Tundra Swans

Each fall thousands of tundra swans migrate from their breeding grounds up on the north Arctic coasts of Alaska, Canada, Europe and Asia to a more hospitable climate for the winter. In North America the tundra swans migrate to locations along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the central United States. During this migration many of the swans that breed in north central Canada migrate here through Minnesota on their way to the Atlantic Coast. They usually congregate in a couple locations in the Mississippi river where they can find plant roots that they eat. They usually arrive here in Minnesota near the beginning of November and will stay until the river freezes up and they can no loner feed. This stop over is vital because these large birds burn a lot of energy during migration.