Trumpeter Swans, also known as Cygnus buccinator,
were once native to Ontario, and lived all over North America. Human interference
with their habitats, coupled with hunting, caused their numbers to decline. By 1933,
there were only 77 swans known to be living in Canada, and 50 in the United States.
Photo: Jean-Marc Filion |
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They were on the verge of extinction.
However, with increased conservation efforts, Cygnus Buccinator is no longer
considered to be an endangered species. There are 17000 swans in British Columbia
alone, and 4000 in Alberta. Ontario is home to a mere 348 swans, and at that size,
the population is not yet self-sustaining. Thus, conservation efforts such as the LNPC’s
Trumpeter Swan Program are vital to this species’ survival in Ontario.
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North American Populations
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The most concentrated areas of trumpeter swan nests are along
the pacific coast, along which lie 17,551 Trumpeter Swans. In the Rocky Mountains
and their surrounding area, and stretching down into the U.S, there live 3,666 Swans.
Spread out along the rest of the continent live 2,430 Swans, of which 348 call Ontario
their home. In total, 23,647 Trumpeter Swans exist in the world.
Information on the North American Population Status (2000) of the Trumpeter Swan is available
at:
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/swan/trumpswan.pdf
Photo: Jean-Marc Filion |
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Trumpeter Swan Physiology
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Trumpeter Swans are the largest waterfowl in all of North America.
Their wingspan can reach three meters, or ten feet. The male, known as a cob,
averages 12kg fully grown, while the female, known as a pen, averages 10kg. In flight,
an adult Trumpeter Swan can reach up to 80km/h (50mph), and during migration, their
normal cruising speed is 50km/h (30mph).
Adults have white feathers and black legs, while the young, known as cygnets,
have gray plumage with yellow legs. Their beaks are black with a red strip along
the bottom.
Photo: Jean-Marc Filion |
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| They are built to withstand fairly harsh conditions.
They have a very thick layer
of down (up to 5cm) which allows them to survive for extended periods of time in
temperatures colder than minus thirty degrees Celsius. In the wild, Trumpeter Swans
live for about 12 years. |
Native swans of North America
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There are only two swans native to North America: the Trumpeter Swan
and the Tundra Swan (formerly called the Whistling Swan).
The Trumpeter Swan is bigger than the Tundra Swan and lacks the yellow
marking on the head just forward of the eye. It also makes a distinct
trumpeting call. (Photo: JM Filion / Bev Kingdon) |
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Habitat requirements
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Large, high quality wetlands offering both food and privacy are required
for these majestic birds. Lake Nipissing has a number of areas that are considered
excellent for the reintroduction of Trumpeter Swans. One such area is the Callander Bay
Cranberry Marsh, where two separate releases were carried out. In the spring of 2002, 3 pair
of Trumpeters were released while the spring of 2003 saw the release of 7 pair.
Lead poisoning remains a concern due to historical waterfowl hunting with lead shot - which
is now banned. Trumpeters, with their long necks, are more vulnerable to lead as it migrates
through the silty bottom as they are able to forage 'deeper'. (Photo: Jean-
Marc Filion) |
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Trumpeter Swan Life Cycle
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Trumpeter Swans usually hatch from three to nine cygnets, each one having
a mass of around a quarter kilogram. The young swans are grey and remain grey
during their rapid growth period. Initially the young eat insects and
aquatic crustaceans stirred up by the parents, but before very long they switch
to an aquatic plant diet. The young stay with their parents for about a year.
By the end of the first summer some juvenilesare capable of flight.
(Photo: Juvenile Trumpeter - Bev Kingdon) |
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However, in the Lake Nipissing Trumpeter Swan Reintroduction
Program, the flight feathers are clipped during the first year to stop the birds from
flying. They are released in Lake Nipissing at age two with their flight feathers clipped
again. By late August the swans are finally able to fly, at which time they take
to the air and 'geographically imprint', memorizing where 'home' is in a migration
sense. If all goes well they will pair-bond during their second or third winter, may
practice nest building the third summer, and should hatch their first clutch during
the fourth summer. These birds are often monogamous and live approximately
12 years in the wild. (Photo: Jocelyne Arès) |
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