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The Trumpeter Swan Society

Trumpeter swan family in wetland

Habitat

Birds, animals and plants needing wetlands

  • 1 hr.
    Other waterfowl can be found with Trumpeter Swans? If you don't know what species they are, this webinar will provide a preliminary guide to identifying the most common duck and goose species you may see, whether you live in the east, midwest or west.

    Welcome to the wonderful world of waterfowl!

  • 1 hr.
    Learn how trumpeter swans became ambassadors for wetland conservation in Iowa.In this webinar you will discover the unique Iowa swan story as the state tied its swan restoration program to the importance of wetland conservation and restoration.

  • A male trumpeter swan paddles peacefully through the water. The wetland is alive with plant and animal life. A dragonfly flits by. Turtles are sunning themselves on a small raised area in this shallow wetland. If you look carefully, you will see two of them peek their heads out of their shells as the trumpeter swan passes by. Look for the black and white male bufflehead duck.

    Wetlands are beautiful and places filled with life.

  • A baby swan (a cygnet), about a month old, is napping in the wetland, guarded by its parent. The nap doesn’t last for long! Here comes the surprise duck show, front and center.

  • Seven trumpeter swan cygnets hatched a couple days ago! It's early June in a northern Wisconsin wetland which is alive with bird song. The swan parents closely guard these buoyant baby swans. A couple stay close to one parent and the others group together near the other parent.

  • Click on the link for our YouTube Wetlands Playlist!

Photograph (c) Margaret Smith

Wetlands are essential to all living things, and a vital habitat for trumpeter swans. Wetlands are also one of the most threatened ecosystems, at risk from pollution, climate change, and development. 

Did you know?

  • 40% of the world's species live or breed in wetlands.
  • Wetlands are a source of clean drinking water.
  • They can help reduce or prevent flooding. 
  • Some wetlands store greenhouse gases and can help mitigate climate change 
  • Wetlands support economies through sustainable fishing, agriculture, recreation and tourism.

Watch our webinar, An Introduction to Wetlands- the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, to learn more about wetland benefits, the scale of wetland removal through policies in the US and Canada, and how you can help. 

In our webinar, NAWMP: the story of people, partnerships and action for continental conservation, you'll learn how conservation happens on a grand scale through voluntary partnerships.

 

  • 1 hr, 11 minutes
    Wetlands are an important ecosystem that provide habitat for plants and animals, but have multiple benefits to humans as well. In this webinar, you will learn:
    • How to know if you’re looking at a wetland
    • The different kinds of wetlands you may see or have in your area
    • Wetland functions and benefits
    • The current status of wetlands (losses, threats and protection)
    · And, finally, how you can help.

    March 26, 2025
    “A very good introduction to wetlands and the threats they face...”
    “Clear illustration of wetland benefits to natural world and humans living in it, and destructive practices.”

  • The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) celebrates 40 years of conservation progress in 2026.

    Some of the lessons from NAWMP are clear and simple. NAWMP was built on voluntary partnerships, people working together from Canada to Mexico to achieve big things while no one was truly "in charge". Migratory birds with their flyway connections have natural powers to bring people together in a common cause. Partners need to care about outcomes, not credit. Integrity and trust are crucial, as is evaluating programs and adapting to biological and social change.

    November 20, 2025
    "It was an awesome presentation…I learned a lot about the 40 years of conservation efforts, and was especially interested in the many partnerships that enabled this to happen!"

Wetlands, which include marshes, swamps, and bogs, are crucial ecosystems that provide a wide range of environmental benefits. Watch our webinar, An Introduction to Wetlands- the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, to see the wide array of wetlands. Did you know even lakes are a kind of wetland?

Many species rely on wetlands for habitat, breeding grounds, and food sources. As wetlands vanish, these species are at risk of extinction, leading to a loss of biodiversity and disrupting fragile ecosystems.

People need wetlands. They are essential to having clean drinking water, and reducing damaging flooding.

  • Wetlands are vital in maintaining water quality and regulating water flow. 
  • They act as natural filters, trapping pollutants and sediments before they reach larger bodies of water and underground aquifers. 
  • Wetlands also help prevent flooding by absorbing excess water during heavy rainfall and releasing it slowly over time. 
  • As wetlands disappear, the risk of water pollution and flooding  increases.

How do you protect wetlands? 

  • Conservation measures such as creating protected areas 
  • Implementing sustainable land use practices 
  • Restoring degraded wetlands can help mitigate the loss of these critical habitats 
  • Collaboration among governments, environmental organizations, and local communities is key to safeguarding wetlands for future generations.
  • Know how your representatives are voting on policies that impact wetlands.

The disappearance of wetlands requires our immediate attention and action. Protecting these vital ecosystems is not only essential for biodiversity and ecosystem health but also for the well-being of human communities that rely on the services provided by wetlands like clean drinking water and flood control. 

You can help by (links are in Ways to Help, below):

  • Purchasing an annual US federal Duck Stamp, if you live in the US
  • Purchasing a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp, if you live in Canada
  • Be sure you know how your local legislators and representatives are voting nationally, state-wide or province- wide, and locally
  • Make a donation to the North American Swan Fund of the Trumpeter Swan Society
  • Wear and show your support by Trumpeting the Cause for Wetlands merchandise through our Conservation Gift Shop 
  • Share the importance of wetlands and their protection with children using our engaging and science- based activity books.

Ways to help wetlands (Links)

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