Skating Tundra Swans by Diane McAllister/Great Backyard Bird Count
See Eliza Hawkins’ photos documenting this tragic event after Juli’s essay.
On the January 26th I learned that my friend Lucas Pittman—an FSU student who is being mentored by our chapter through Audubon Florida’s Conservation Leadership Initiative program—had found a pair of Tundra Swans in Tallahassee, on Lake Jackson. I had not seen swans in Leon county since I was a little girl. I remember still today the magical excitement of seeing these elegant beauties at Lake Ella when I was about six or seven years old. That night I lay in bed in anticipation, just waiting for it to be morning so I could race to the lake to see these migrating visitors that had made an amazing journey from somewhere in the artic regions where they breed.
On the morning of January 27th I woke up well before the sun. I had already warned my husband that when he awoke I would be standing lakeside, awaiting a view and hopefully pictures of these graceful beauties. I got dressed and tiptoed out of the house arriving at the lake too early to see anything. Regardless I got my scope, my binoculars, and my camera and headed to the edge of the lake. As I stood there allowing my eyes to adjust, I heard gun shot after gun shot. I could barely see the American Coots that were about 40 feet in front of me. How could they even see what it was they were shooting?
Tundra Swans flanked by American Coots. Taken minutes before one of the swans was shot and killed.
Photo by Juli deGrummond.
As the dawn came and light filtered in, I scanned the lake carefully seeing a mix of American Coot, Pied-billed Grebes, and ridiculous floats of duck decoys. Then all of a sudden the shooting started in earnest and it seemed that the bevy of guys hiding in the reeds directly across the lake from me were shooting right in my direction! My heart pounded, and as I stood there waiting for it to return to a normal rate, I talked to myself about the fact that these guys knew I was there and that there were homes that people lived in not far behind me.
Just then I turned and saw my friend, Eliza Hawkins walking down the hill towards me, certainly filled with the same excitement I had for seeing these amazing birds. I rushed over to her and told her about the hunters shooting in my direction and expressed how happy I was to see her there. An extra pair of eyes is always good when birding and this time was no exception. Eliza walked out to the spot where my scope was set up and immediately pointed to the middle of the lake and said "there they are!!!" Together we watched and marveled at their elegance as the pair smoothly sailed across the lake. We took pictures and discussed how long it had been since there had been Tundra Swans in Tallahassee.
We both had prior commitments in our day that would prevent us from staying to watch much longer but we stood there thrilled by the views we had of this exquisite duo. As we prepared to leave we watched the beauties as they breezed across the lake straight to the hunters hide where the four men could been seen having a conversation about the beautiful "trophies" 30 feet in front of them. Eliza, having more faith than me in hunters, said "they know the rules and these guys are good hunters". "They won't shoot them." The swans moved a little past the hide unscathed and I breathed a sigh of relief.
At that same moment, fellow birder, Elliot Schunke arrived, his eagerness to see the swans apparent just in his slightly disappointed, questioning gestures at seeing us heading in the direction of the parking lot then asking if they were absent. We informed him that the birds were present but we had to leave. We pointed him in the direction of the exquisite pair and we watched as he brought them into view with a quiet smile, and then we turned again to leave.
As we did, we heard gun shots and one of the couple was making heartbreaking wailing sounds as it floundered and flapped and tried to escape the agonizing pain. The other took air and fled for its life literally. As Eliza bravely and outspokenly yelled across the at the hunters letting them know that what they were doing is illegal and that we are reporting them. The one (assumably) responsible for the debilitating hit motored out to the suffering victim, calmly and slowly, ignoring Eliza's well-heard warnings that what he was doing will not be tolerated. He then finished the crying bird off and then heaved it up onto his boat. He then turned and motored around the corner and out of sight with his prize hanging from one side of his boat to the other.
I was already on the phone with FWC reporting the event. Eliza again, bravely, raced to her car to try and follow the killer to Meginnis Arm which appeared to be the direction he was heading. After making the report to FWC I called Eliza who told me there were no vehicles at Meginnis Arm. Elliot showed me photos including one that appeared to show the moment the poor swan was hit. Unlike me he had a cool head and mentioned that we should take pictures of the tags of all the vehicles in the parking lot. He set about this chore and then suddenly the slaughterer returned from the direction in which he left, the victim no longer in sight. As he steadily motored in our direction, seeming quite unfazed by all these events as I continued to take his picture. At that moment, two FWC officers arrived. The driver assured me he knew what was going on and was going to handle the situation. I saw them approach the man and then pull the dead swan out of boat and then I drove off.
I have heard speculation that there will be a court hearing, and that this man will be fined and probably lose his hunting license. I also heard, that not much later that same day the hunter was right back out there hunting again.
Those that know me, know a few things about me. One is that if I am awake I am thinking about birds, studying information about birds, searching for birds, or looking at birds. If I am asleep I am most likely thinking about/dreaming about birds or birding. Birds bring me joy. The other thing is that I unapologetically feel things deeply. One of four children, my mom always referred to me as "the sensitive one". I am empathetic, caring, and emotional. This post will probably come off as deeply emotional, and it is.
These beautiful birds form permanent pair bonds that are maintained year-round. Personally I feel absolutely destroyed by what I witnessed and also continue to be distraught thinking of this one that was left behind having traveled a long way with it's partner only to find itself in a hostile, scary place alone for the rest of it's life. In the past I thought of and referred to Lake Jackson as "my happy place" but now the opposite is true. The thought of going there makes me sick to my stomach. I can't unsee and unhear the things I have seen and heard. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I do not want to go birding. I have gone anyway because it is a part of my daily life and I do not know what else to do with myself. As I write this, it is the middle of the day, a time I would never be inside. Much like this bird that was left behind I have had my joy stripped from me. It is my sincere hope that this person that is responsible for destroying innocent lives gains some inkling of understanding about how his actions affected others. I also hope that this is not treated with kid gloves. Make an example! Set an example! I will continue to look for opportunity to support actions being taken for this event with the hope that it will prevent futures situations.
Tundra Swan by Mark Boyd/Audubon Photography Awards
One final point that I want to make is one that many probably do not know. Birders, like so many people who have a hobby they are passionate about will go to great lengths to see rare birds. When rare birds remain in place for any period of time birders will travel great distances to come and experience time with these birds, spending money all the way.
With past rare birds we have had here in Tallahassee, I have personally spoken to people who came from all over Florida, as well as, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and even California! I can specifically recall two different couples last year, ironically both from Kentucky, who came to town and each staying for two weeks to give themselves time to see the rare bird that was here.
While here they spent money to stay somewhere, ate out, paid entry fees to visit areas that have costs like state parks or wildlife reserves, bought gas and who knows what else while in our area. These birds would have definitely elicited this response. So maybe the life lost or the lives upside down because of this event do not matter to you but even if that is true, the money your community lost probably matters you.
One person's actions can be far reaching. I hope that mine will be in a way that somehow helps make this place we all call home a little better. What has been done can not be undone but maybe this event can inspire someone to not turn a blind eye, plant a tree, recycle, conserve water, donate to a conservation organization, use a metal reusable straw, drink (wonderful) shade grown coffee, volunteer for something you care about, quit using pesticides, or just do something nice for someone.
As a tribute to the killed swan and its bereft partner, and to support conservation, you can buy this year's Duck Stamp, which ironically features a trio of Tundra Swans in flight. Read about this stamp's artist Joseph Hautman. You can purchase one for $25 at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center or purchase a souvenir sheet with the stamp for $25 through the USPS online store.
Tundra Swan pair swimming past a group of duck hunters. Photo by Eliza Hawkins.
Tundra Swan pair just after the illegal shooting. Photo by Eliza Hawkins.
Hunter in kayak approaching the wounded Tundra Swan. Photo by Eliza Hawkins.
Hunter pulling the Tundra Swan into his kayak after killing it. Photo by Eliza Hawkins.
Officers from FWC confronting the hunter with the illegally harvested Tundra Swan. He was issued a misdemeanor citation for violating the migratory bird treaty act, for taking of a Tundra Swan, and a separate misdemeanor for violating the migratory bird stamp act, hunting migratory birds with an invalid migratory bird stamp.
