Two Trumpter Swans
by Robert Bales
Title
Two Trumpter Swans
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
There were only 11 resident swans in 2014, excluding releases and young of the year. Trumpeter swans are increasing in the Rocky Mountains, stable in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, but declining in Yellowstone National Park.
The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator), named for its resonant call, is North America's largest wild waterfowl, with a wingspan of up to eight feet. These swans require open water, feed mainly on aquatic plants, and nest in wetlands. Although they once nested from Alaska to northern Missouri, trumpeter swans were nearly extirpated in the lower 48 states by 1930 due to habitat loss and hunting. Small populations survived in isolated areas such as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, where the population was thought to number only 69.
As a result of conservation measures, populations across the continental United States began increasing. Today there are approximately 46,000 trumpeter swans in North America. Swans in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem played a significant role in the population resurgence, but by the early 1960s, cygnet production in Yellowstone and subsequent recruitment of adults into the breeding population began declining.
Uploaded
June 16th, 2015
Statistics
Viewed 1,625 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/26/2024 at 9:25 PM
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Comments (11)
Don Columbus
Congratulations Robert, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings"! I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Kay Brewer
I just love this, Robert. I think swans are so beautiful and faithful. Congratulations on your lovely work reaching over 500 views! l/f
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Kay for the nice comment, congrats and the LF!! They sure are interesting birds!!
William Tasker
Let's hope we can keep those numbers going in the right direction! Great catch and shot, Robert! Your beautiful image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World, a nature photography group. L/F