Photo by Brenda Kitchen
PACIFIC COAST POPULATION (PCP)
Status
• The most recent survey on the breeding grounds during summer 2000 found 14,225 adults and 3,327 cygnets.
• The 17,551 total swans counted in summer 2000 included 17,155 in Alaska and 396 in western Yukon and northwestern British Columbia.
• The PCP increased by 6.7% per year from 1968-1995, but growth declined to 1.5% per year from 1995-2000 for unknown reasons. It is possible that mortality from lead poisoning has impacted population growth.
• PCP swans winter primarily in southern British Columbia, northwest Washington, and western Oregon, with occasional birds migrating to California and as far east as eastern Idaho.
Issues
• Increasing 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.
• Loss of nesting habitats in Alaska due to recreation, farming, petroleum development, mining and timber harvest.
• 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 still shot.
TTSS' Efforts
• Operating the Washington Swan Working Group.
• Providing volunteers, equipment, and technical assistance to efforts to halt 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.
Washington Swan Working Group
The Washington Swan Working Group, led by TTSS Director Martha Jordan, focuses on issues relating to Trumpeter Swans and Tundra Swans wintering in Washington.
Contact:
Martha Jordan
PMB 272
Mill Creek, WA 98012
ph. 425-787-0258
fax 425-787-0226
email: marthaj@swansociety.org