Each year, millions of Alaska tundra swans migrate to the east coast of North America, sometimes traveling as far as 4,200 miles on a long and arduous journey before reaching their final destination. For many, their winter home is found within the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, North Carolina.
At more than 40,000 acres, the refuge includes Lake Mattamuskeet — North Carolina’s largest natural lake, and possibly the most shallow at an average of only three feet in depth.
Facebook/Swan Days
Each year, as fall slips into winter, bevies of beautiful tundra swans arrive from Alaska and settle in for a cozy winter on the lake.
Floridapfe from S.Korea Kim in cherl / Moment via Getty Images
There are thought to be only two species of swans that are native to North America: the Trumpter Swan and the Tundra Swan.
Peter Orr Photography / Moment via Getty Images
Although some actually split the Tundra Swan into two subspecies: Bewick’s Sean and the Whistling Swan.
Flickr/ Ik T
When the swans take over the refuge, spotting a bank of tundra swans is a positively magical experience, whether on the ground, in the water, or in flight (technically, in flight, a group of swans is a wedge or a bevy, not a bank).
Flickr/NC Wetlands
Luckily, there’s an event that celebrates the return of the beautiful Tundra swans and it takes place the first Saturday each December at Lake Mattamuskeet.
Flickr/Wendy
Swan Days aims to bring attention to the 300,000 birds that call Lake Mattamuskeet home each winter.
Facebook/Swan Days Every year, the organizers host tram rides through the refuge on swan spotting excursions. The special trams begin as early as late October.
Swan Days takes place throughout the community and includes many educational series, demonstrations, and events.
Facebook/Swan Days
Aside from the free swan spotting tram rides, visitors can attend demonstrations, and even take a free decoy carving class.
Swan Days
Various arts and crafts vendors and professional photographers are on hand for birding enthusiasts. And a variety of food vendors serve hot food and beverages throughout the day.
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Learn more from the official Swan Days website.
Swan Days
Swan Days takes place on December 7, 2019 at Lake Mattamuskeet. For more information, follow along on Facebook here.
Facebook/Swan Days
Floridapfe from S.Korea Kim in cherl / Moment via Getty Images
Peter Orr Photography / Moment via Getty Images
Flickr/ Ik T
Flickr/NC Wetlands
Flickr/Wendy
Every year, the organizers host tram rides through the refuge on swan spotting excursions. The special trams begin as early as late October.
Swan Days
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Address: 85 Mattamuskeet Rd, Swanquarter, NC 27885, USA
