumpeter Swans can often be viewed in estuaries along the east coast of Vancouver Island. In Courtenay, one of the best viewing places is Comox Bay Farm, along the winding stretch of road between the Superstore and the 17th St Bridge. Throughout the winter, the Comox Valley Naturalists Society carefully monitors swan numbers in the area by conducting weekly counts.

Swan numbers peak in February, so it is an excellent month to get out and take a look at these magnificent birds.

Filed under Nature Writing | Tags: Bird Watching, Comox Valley, Swans, Trumpeter Swans | Comment (0)