Trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) is a member of the family Anatidae and is the largest waterfowl in North America.
Trumpeter swans can achieve lengths of up to 62 inches long, wing spans of almost 7 feet, and weigh as much as 37-38 pounds. Trumpeter swans can be long-lived, up to 24 years in the wild and up to 32 years in captivity. Trumpeter swans start reproduction at ages of 3-4 years, and by forming relatively permanent pair bonds.
Trumpeter swans have good reproductive potential, capable of laying clutches of up to 8-9 eggs per breeding season. Trumpeter swans are generally “dabbling” feeders in pond and lake environments, though they are also thought to feed in agricultural fields adjacent to water areas.
Trumpeter swans were once widely distributed throughout major portions of North America, but were hunted heavily both for meat and for the millenary trades in the 19th Century. In 1908, Trumpeter swans fell under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918), and populations have rebounded in core area habitats in Alaska, Western Canada and portions of Washington State. Trumpeter swans have also migrated as far south as states such as Arkansas since populations began increasing.
Trumpeter swans were once considered candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act, but discovery of additional swan populations in Alaska caused them to be removed from listing. Trumpeter swans can be listed as protected under a number of state regulations.
Hunt for Truth is reviewing documentation regarding claims that lead ammunition from upland game hunting is resulting in lead toxicity in Trumpeter swans.
