Swan watchers braving the cold at Weaver Bottoms

A beautiful sight.

----Brownsville, MN a family enjoying the river refuge at swan watch event Nov 2008

A bus full of enthusiastic bird watchers made the trip to the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge to viewmigrating tundra swans with tour guides Dave Palmquist, Whitewater State Park and Edward Lagace Winona District Park Ranger. There was good and there was bad that went hand and hand, the weather  was biting cold northwest winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour causing us to shiver in our tracks, good for seeing swans. The tour included a stop at Weaver Bottoms (Winona District) near Weaver, MN setting up on an elivated position bird watchers viewed swans on the water and more arriving every moment. The oppertunity to observe many species of ducks and geese dabling and diving alongside the swans made it especialy exciting. We all loaded back on the bus and a hearty lunch was shared by all as we traveled the river road to Brownsville, MN (La Crosse District) as the bus approached the new over look completed this year there were many thousands of tundra swans to be seen floating, swimmimg, landing and taking off. The area was alive with migrating waterfowl activly honking, quaking and gabeling along with a hundered or so bald eagles. Volunteers from the Friends of Upper Miss Refuges assissited with volunteers at the Brownsville new observation deck providing hot drink and snacks while sharing their knowledge of the birds and the refuge. Every one had a great time making new friends along with learning a little more about our beautiful National River Refuge enabling migrating waterfowl make a safe and healthy trip to their winter feeding grounds.

Author / Edward Lagace Park Ranger Upper Miss Winona District

E-Mail ed_lagace@fws.gov