Alaska trumpeter swan status report 2005
Conant B, Hodges JI, Groves DJ, King JG. 2007. Alaska trumpeter swan status report 2005. Waterfowl Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Juneau, Alaska
The eighth complete census of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) on their Alaska summering grounds was completed in late summer 2005. This year 1040 hours of flight time was expended by many survey crews to fly about 124,000 km of survey tracks (84,829 km in 2000) over all the potential Trumpeter swan habitat 128,332 km2 in 2005 (123,864 km2 in 2000) depicted on 780 (733 in 2000) USGS, 1:63,360 scale maps. Compared to 2000 the population was comprised of: paired birds 11940 (+20%); singles 1157 (+29%); flocked birds 4148(+36%); total white swans 17245 (+24%); cygnets 6447 (+100%); and total swans 23692 (+38%). Cygnets accounted for 27% of the population (19% in 2000) and 2084 broods (+81% from 1149 in 2000) were found with an average brood size of 3.1 (2.8 in 2000). Although the population of white phase Trumpeters summering in Alaska continues to follow a logistic growth curve, a comprehensive Alaska Trumpeter Swan Management Plan is still needed to ensure that they remain an integral part of each geographical unit of their present distribution. The continual loss of Pacific coast wintering habitat and the recent large losses of Pacific coast wintering swans to lead poisoning are of special concern. In Alaska a complete census every five years is recommended until the Alaska summering population stabilizes to provide the high quality data needed for the best management of this magnificent international resource.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Conant, Bruce; Hodges, John; Groves, Deborah; King, James
- Date of Issue
- 2007-04
- Publisher
- Waterfowl Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Units
- DENA