Swan 3688 was captured and fitted with a transmitter on
March 17, 1998. Her location was recorded at Long Point on March 17, 18,
and 19. On March 21, Abigail was 37km west at the Aylmer Wildlife
Conservation Area where she remained until the 24th. This
wildlife area is a 210 hectare site that is primarily managed for Tundra
Swans. Part of the site is planted with lure crops, 20 hectares have been
excavated to create shallow, but varying depth artificial ponds (IBA’s
of Canada Online Directory). Abigail made several short distance
movements: 42km, 48km and 24km over a three day period around the Aylmer
Conservation Area from March 25 to 29th. On March 30, Abigail
was located in 3 locations: the first was 83km west of Aylmer, the 2nd
was74km west, the 3rd was 17km west again. Abigail than
traveled 60km to Unionville, Michigan and stayed within the same general
area from Mar. 31 until Apr. 3. Abigail was recorded again on April 3,
70km west – just over Midland, Michigan. On April 4 at 6:09, Abigail was
810km northwest of her previous location, and 379km further at 18:36 near
the border of Manitoba and North Dakota. From April 8 to the 17th, Abigail
made several short distance flights with stopovers near the border of
Manitoba and North Dakota – all likely agricultural areas. On April 21,
Abigail was located 327km north. On April 22, Swan 3688 was 147km north
west at Moose Lake, Manitoba. She remained there from April 22 until May
10. On May 12, Abigail was located 419km northeast of Moose Lake at Indian
Lake, Manitoba. She remained at Indian Lake from May 14 to 19. On May 23
the Swan was 281km almost due north at Eskimo Point. Abigail traveled 75km
between June 5 and June 9 to her breeding area at McConnell River IBA on
the coast of Hudson Bay. The site is primarily coastal habitat composed of
coastal sedge marshes. Beyond the coastal marshes are low hills
interspersed with lakes and ponds. The site is of great importance to Snow
Geese - 150,000 bred at McConnell River in 1997. The area also hosts breeding Canada
Geese, Sandhill Cranes and large numbers of waterfowl (IBA’s of Canada
Online Directory). The transmitter failed at this site on July 11.
Total accumulated tracking distance is 4114km.
