Our quick trip to the S.E. corner of Minnesota brought us up close and personal with several thousand Tundra Swans. They migrate from up by the Arctic Circle to the Chesapeake Bay area. There they winter and wait out the harsh winter up north.
The area we visited has attracted the Tundra Swans due to the abundance of food. It's a backwater of the Mississippi River. They stay here to feed and rest up for the final leg of their migration. Once the water starts to freeze up, off they go, making a non-stop flight to the Delaware area.
This is just a small section of the Swans. Most stay far out, beyond the range of my camera lens (500 mm) It's awesome seeing the vast rafts of white on the water. Others will stay close to the viewing area, making it easy to get some up close photos.
A large heavy bird, the swans need to get a running start to get airborne. You can see the splashes starting at far left of photo. The webbed feet and lots of wing flapping allow them to run on the water. When a large flock take of all at once, the noise is nearly deafening.
After the noisy exertion of take off, the Tundra Swans in flight are a study of grace and beauty.