Early arrival of Swans

Observation by Wilson Justin:

Cousin Elaine Sinyon was out enjoying the sunshine when two swans came over almost close enough to touch the roof of the house. Elaine lives in Chistochina! Incredibly early.

LEO Says:

In Alaska, there are two species of swans: the trumpeter swan and the tundra swan. Trumpeter swans inhabit boreal forests and tundra swans primarily on the western and northern coastal tundra. For more information see links.

AI Comment (Gemini 2.0 Flash):

This observation highlights the early arrival of swans in Chistochina, Alaska, which could be related to changes in seasonal weather patterns. Several past LEO Network posts touch on similar themes. In 2019, early swan sightings were reported in both Anchorage and Metlakatla, with climate change and unusually warm temperatures as the suspected cause. Another post from 2020 noted the first-time nesting of trumpeter swans in Potter Marsh in Anchorage, suggesting a possible shift in breeding grounds. While early arrival can be a sign of adaptation to changing conditions, a 2022 post described swans displaying an unusual posture near Nome, and that observation raising health concerns as avian influenza was and continues to circulate through Alaska.