Background

Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) nested across eastern North America in pre-colonial times, but were extirpated by early European settlers before the mid 1800s. Historical evidence suggests that they once wintered in the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland and Virginia.

After nearly 200 years' absence, trumpeter swans were confirmed nesting in New York at two locations in 1996. These birds either originated from game breeders in New York or were offspring from a trumpeter swan restoration program in Ontario which began in 1982.

The population of about 150-free flying trumpeters in Ontario, generally do not migrate long distances to wintering area, although they occasionally wander into the eastern U.S. In 1984, two juvenile trumpeter swans, affiliated with the Ontario project wintered near St. Michaels, Maryland. In addition to Ontario, at least eight states are involved in trumpeter swan restoration programs (Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota). For the most part, these flocks also do not migrate long distances between breeding and wintering areas, which can result in lower survival and habitat over-utilization problems.

In 1997, three juvenile trumpeter swans were imprinted to follow an ultralight aircraft and were migrated along a pre-determined migration route from Airlie, Virginia to Maryland's Eastern Shore. All three of the swans attempted the spring migration back to Airlie, Virginia. These three birds may attempt a westward fall migration on their own from Virginia across Chesapeake Bay to the Eastern Shore this fall.

The next phase of this experimental research will be to migrate a flock of young trumpeter swans from their ancestral breeding area in western New York again to Maryland's Eastern Shore in the fall of 1998.

Trumpeter swans generally do not conflict with other wildlife or human activities, as do mute swans (Cygnus olor) an introduced species from Europe. Mute swans have increased in Maryland to about 3,000 birds from the original escape of five birds in 1962. Mute swans have caused both conflicts with native wildlife and humans. The Maryland DNR (Department of Natural Resources) is actively developing a strategy to limit further population growth and range expansion of this exotic species. Human conflicts have been rare with re-established flocks of trumpeter swans in other states, and in some cases they have displaced mute swans from nesting areas.

Status

Since 1997, Maryland DNR staff has assisted development of a plan for restoration of a migratory population of trumpeter swans in the Atlantic Flyway. Potential nesting areas are believed to exist in the Great Lakes Region of New York and southern Ontario, with potential wintering area around Chesapeake Bay. The plan is being developed by the Atlantic Flyway Council with help from the Trumpeter Swan Society and ES (Environmental Studies at Airlie Center) the Defenders of Wildlife also assisted in plan development. Final flyway council approval of the plan is expected in March 1999.

A key element of the restoration plan is establishing migratory behavior in a trumpeter swan flock. The most promising technique involves imprinting young swans to follow an ultralight aircraft (as was done in the popular movie "Fly Away Home") and leading the swans on a pre-determined migration route to a suitable wintering area. To determine if this is feasible, ES biologists have obtained necessary federal and state permits to expand their research into New York and Maryland in fall 1998.

On September 16, 20 captive-reared cygnets were trucked from ES' breeding facility in Virginia to western New York, where they were taught to fly and follow an ultralight aircraft. On or about December 4, it is anticipated that about 11 birds will be lead on a pre-determined migration route from western New York to the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. The birds will be in two separate flock accompanied by two ultralight aircraft per flock. The test will be to see how many birds return from Maryland in the spring of 1999 and how many migrate back to Maryland on their own during the fall of 1999. It is anticipated that returning birds will spend the summer of 1999 in western New York, possibly on state and federal wildlife refuges. At the conclusion of the study, all surviving birds will be removed from the wild, unless a decision is made to begin a restoration program. Every bird will have numbered neckbands and a radio-transmitter to help the researchers locate and recapture them if necessary.

Maryland DNR staff views trumpeter swan restoration as a desirable outreach and wildlife diversity initiative. For the experiment, ES decided that the Wildfowl Trust of North America facility near Grasonville, Maryland was the most suitable wintering site on the Eastern Shore to sustain the birds during the winter season. The Trust has provided temporary housing and storage for researchers. While in Maryland, researchers will monitor their daily movements and document interactions between the trumpeters and our other native swan the tundra swan. Interactions between trumpeters and the exotic mute swan will also be documented.

Looking Ahead

The migration experiment is likely to attract considerable public interest and media attention. Already, the trumpeter swan experiment has been featured on "Dateline NBC" and their earlier work with Canada geese has been reported in popular and scientific media around the world. Maryland DNR's Public Communications staff in Annapolis and Salisbury will be kept informed as the project progresses. However, due to nature of the research and concerns regarding exposure of the birds to the public, members of the media and public will not be permitted to visit them except under special circumstances.

If the experiment is successful in teaching trumpeter swans to migrate, an effort could be made as early as 2000 to establish a migratory population of trumpeter swans in the Atlantic Flyway. However, restoration activities would not begin until the trumpeter swan restoration plan is approved by the Atlantic Flyway Council, and further environmental assessment, public involvement, and economic analysis is completed. In the coming year, the Maryland DNR will invite public input on a possible restoration program in the future. That input will help us ensure that the final management plan addresses the concerns of all potential stakeholders in Maryland.

In the interim, the number of exotic mute swans breeding in Maryland is likely to increase, and conflicts with wildlife and people will become more common. A Governor appointed Mute Swan Committee are currently developing recommendations that will provide guidance to the Maryland DNR for the short term and long term management of mute swans. The Maryland DNR will also invite public input on this mute swan management plan before being finalized.

Contact

Donielle Rininger, Office Manager/Biologist, Environmental Studies at Airlie, Warrenton, VA (540/341-3239 or toll-free 888-2MIGRATE [888/264-4278]; fax 540/341-42360 Larry Hindman, Maryland DNR, Waterfowl Project, Wye Mills, MD (410/827-8612)