Swans as the messengers of winter

One of the things I love about autumn in Niigata is watching the swans return. By this time in October, these familiar winter visitors begin arriving from Siberia, and you can spot them gathering on lakes, along rivers, and even sometimes in the rice fields!

Lake Hyoko in Agano City is one of the best places to see them, with thousands of swans arriving as the season progresses. But you don't have to make a special trip to a famous lake to enjoy the sight. Around my local area, it's not unusual to look overhead and see a flock of them flying!

I've learned over the years here that their arrival is a sure sign that colder weather is coming. Before long, the mountains out here will be covered in snow, and winter will settle in for the long haul!