Trumpeter Swans    by Tom Heald      airs June 15, 2008       1:34 long

Northwest Wyoming is a stronghold for one of the most impressive birds on the planet -  -the Trumpeter Swan.

They were almost extinct in the early 1900’s, but the species has responded to aggressive management and now number perhaps 16,000. The combination of the adult’s large size, stately demeanor, snow white feathers, black bill, and black feet really fill the expectations of anyone whose first impressions of Swans come from the Ugly Duckling story.

Swans are, of course, waterfowl. Their preferred habitats are wetland areas associated with rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes. The female will build her nest on a muskrat or beaver house. Pairs mate for life, but will select another mate if one of the pair is lost. Swans can live 20 to 30 years.

Adult Trumpeters will weigh more than a big Tom Turkey --about 25- 30 pounds, and their wingspan can be eight feet. One characteristic which would help you identify them is their call. It’s very distinctive, described as resonant and trumpet-like— hence their name.

Trumpeter Swans often carry numbered neck bands. Reporting sightings to wildlife officials, particularly if you can get the number of the band, assists in compiling information about the extent of the population and their migratory patterns.

From the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, I’m Tom Heald.