I snagged a spot on a Tundra Swan Sunset Tour as part of the California Swan Festival being held this weekend in Sutter and Yuba counties north of Sacramento. The festival, organized by the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust, offered more than 20 tours and hikes on farms and conservation lands not open to the public.
We met at Montna Farms, a family rice farm specializing in short grain rice used in sushi rolls. In a beautiful conference room filled with antique carved duck decoys, the tour leaders discussed how the farmers partner with government and conservation groups to flood their fields to create a winter habitat. About 300,000 acres of rice paddies in this area are converted; almost doubling the size of available wetlands. This environment not only benefits the migratory birds, but also the water bugs, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, etc.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
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Our tour leader held a brief discussion on the Tundra Swan including physical characteristics, field identification, migratory patterns, nesting behaviors, etc. I learned that the swans and geese fly out at sunset to feed all night. They rest on the flooded fields during the day.
The farm manager spoke on how rice farming cycle is very conducive to providing winter habitat. The winter water breaks down the harvested rice stalks, returning the nutrients to the soil and providing feed for the water insects. They are actively exploring more ways to benefit the environment. For example, when the fields are drained in March, they are looking at ways to use this insect filled water to provide food for young salmon as they migrate to the ocean.
Then we went out to the fields. Alas, there were very few swans. The birds we did see stayed as far away as possible. I am used to the wildlife refuges where the birds move just a few feet away. These birds stayed far away at least 100 or more yards. Thank God I have a long lens. Just about everyone in the group had scopes or binoculars.
Small group of Killdeer on the rice paddy edge.
Young Red-Tailed Hawk on a power pole.
Great Blue Heron on a berm.
I was lucky enough to catch a couple of the swans taking off. Here’s a sequence as they walk on water to gain enough speed to become airborne:
Something set the swans and a flock of shorebirds flying.
Running on water to gain speed. White-fronted Geese rest in the rice field behind them.
Big birds take a long time to take off.
Successful liftoff.
Gaining attitude.
Getting above the treetops.
As the sun dropped below the horizon, we were treated to the sight of thousands of ducks, swans and geese headed out to feed. The tour guide told us we could identify what type of bird was flying by how fast they flapped their wings. The ducks have the fastest wing flap, then the geese and lastly the swans. First, we saw a couple of thousand ducks swirl into the sky to the south of us. As we stood at one end of a rice field looking west, we watched wave after wave of geese fly by for about 15 minutes.
A large cloud of ducks began flying out. Note the Snow Geese on the berm.
Three Tundra Swans silhouetted in front of sunset clouds and rays.
A few moments later the swans flew in front of the geese.
This was the head of a line of flying geese that continued for at least 15 minutes. There is a second stream of geese in front of the dark cloud.
Here is another section of that same line of geese.
Even though we didn’t see very many swans, I had a great time. I learned a lot about the swans and the conservation efforts. To see this in action is amazing. I met folks from all over Northern California. I signed up for another sunset tour on Sunday at a different farm. I hope to see more birds there.
I will be late responding to this diary. I am spending today at the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival also scheduled for this weekend. I will respond after my return from that event.
We have a great forecast for most of the next week with sunshine and temps in the 70s. It looks like the next rainstorm will hit Thursday.
What’s up in your neck of the woods?
