Migration is hard work. The Tundra Swans that visit Kootenay Lake have travelled only about 800 kilometres of a 2,800 kilometre journey to the tundra of the Canadian Arctic where they will breed. Feeding and rest stops along the way are needed, and both take place at Kootenay Lake.
The Kootenay Lake website offers other pictures of local Tundra Swans.
Today a flock of over three–dozen Tundra Swans stopped by the West Arm. They settled on the lake between Troup (south shore) and Emory’s Corner (north shore). This is not a shallow area and so there was not much evidence of feeding. Resting was another matter. Look at the final picture: two of the four swans shown have their eyes closed (look at their white eyes). Indeed, at any given moment, perhaps a third of the swans were asleep. How they managed to maintain their position is unclear.
