Pacific Coast Population

Photograph by Art Wolfe

Status

  • The most recent survey on the breeding grounds during summer 2005 found 18,112 adults and 6,816 cygnets.
  • The 24,928 total swans counted in summer 2005 included 23,692 in Alaska and 1,236 in western Yukon and northwestern British Columbia.
  • The PCP increased by 5.8% per year from 1968-2005, and 7.0% per year from 2000-2005.
  • PCP swans winter primarily in southern British Columbia and northwest Washington, with a few in western Oregon, and occasional birds migrating to California and as far east as eastern Idaho.

Issues

  • Mortality from lead poisoning caused by ingesting lead shot on winter ranges along the Washington-British Columbia border.
  • Destruction or pollution of natural freshwater and saltwater wintering habitats.
  • Increasing importance of pasture grasses and crop residues, particularly corn, as winter food sources.
  • Reduction of agricultural crop residues useful to wintering swans, either through development of the land or conversion to crops that lack value for waterfowl.
  • Mortality from collisions with powerlines.
  • Loss of nesting habitats in Alaska due to recreation, farming, petroleum development, mining and timber harvest.
  • Impacts of climate change on nesting and brooding habitat, such as dewatering of interior Alaska wetlands due to melting permafrost.
  • Insufficient funding to census broad geographic areas on both summer and winter range.
  • Although subsistence harvest of Trumpeter Swans in Alaska is currently illegal, it is likely that an undetermined number of birds are taken.

TTSS' Efforts

  • Operating the Washington Swan Working Group.
  • Providing volunteers, equipment, and technical assistance to reduce the current lead poisoning crisis.
  • Raising funds for the lead crisis response through private contributions, grants, and our Adopt A Swan Project.
  • Leading partnership efforts to restore and preserve swan winter habitat at Hines Marsh on Washington's Long Beach Peninsula.
  • Providing technical assistance in the acquisition, planning, and operation of Washington's Johnson/DeBay Swan Reserve.
  • Developing methods for and implementing winter swan surveys.
  • Identifying important wintering sites and habitat protection and enhancement strategies.
  • Working with farmers, dairymen, agencies, and conservation groups to protect and improve winter swan habitat.

Accomplishments

  • Established a Washington State Working Group that has spent thousands of hours gathering data on habitat use, winter distribution and numbers, educating the public on swans, testifying at local, state and federal meetings, and providing technical assistance to agency efforts.
  • Purchased land on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington to protect and restore Trumpeter Swan winter habitat. Lands were then sold to the State to become part of Leadbetter Point State Park.
  • Protected two land parcels that are key to maintaining water in Hines Marsh.
  • Restored open water at Hines Marsh, which resulted in use by wintering Trumpeter Swans for the first time in 40+ years.
  • Helped provide 6 satellite transmitters to aid research of swan use in the lead poisoning zone.
  • Provided spotting scopes and lead-shot detection devices for the lead-crisis response and a volunteer who radio-tracked swans to determine foraging patterns during November and December 2004.
  • Provided public information on lead poisoning that is leading to a reduction in lead shot use in Washington.
  • Boosted federal and state budget appropriations for the lead response through strong advocacy.
  • Surveyed winter swan habitat use in Washington and Oregon.