Thedford Flats (ON026)
Grand Bend, Ontario
Site Description
The Thedford Flats are located near the Lake Huron shoreline in northwest Lambton County, about 10 km north of Thedford, and 10 km south of Grand Bend. Pinery Provincial Park borders the west side of the site. At one time this area was a shallow bay and marsh that was cut off from Lake Huron by the formation of 30 metre high dunes on the east side of what is now Pinery Provincial Park. In 1875, a canal was cut through the dunes to drain the marsh, and the last remnant (Lake Smith), was drained circa 1959. At present, the flats must be drained with pumps in the spring. Potatoes and onions have been grown here, but in recent years the crops were primarily corn and beans.
Birds
Since at least 1970, Tundra Swans have congregated at the Thedford Flats during late March. Peak one-day counts have been recorded regularly since the early 1980s, and the long-term average (1983 to 1998) is just over 7,600 birds. A more recent average (1993 to 1998) is 10,800 birds, which is almost 6.5% of the North American Tundra Swan population, and about 12.5% of the estimated eastern population. The maximum one-daycount was recorded in 1994, when 16,356 birds were tallied. Since these one-day counts consider turnover rates, he number of swans moving through the site during the entire spring migration is likely much larger.
Conservation Issues
There are no primary threats facing this site because the swans are taking advantage of an artificial situation. If the farmers increase the drainage, change the pump-draining schedule, or stop planting corn, swan use would diminish.
The Lambton County Heritage Museum organizes an annual Swan Viewing Festival. This festival has increased awareness of the site, and resulted in voluntary delays in pump-draining the fields until after the swans have moved on.
IBA Criteria Habitats Land Uses Potential or Ongoing Threats Conservation Status
