Trumpeter Swan Adult With Juvenile

Following my local list serve I was pleased to read that there were two Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator), one adult and one immature, hanging out at the Chico Oxidation Ponds, about an hour and a half from my house. This being a life bird for me I had no choice but to take the drive. Click on photos for full sized images.

Trumpeter Swan Adult with Immature

The Trumpeter Swan is the largest native North American waterfowl, being five feet long, with a wingspan of seven to eight feet and weighing in at twenty-three pounds, they are hard to miss.

Trumpeter Swan Adult with Immature

They are differentiated from their smaller cousin the Tundra Swan by their all black bill which has a straight ridge reminiscent of the Canvasback. The Tundra Swan usually has a yellow spot at the base of the bill and shows a concave culmen profile.

TRSWadultAndJuvieClose630x01242015

Although it was formerly abundant and geographically widespread, Trumpeter Swan numbers and distribution were greatly reduced during the early fur trade and European settlement of North America (1600’s to 1800’s), when it was prized for its skins and primary feathers1.

In North America they are divided into three populations for management purposes, not based on biological differences: 1) Pacific Coast Population, 2) Rocky Mountain Population, and 3) Interior Population.

Trumpeter Swan Population Range Map

During the 1980s, the Pacific Coast Population swans became the source of eggs for several restoration programs in Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Iowa2. The North American Trumpeter Swan survey has been conducted approximately every 5 years since 1968 to assess the abundance, productivity, and distribution of Trumpeter Swans in North America. The good news is that these majestic birds have been increasing in numbers every year!

Trumpeter Swan Survey 2010

The 2010 continental estimate of trumpeter swan abundance was 46,225, an increase of 33% since 2005 and the highest recorded since the surveys began in 19683.

Trumpeter Swan Adult and Immature

Since a Yellowstone National Park naturalist suggested in 1935 that Trumpeter Swan studies be conducted “before the species is extinct,” the species has responded well to most conservation and management actions. Trumpeter Swans continue to increase in numbers and distribution, which is cause for celebration.

Immature Trumpeter Swan In Flight

However, even though this species restoration is often considered a classic conservation success, significant problems for some flocks still exist. The Trumpeter Swan Society lists these as:

  1. Lead Poisoning – occurs when swans ingest lead shot or lead fishing sinkers in wetlands and lakes. This problem looms as the single greatest threat to the reestablishment of Trumpeter Swans in the Midwest
  2. Illegal Shooting – Hunting is currently controlled by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) and not currently legal anywhere in North America but unintentional and malicious shooting remains a problem
  3. Power Lines have been responsible for some Trumpeter Swan casualties
  4. Loss of Wetland Habitat Quantity and Quality could affect the long-term growth and stability of Trumpeter Swan populations

 

This video was taken at the Chico Oxidation Ponds where these swans were relaxing with hundreds, if not thousands of ducks. See how many different species of waterfowl you can see and hear!

References: 1Birds of North America Online, 2Pacific Flyway Management Plan for the Pacific Coast Population of Trumpeter Swans, 3The 2010 North American Trumpeter Swan Survey

Written by Larry
Larry Jordan was introduced to birding after moving to northern California where he was overwhelmed by the local wildlife, forcing him to buy his first field guide just to be able to identify all the species visiting his yard. Building birdhouses and putting up feeders brought the avian fauna even closer and he was hooked. Larry wanted to share his passion for birds and conservation and hatched The Birder's Report in September of 2007. His recent focus is on bringing the Western Burrowing Owl back to life in California where he also monitors several bluebird trails. He is a BirdLife Species Champion and contributes to several other conservation efforts, being the webmaster for Wintu Audubon Society and the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Urban Bird Foundation. He is now co-founder of a movement to create a new revenue stream for our National Wildlife Refuges with a Wildlife Conservation Pass.