Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge Swan Days

The Swan Days Festival is an annual event celebrating the return of the Alaskan tundra swan to the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge held every December. There are nature exhibits, educational activities, food vendors, local arts and crafts, bird exhibits by Sylvan Heights Bird Park and birds of prey with Steve Hoddy of EarthQuest. There were speakers regarding the CCC Company 424 history, about the history of the lake and about trapping. There were four tram tours that went along areas of the lake where visitors can’t normally drive this time of year.  The tours started at 7:00 AM, and ran about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, with the last one starting at 2:20 PM.

 

There was a slight weather issue this year; it had rained about 3 inches by Saturday, and kept raining off and on all day. The trams still ran, a little different route than planned. Everyone that went on the tram tours said they saw a lot of birds and were glad they went, but they were cold. Tents were put up Friday, but the area was still wet and as people and vehicles moved around, it got pretty muddy. Some of the vendors canceled. The Sylvan Heights birds moved up on our patio and the birds of prey demonstration moved to the school parking lot. We had a lot of visitors in the Visitor Center, and good sales in the gift shop. 



Pictured above is a Coscoroba swan, native of South America; a Nene, also known as a Hawaiian goose, which is the state bird of Hawaii; and a male and female wood duck.