Before the pioneers arrived in
America
the Trumpeter Swans were found right across the continent from the
Atlantic
to the Pacific. These large birds were heavily hunted and harassed,
almost to extinction, for the skins and for personal use, until, in
1933, there were (according to the records) only 77 breeding in
Canada
and 50 in the
United States
. Now an intensive international conservation effort has restored the
N.A. population to upwards of 16,000 and they are no longer considered
to be in danger of extinction.
These birds were not seen in the
Rideau
Lakes
for many years, but this changed in 1996 when an unmarked pair arrived
and decided they liked the habitat. Where did these two come from? Most
birds being bred in
Ontario
were banded and carried wing tags. It seems likely that these two arrived as immigrants from
New York
State
north of
Watertown
where there had been breeding pairs for the previous couple of years.
They built a nest, but no eggs or shells were ever found, and it is
probable that they were not fully mature. When winter came they
remained in the area, but someone shot the female. Conservationists
brought in another female who bonded with the male, and in 1997 they
nested and hatched two cygnets.
After
successfully raising three cygnets in 1998, tragedy struck again when
the female disappeared during the following winter and one cygnet died
frozen in the ice, leaving an adult male, two subadults and one
yearling. In an effort to produce a viable breeding population, two
pairs of captive-raised swans were released on the Big Rideau the
following summer. As well, another breeding pair was placed in a
holding pen at the Mac Johnston Wildlife Area near
Brockville
, and there were more releases in the year 2000.
It is now apparent that the Trumpeter Swans have been reestablished to some degree on the
Rideau
Lakes
and surrounding areas. Thus bird watchers have the chance to see these
beautiful large birds during both winter and summer, and to hear their
trumpeting calls. Males weigh up to 12 kg, and females about 10 kg. The
adults with all white feathers (except for possible staining of the
head and neck from feeding in iron rich areas) and with black legs and
feet, can be confused only with other swans. Young have grayish plumage
and yellowish feet and legs for their first year of life.
The
other swans with which they may be confused are the Tundra (formerly
called the Whistling) Swan, who in March and early April migrate
through on their way to their breeding grounds in the
Arctic
. Tundra Swans usually have a small yellow patch in front of the eye,
and if this is missing it can be difficult to distinguish the two
species, though the shape of the bill is different, and the Trumpeter
has a salmon-red line on the lower bill. The calls of the Tundra are
higher in pitch - more like whistling as their previous name implies.
Just
to confuse us further, the Mute Swan, a European bird imported into
parks and zoos, has become rather well established at Presqu’ile
Provincial Park and along the St. Lawrence. The adults of this species
have a fairly conspicuous black knob on a black and orange bill. The
Trumpeter Swans are the largest of the three species.
For a view of magnificent birds watch for all three species!
Observations: The ducks are returning to the
Sharbot
Lake
area - On March 14, Peter Bell saw a Mallard and Common Merganser,
Sandra Moase saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers, and Shirley Peruniak saw
a pair of Mallards. Shirley also saw a Turkey Vulture near Wemyss on
the same day, and had a Common Grackle visiting on March 10. Share your
sightings, call Jean at 268-2518 or email currrawong13@sympatico.ca
