Whooper swan, not native to North America, seen near Muskrat Falls

CBC News Posted: Apr 03, 2015 7:07 AM NT Last Updated: Apr 03, 2015 7:07 AM NT

In an area that sees its fair share of people, wildlife and birds migrating through on their way somewhere else, Labrador may have just had its rarest visitor yet. 

Workers at the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project spotted an adolescent swan flying near the site about a week and a half ago. 

It turns out it was a whooper swan, a species not found in North America.

Bird enthusiast Tony Chubbs told CBC News the whooper swan breeds in Iceland and winters in Europe. He figures the juvenile bird was blown off course and separated from its migration group.

Chubbs said the bird didn't survive, likely due to exhaustion and lack of places to feed.

"I can tell from the bird [that] it's very thin, very gaunt," Chubbs said.

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