Kotzebue Swan Captures!

Kotzebue Coal! Mama, baby, and crew headed north, this time to Kotzebue in Northwest Alaska to capture molting tundra swans.

During mid July-August tundra swans (and many other species of waterfowl) molt their flight feathers. The non-breeders often form large flocks on big lakes surrounded by abundant berries. The swan above shows flight feathers that are about 1/2 way grown in. After capturing the birds, we take measurements, sample for feathers, blood, avian influenza, and apply leg bands and neck collars, and then release them.

(Above) Herding flightless swans with boats and airplanes.

(Above & below) Capturing swans with dipnets and boating them back to shore.

While mama and the crew were out catching swans, Coal was hanging out with Miss Hannah...Kotzebue's own version of Montessori preschool! Thanks Miss Hannah!

...and when not at Hannah's...Coal was in good hands with our swan crew.

he did a little pilot training with our regional aviation trainer ....

...followed by supervising some post-fieldwork clean-up.

Blondie Coal. On the flight home, he was still making friends! All the Kotzebue folks traveling to Anchorage loved baby!