March on the Marsh

March on the marsh can be a mixture of extremes. There may be warm sunlit
days where you are certain that spring has arrived, freezing wind-blown snowstorms
resembling the depth of winter or even below zero temperatures. Keep your warm boots
and hats ready to explore the ever-changing marsh. But once the waters open, expect a
tremendous amount of activity in the shallow waters and expect wings to fill the air
above.
Welcome the waterfowl! The skies are filled with Canada geese all talking loudly
to each other while they search for a landing spot. As a different kind of voice fills the
air, you might look up into a blue sky and see flocks of tundra swans, flying one after
another across the clouds. Even late at night they can be heard as they travel and
communicate on the go. March is a month of movement and opportunity for wetland
birds to make their way to breeding grounds for spring nesting.
Collins Marsh is an important stop along the way for migrating geese, swans and
a large variety of ducks. Because of the shallow waters and hidden vegetation below, it
is a good place for the hungry birds to stop, rest and refuel. Some stay to nest here.
One of the most beautiful sights on the water is a flock of swans, large, graceful, and
elegant creatures!

There are two kinds of swans native to Wisconsin, the tundra swan
and the trumpeter swan. They are both large, beautiful and difficult to tell apart at a
glance but have a few distinct differences. Tundra swans usually have a tiny bit of
yellow below their eye on their bill, their calls are different as well so if you hear them,
you may be able to tell them apart with the trumpeter swan having a deeper, lower
voice. Tundra swans are much more common, so if you see a large group of swans on
the water or in a field, they are probably tundra swans.

Trumpeter swans are much rarer to spot and were nearly lost to the state in the
late 1800’s because of over hunting. Their skins, covered with down, were shipped to
Europe and used for powder puffs and decorative trim on clothing. Their feathers were
used for quill pens. They were hunted for food as well. Trumpeter swans are the largest
living birds native to North America with a wingspan often exceeding 7 feet and they
almost disappeared completely because of overhunting and habitat loss. The WDNR
started a recovery program in 1987 and the current population in the state has been
increasing. Last year there were trumpeter swans nesting successfully at Collins Marsh.
We look forward to seeing them nest again this year and encourage you to visit
the parking lot below the nature center, bring a pair of binoculars and see if you can
spot swans on the water.

Try to join us Saturday, March 21 st at 1PM for a presentation by
Bob Domagalski about Birding Collins Marsh, past, present and the importance of using
eBird. Bob brings a wealth of information with a lifetime of birding knowledge to share.
If you are interested in learning how to use eBird, an online database used for
science and conservation, to document your bird observations, we will have a

demonstration following the presentation. Take a ride to visit Collins Marsh and spot
some of the migrating geese, ducks and swans that are floating on the water or gliding
through the sky. We are so fortunate to have a local wetland nearby that attracts so
many species of birds for all to enjoy.