Swans Against The Sun Traditional Cache
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Swans Against The Sun - Michael Murphy A bison tube placed near the viewing area at the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area.
The Aylmer Wildlife Management Area (AWMA) is located approximately 4 km northeast of the town of Aylmer on Hacienda Road. The AWMA adjoins the Ontario Police College. With the exception of the college, the AWMA is surrounded by farmland. The 911 address is 10594 Hacienda Road. Tundra Swans can be found breeding in the high Arctic region from Late Spring to the Early Summer. They are found from Alaska to Baffin Island. They can be identified by their black beaks and the ‘whistling’ sound they make when they are startled or in flight. Approximately 100,000 Tundra Swans migrate from their wintering grounds in the United States (Chesapeake Bay Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina), traveling northward across the North American continent. It is approximately a 6500 km journey, which takes up to 3 months to complete. The Aylmer Wildlife Management Area is an important stopover for approximately 10-25 % of the eastern migration of the birds. The Tundra Swan can be found in aquatic and wetland habitats. These habitats provide the swans with feeding and nesting grounds. The swans traditionally ate submerged aquatic vegetation during their winter stay, but due to habitat loss, they have changed their diet to corn where it is available. The disappearing wetlands along the North shore of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair have contributed to the Tundra Swans moving inland throughout Southwestern Ontario. The AWMA has a Swan Viewing Interpretive Program available to the public. During the Spring migration the Tundra Swan, as well as other waterfowl, use the habitat provided by the AWMA . This is an excellent staging ground (area to feed and rest) for the Tundra Swans because the ponds are within the sanctuary enclosure, and corn is readily available. A swan feeding program is offered by the Elgin Stewardship Council and the Rotary Club of Aylmer. The birds eat 6-7 tons of corn during their stay at the Wildlife Area. The first swans, usually adult birds with their young from the previous year, arrive in late February. The numbers tend to increase throughout March, climbing significantly in the last week when other unmated juveniles and older birds arrive. At the beginning of April the numbers of Tundra Swans decline sharply. Night flights, which are common, are sometimes made at altitudes over 10,000 feet! It is best to view the swans when they are most active, vocal and in low flight times. This is when they are feeding, which generally occurs during early morning and late afternoon. On cold days the swans can be viewed huddled together on the ice or frozen ground with their bodies facing the wind and their bills and feet tucked in. On warm, windy March days when the ponds are free from ice, the Tundra Swans like to “play” - flying low, diving, and chasing one another. People have come from as far away as Japan, Greece, and Mexico to view the swans. It is well known that nowhere else in North America can you get a better viewing opportunity of these birds in the wild.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qba'g ybbx hc.