Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario

Throughout the year Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario’s volunteer organization has participated in numerous presentations either in person or virtually with different groups clubs or other like-minded organizations to share our knowledge of the Trumpeters swan. Our efforts are to help raise awareness conservation and educate the public by sharing an understanding of their history habitats behaviours as well as risk factors such as lead poisoning angel wing syndrome and Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI). Throughout the winter weather permitting (Nov- Mar) our team members visit various wintering sites do daily check ins and survey counts on the wintering population. We welcome the public to ask our volunteers questions to share our knowledge. One of the facets of our on-going citizen science program is the banding and tagging of Trumpeter swans under scientific permits issued by Environment Canada and Canadian Wildlife Services. Unique yellow tags are affixed to wings to encourage citizens to report sightings for ongoing research projects into habitat movements breeding and general health of the Ontario population of Trumpeter swans. Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario’s team was in the field banding a total of 25 days of which sixty-nine swans banded and tagged during April 1 2023 to March 31 2024. Over the past years banding activities have been limited in the spring and fall for the safety of the team and swans when the risk of migrating birds transmitting HPAI increases. We continue to work in conjunction with the Canadian Wildlife Services to support the monitoring efforts of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI) by collecting blood and swab samples during the banding process as well. During spring and summer when swans are nesting raising young or molting we continue our research efforts. Over the years the program has monitored and recorded over 600 known nesting sites throughout Ontario and currently track approximately 175 known