TUNDRA SWANs
Formerly they were Called “Whistling Swans.”

Witness the Spring Waterfowl Migration
in South Central Pennsylvania.

PA Snow Geese Live WebCam – MCWMA
View this during the Day.. 

https://hdontap.com/index.php/video/stream/pennsylvania-snow-goose-migration-live-cam

Middle Creek WildLife Management Area
Where WILD TUNDRA SWANS & Snow Geese Fly Free.

Click Images to Enlarge

Middle Creek WildLife Management Area is a Unique Place to view
Several Thousand Tundra Swans while they stop and rest in Flocks
waiting for some Instinctive Signal that it is Time to Fly North,
back toward the Territories where they will start their Nesting Season.

From February through early March, as Large Migrating Flocks of Waterfowl
begin to Arrive at Middle Creek, you may hear Comments on the Local News
that the Snow Geese are at Middle Creek Wildlife Center.  They often do not say much more..
They might show a quick Video Clip… of the Snow Geese.

It is TIME to Check the Pennsylvania Game Commission Website….
(Link Below) In Early February Middle Creek Staff start to Post
Estimated Bird Counts every few day.

They Mainly Count the Snow Geese, Tundra Swans and Canada Geese 
until the Numbers Dwindle.. The Main Spring Migration Push may only last a few Days to Two-Three Weeks.
Every Year is Different..

This is a Tundra Swan..

There is a Yellow Spot between the Eye and their BLACK BEAK..
And they do look like they are Smiling.
Trumpeter Swans have Black Beaks, they do not have this Yellow Spot..  
Both Species are Federally Protected Native Swans.

Middle Creek WildLife Management Area – MCWMA.
is In South Central Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County.
It is a Man made 380-Plus Acre Reservoir Impoundment
Constructed and Completed in the early 1970s.

Search : The Middle Creek Story
Pennsylvania Middle Creek WildLife Area History.
This Summary of MCWMA is Interesting.

For those who enjoy Bird Watching..
it is a Place to witness the Annual Spring Migration
of Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, Canada Geese.. and many other Species of Hawks, Ducks and Birds.
There are Resident Nesting Bald Eagles.

Middle Creek is a delightful place to spend a few hours on a Nice Day.  A Visit is worth the Trip at least once in your Life.

The Displays of Snow Geese Air Dancing in Mass are Breathtaking.
Resident Bald Eagles Spook the Snow Geese into Flight.

The Visitors Center
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area All managed by the PA Game Commission.
Free to the Public.

The Visitor Center is Closed from Thanksgiving to February 1st.

State Game Lands Number 46
100 Museum Rd, Stevens, PA 17578

Phone: 1 (717) 733-1512

The Spring Migration Counts are Posted on the PAGC Middle Creek Webpage..
under the “WaterFowl Migration UpDate.”
The WebPage Posts a Summary of the Migration Activities.

Search for: Middle Creek Waterfowl Migration Update
The Site Link is Too Long.

Waterfowl Migration Update – PA.gov

The Estimated Counts for Snow Geese may be 20,000 to over 100,000…

The Counts for the Tundra Swans may be 500 to 5,000 or more.

A Rare Trumpeter Swan has been noted during the last few years.

There are flocks of Canadian Geese, and various other Migrating Birds.

We have been to MCWMA when there were Tundra Swan Counts
Averaging 4,000-7000…

TUNDRA SWANs – Cygnus columbianus
Formerly known as Whistling Swans

The Word TUNDRA means Barren Land.
The Alaskan and Canadian Tundra Regions are Areas of Extreme Climate.

There are year-round Frozen Grounds – Permafrost.

The Region is Treeless. The Growing Season is very short.
The Winters are LONG and COLD.

Search: Tundra Landscape Pictures

Wildlife include: Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, Assorted Ducks.
Caribou, Muskoxen, Barren-Ground Grizzly Bears.
There are Wolves, Foxes, Weasels, Ground Squirrels,
Arctic Hares and Lemmings. AND, Lots of Insects.

Tundra Swans Nest on Arctic Tundra Ponds, in Estuaries,
on some Inland Lakes and along Coastal Waters.

The Tundra Swans must Nest as early as Possible..
They only have time to Mature One Clutch of Eggs.
If this Clutch is Lost, there is not enough time for another.

There would not be enough Time for Late Cygnets to Develop and
be Ready to Migrate when the Tundra Swans must once again Fly South.

By early September the Cygnets must be Fully Feathered
and able to Fly well enough to Travel Hundreds to an Average
of a Thousand Miles with their Parents.

Cold and Starvation claim many young Tundra Cygnets.

The Major Fall Migration of Tundra Swan occurs more to the East
in late September to early November.
Ontario’s Long Point on the North Shore of Lake Erie,
is an important Spring and Autumn Migratory Staging Area
for the Eastern Population of Tundra Swans.

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After Staging, they will fly Day and Night making a Non-Stop Migration
of almost a Thousand Miles to their Wintering Areas.
The Eastern Population will distribute down the Atlantic FlyWay
along the Eastern Shoreline from the Chesapeake Bay to Wetlands of the Carolinas.  
Maybe a few through Eastern PA, not through Central PA.

The Parent Swans will take their growing Cygnets on their first Migration.  
The Cygnets will have just One Round-Trip with their Parents to learn
the Migration Route and where to find the Foods they need to survive.  Only the Healthiest Cygnets will complete Migration.  
A Study found a 52 Percent Survival Rate for Tundra Swan Cygnets
during their First Migration.

MIGRATION OF TUNDRA SWANs     “Whistling” Swans
The Tundra Swans may fly Hundreds of Miles by Day and Night.
Depending on Headwinds or Tailwinds they will fly about 15 to 60 miles per hour.  
The Long V Formations may be close to a Mile High in the Sky.

The Spring Migration is a little more Inland with Thousands moving
through Central Pennsylvania in February and March on their way back North
– up into the Canadian Tundra Regions.

There is a Lovely Video Summary of Tundra Swan Migration.
Search for:
Only the Strong Survive | National Geographic YouTube
National Geographic Sep 17, 2009

The Start of Migration Activity at Middle Creek makes me Hopeful
Milder Weather will begin in our Area after the Long Winter.
The Birds will Generally move North as the Waters they depend on are Thawing.    
I always wonder – How do they know ??

Large Wedges of Tundra Swans may take Flight at SunSet heading North..  
They will fly many Miles through the Dark of Night.

You may hear a Flock of Tundra Swans flying at Night as their Whistling Calls
Float through the Cool Air.

To hear their Vocal Call … Check this Site – Link.
The CornellLab of Ornithology Page.. All About Birds
There is a Green Button to Activate the Tundra Swans’ Call.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tundra_Swan/sounds

If you have a bit of Luck and a Flashlight in hand..
Shine a Beam of Light up under the Swans as they move overhead.
It is a thrill to witness this Seasonal Nocturnal Event.
With Binoculars you may get to see Migrating Birds flying across the Moon.

At this Link you can HEAR the Tundra Swans in a Flock..
There is a VOCAL Strip to the Right of the Photos..
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/tundra-swan#ad-image-0

800-1000 Miles is the Average Distance from Middle Creek
to their Tundra Nesting Regions. Taking Wing for their Home,
Tundra Swans will arrive by Mid-May..
The Parent Swans will arrive unaccompanied by last Year’s Young.

The Young Non-Breeding Swans will gather in Juvenile Groups and Flocks.
   They are no longer Welcome to be with their Parents.

The Snow Geese will also fly North to the Arctic and Subarctic Regions
of North America where they will Nest during the Spring and Summer Months.
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When I first started to learn about Mute Swans..
the thought of Pinioning them was so sad..

To take their Flight Away..
The Freedom and Joy they must feel as they Fly Naturally About.
Swans Evolved to Float and Fly.

Now, I accept that to keep Mute Swans as Captive Pets,
to Minimize the Hazards of Wild Swans,
Pinion or at least Clipping is necessary for their Safety..

When we have a chance in February or March we head to
Middle Creek to see Wild Migrating Tundra Swans in Flight.
Federally Protected, Tundra Swans live Wild and Free.

Hunting Tundra or Trumpeter Swans is Prohibited in PA.
Sadly, that is not the same for Feral Mute Swans.

On a nice Weekend the Roads around Middle Creek are Jammed with Visitors 
from all over the East Coast when the Migration is in Progress..
We watch for Fair Weather and visit during the Week.

Take Warm Clothing, Binoculars, Camera Equipment, Snacks.
It is Picnic/or Brown Bag only place.
Rest Rooms are in the Visitors Center..
There may be Port-a-Pots out at Willow Point.  Seasonal..

The Main Public Road through the Management area,
Klinefeltersville Road is Open all Year.. Millstone Road on the South Side of the Lake is also Open
with a Parking Area by the Lake.

There is a Walking Path, Willow Point Trail, to view areas of the 380 plus Acre Lake..
  Great Viewing of the Snow Geese..

The Walking Path to Willow Point is Paved
Strollers – Walkers – Wheel Chair Accessible.
It is 0.44 Mile from the Parking Lot to the Viewing Area.

During Late Fall through the Winter Months..
Willow Point Walking Trail may be Closed to the Public due to Hunting Season.

ALL the Roads around the Lake are OPEN most Years
from March 1st..  through September 15-30th.
Then Closed for the Winter Months.

The Best Time for us to Visit is usually after March 1st.

The Driving Tour Roads that run through the interior part of Middle Creek
are closed from September 15-30th to March 1st to all Traffic.
There is NO Foot or Bicycle Traffic allowed during this time.

The Driving Tour Roads Open on March 1st most years,
if the Weather Conditions are Acceptable.

This allows Visitors to drive around the MCWLA Reservoir Lake.
Several Parking Areas provide viewing from different angles to the Lake.
The Waterfowl will favor the areas of Open Water as the Lake is Thawing.

Check for any UpDates for the Tour Roads Opening.
Some years this may be delayed due to Snow on the Ground.
(They do not Plow this Road) This would disturb the Birds…     Respect the Restricted Area.

*** At SunRise there is increased activity as the Nocturnal
Traveling Flocks of Waterfowl arrive at Middle Creek Lake..

Large Flocks of the Waterfowl will spend time away
from the Middle Creek Reservoir Lake during the Day.

As you Drive around the Area you will see Flocks of Waterfowl
Grazing in Grain and Corn Fields and on Ponds of Local Farms.

The Birds will forage in Farm Fields, picking up Salvage Corn
and other Grains left after the Fall Harvest.
They may feed on Winter Grain Crops – Wheat, Rye and Barley.

Many Flocks will returning to the Middle Creek Lake around SunSet.

*** Late Afternoons toward SunSet, there are Flocks of Tundra Swans, 
Snow Geese and Canada Geese taking off from the Lake and
heading North.. back toward their Northern Territories..***************************************

The Magic of this Spring Day just left on Wing.
L.M.Sweger  2018

I Fix my Gaze on the Individual Swans as they move further away..
I want to hold these images in my Memories..
Magic is Flying Away.. They are going to their own Destiny.

Holding my Eyes on the Whole Flock…
With Each Rhythmic Motion of their huge strong Wings
they are lifting higher into the Colored Rays of the Setting Sun.

They will soon be the best Sight in the Late Afternoon Light..

I Wonder – How do they Know the Way.. ?
How do they Know when to Go…?
From here their Home is over 800 Miles North.

What Urge inside makes the First Swan get up and Run UP into the Sky..  ??
What Urge inside tells the Rest of the Flock to Follow.. ??

Distant Stars will Guide them on their Night Flight.
Miles and Miles and Miles.
The Warm Light of the Spring Moon will Chase them
through breaks in the Grey-Blue Clouds.

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 WHEN MIGRATING WATERFOWL NEED OUR HELP

It is possible during the Early Spring you might see/find an Injured Tundra Swans.
Migrating Tundra Swans can get hit by Vehicles..
They may Fly into Power lines..
Resulting in burns, broken wings and legs..

Please Report Injured Tundra or Trumpeter Swans to the
PA Game Commission.. or a WildLife Rehab Rescue.

Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators pawr.com/

Most of the Injured Tundra Swans are taken to Tri-State Bird Rescue in Delaware..They will be Evaluated and Treated if there is hope for Recovery and Release.

There is NO Federal Program allowing Private Ownership of Tundra Swans.
 It is illegal for a Private Person to have these Federally Protected Swans..

Properly Registered Pinioned Trumpeter Swans may be Privately Owned.

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research Wildlife Rescue Service
Address: 170 Possum Hollow Rd, Newark, DE 19711
Phone: 1(302) 737-9543 https://tristatebird.org
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There is Magic in the Air.. Swans in Flight

3000 Tundra Swans arriving for the Night – Jan Harteman
in Scotland Neck, North Carolina, USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAQoM-vm2x0

A Huge Flock of Tundra Swans taking off
Aylmer Wildlife Management Area Swans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6zXDldvZh4

Canadian Arctic Tundra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Arctic_tundra

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We had this little extra:

One Evening, when there was a Cloudless, Clear, Colorless SunSet…
turning around toward the East, a Band of scattered Red Sunrays
formed a Pink Ribbon on the Horizon…

The Pink Band slowly rose higher into the Sky above
the Grey-Blue Shadow of the Earth as the Sun slipped further
below the Western Horizon.  
This Pink Band is called the “Belt of Venus.”

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Compiled by (C) L.M.Sweger               Date April 2018
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