These waterbirds are arriving on Yukon time
Though there may still be snow on the ground and a chill in the air, spring is in full swing at Swan Haven. Birds are returning to the North in a race to get to the best nesting sites so they can lay their eggs and raise their young. Birds that have been travelling from wintering grounds farther south, perhaps Mexico or even farther, are starting to arrive in the Yukon.
At Swan Haven and other staging areas across southern Yukon, you might be able to spot a greater diversity of waterbirds as spring progresses. Identification can be tricky from a respectful distance, but the challenge of spotting all the species can be a fun scavenger hunt.
Amidst all the noisy trumpeter swans, you might hear the higher-pitched call of the tundra swans. They arrive at Swan Haven a bit later in the season and not in vast numbers like the trumpeters. Recognizing the difference between these two birds is difficult. Tundra swans may have a yellow dot in the corner of the eye, while trumpeter swans may have a dark-red lower mandible (bottom part of their bill). However, seeing this through binoculars or even a spotting scope is extremely unlikely.
There are a few other subtle differences that are apparent to a well-trained eye, but the easiest way to know the difference is through their calls. Trumpeter swans have a deep honking call, like a middle-school student learning to play the trumpet. Tundra swans have a higher-pitched tweet. In fact, in French their common name is Cygne siffleur (whistling swan). Next time a large flock flies over, listen closely to see if they are honking or whistling.
Hopefully you’ve been practising identifying the black-and-white ducks that arrived earlier (goldeneyes and buffleheads) because another similarly-coloured duck will be arriving shortly. Lesser scaups also have a dark head, which is green if you get perfect light, and a black chest and white sides. Look for the light blueish-grey bill to help with your identification quest.
Also arriving at Swan Haven are the northern shovelers. At first you might dismiss them as being a pair of mallards, with his green head and her mottled brown feathers. However, their large, spoon-shaped bills are a giveaway. They use these shovel-like bills to scoop up plants and aquatic invertebrates with great efficiency. This characteristic is unique among the ducks of Swan Haven, so it’s a good one to practise on honing your identification skills.
Though not as common, we might see a couple of canvasbacks stop by Swan Haven. This is a big, burly duck with a rusty head and neck and canvas-coloured body. It is the largest diving duck in North America, so it should stand out amongst the other ducks on the water.
Later in the month, more lakes and rivers melt, providing waterbirds with more options on where they can rest and feed. As a result, we don’t always get large numbers of the later migrants to Swan Haven. However, with the late spring and vast amounts of snow and ice, it could be a prime year for spotting these birds at popular staging areas.
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