Last of the Bewick’s leave Slimbridge for the Russian Arctic

Bewicks swans. Credit Colin Butters

April 2009. The last of the Bewick's swans, Hosta, has finally left WWT Slimbridge on her epic spring migration, a month after the rest of the reserve's flock departed.

Just like last year when she was the last to leave, Hosta appears to have developed a strong bond with the captive group in the Tundra pen. It has taken the lengthening days of the last few weeks to finally trigger her north-easterly migration.

WWT's Julia Newth said: "We were beginning to think Hosta was never going to migrate! The weather over the last few weeks has been perfect for spring migration though, so it was likely to happen at some point. The swans' migratory and reproductive cycles must be closely synchronised as the birds have just three-four months in which to breed, moult, develop fat reserves and head back to Europe before the arctic winter closes in again. Hosta is therefore a bit behind!"

Hosta, along with the other Northwest European wintering Bewick's swans, will spend the summer on the high arctic tundra of Russia before returning to Slimbridge in the autumn.

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