Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary


Here is another image from Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary near Alton, Illinois. Each winter, hundreds of Trumpeter Swans visit this protected wildlife refuge. North America's largest bird at one point was almost extinct but thanks to efforts in the 1950s, the birds have rebounded. The wetlands and fields of the area near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers provides the birds a great wintering habitat.

3 comments:

Candace said...

I was at Swan Lake Wednesday Dec. 28th, 2011 afternoon and saw a large white gathering of birds too far away to see what they were. There was a man near a blind out there also. Were those Trumpter Swans?

Candace said...

I was at Swan Lake, Alton Illinois yesterday Dec. 28th, 2011. I saw and could hear a large gathering of white birds very far off. Are these possibly trumpeter Swans. There was a man near a blind there also. Saw some white pelicans near the end of the lake. Thanks for your thoughts on this large gathering. Candace

Unknown said...

Yes they were Candace. They are quite the awesome site to see. There are currently a couple hundred of them out there till like the end of February.