Photo: Tundra Swans, Randy Streufert
By Tom Blackburn
Each November I look forward to seeing some of my favorite birds – Tundra Swans. More than 100,000 of these birds are just finishing their three-month migration from north of Hudson Bay in Canada to the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay and the coast of North Carolina, where they spend their winters. A sizeable flock usually winters from November through February at the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Sanctuary just south of Lorton. You can see them from the Great Marsh and Marsh View trails but you’ll probably hear them before you see them. Their high, whooping calls are haunting and unforgettable.
Tundra Swans eat submerged aquatic vegetation and soft-shelled clams. 2018’s extreme precipitation led to a significant decrease in the amount of submerged aquatic vegetation last winter. Faced with reduced food supplies, many Tundra Swans moved further south to find more to eat. I hope more of them will spend this winter in our area.
November is also the time to prepare for the Christmas Bird Count, our nation’s longest-running citizen science bird survey. ASNV has conducted the count in the Manassas-Bull Run Sector for 37 years. In 2018, 115 volunteers counted over 13,000 birds. This year’s count will take place on December 15 and we need birders of all skill levels to help out.
If you’re interested in the 2019 CBC, please join Phil Silas, our CBC compiler, who will lead a workshop from 1 to 3 PM on November 24 at the National Wildlife Federation Building, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive in Reston. The workshop is free, but registration is required. You can register, learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, and sign up to participate in the count at http://audubonva.org/christmas-bird-count/.
Don’t forget that November 5 is Election Day. All seats in the Virginia legislature are up for re-election, as well as other state-wide and county offices, including school board and county supervisor positions. Bond initiatives are also on the ballot. Be sure to vote – critical issues are at stake. Our planet depends on you.