Ontario Tundra Swan Season

[Buddy Boy]

An Ontario Tundra Swan Season (Addendum D)

An Introduction to Swan Identification

I have included this Addendum D to assist those waterfowlers who would like to know the basic differences between the three (3) swans that we have before we implement a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in Ontario.

There are two native species of swans in North America.

These are the larger Trumpeter Swan (24 to 27 lbs) and the smaller Tundra Swan (16 to 18 lbs). The exotic Mute Swan was introduced to North America from Europe in the late 1800s.

Although the Trumpeter Swan and the Tundra Swan may look similar to one another there are a few differences that will help the beginner to identify these three species of swans.

1) The Trumpeter Swan is larger ... about 1 1/2 times the size of the Tundra Swan.

Tip: The word "trumpeter" (three syllables and nine letters) is bigger than the word "tundra" (two syllables and six letters). Therefore remember that the Trumpeter Swan is bigger than the Tundra Swan by 1 1/2 times (24 to 27 lbs compared to 16 to 18 lbs).

Tip: Remember that the weight (high end) of a Trumpeter Swan is the product of its three syllables times its nine letters (3 x 9 = 27). The Tundra Swan is 2/3 of that weight (18).

2) The Trumpeter Swan's bill and head are "wedge shaped" whereas the Tundra Swan's bill and head are more "curved and round" in shape.

Tip: Think of the Canvasback Duck (a larger duck with a red "wedge shaped" head) compared to the Redhead Duck (a smaller duck with a red "round shaped" head).

Although the Mute Swan is as large as a Trumpeter Swan it has a distinctly orange bill and as the name implies is silent (for the most part). However the Mute Swan will aggressively "hiss" at humans and other waterfowl in the marsh ... a notable "bully" towards other waterfowl.

Note that both the Greater Snow Goose and the Lesser Snow Goose (white phase) have black wing tips while all of the swans have white wing tips.

For more information on swan identification see The Trumpeter Swan Society's web site and "click" on the Swan Identification Brochure tab.

Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.

[Buddy Boy]

An Ontario Tundra Swan Season (Side Bar)

The Ducks Unlimited Canada Position

I had an opportunity to discuss my proposal of a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season, my presentation to the members of the Long Point Waterfowlers' Association and the results of my subsequent survey with the President of Ducks Unlimited Canada at a Fund Raiser Dinner in September of 2011 and again during a subsequent telephone conversation in December of 2011. He told me that my proposal was very interesting but that it was not within the current mandate of Ducks Unlimited Canada. However he also told me that I should be very pleased with the 20% return rate that I had obtained with my survey since it was twice the return rate that Ducks Unlimited Canada would expect to obtain with any of their membership surveys.

Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.

[Buddy Boy]

Hello Guys,

I have been asked more than once on this "waterfowl" forum about how to cook a Tundra Swan and how one would taste.

There is a gentleman by the name of Hank Shaw who is an angler, hunter, gardener and cook. He has included his recipe for cooking a Tundra Swan.

I found him on the internet ... search for "Cooking and Eating a Tundra Swan" and his website should appear. It is very informative.

Jerome

PS Contrary to what was posted on his website a Tundra Swan call was (still is) available from DJ Calls for $59.95 US at the time that I bought mine (definitely more now). An instructional CD is included in the cost.

[Buddy Boy]

Hello Guys,

I found a "press release" on the internet last fall from July of 2020 that Idaho had been granted a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season (50 tags) to start in the fall of 2020 ... so 2022 would have been their third Tundra Swan season. These birds will be harvested from the Western Population of Tundra Swans. I apologize for not posting this update last fall when I read about it.

I had previously reported under this thread in Part 2 that both Delaware and Maryland were granted a Tundra Swan season in 2019 to harvest birds from the Eastern Population of Tundra Swans. Consequently three (3) additional states have recently been granted a Tundra Swan season while we continue to watch our Tundra Swan tags being used south of the border.

Jerome