Trumpeters are the rarest swan in the world. They used to be abundant in North America but by the early 1900s, they were nearly extinct. Huge numbers had been shot for their down, feathers or meat. Increasing settlement disturbed suitable nesting areas.
An international restoration program began in the 1930s and trumpeter swans have responded well.
Risks to the Species
The major limiting factor affecting Alberta trumpeters is the size of their wintering area, a 15-km section of the Snake River in eastern Idaho. They must compete for food in this small area with other migratory trumpeters and birds that live there all year. As a result, some birds may be in poor condition by spring. They lack energy for migration, egg laying and incubation.
Other problems include human disturbance and recreational development in nesting areas.
Aquatic plants and insects, snails. Adults eat up to 9 kg each per day. Their long necks and powerful bills allow them to reach down and pull up roots and stems other birds can't reach.
Species Breeding Habits
Trumpeter swans usually mate for life. Their big, bulky nests are mounds of reeds, rushes, roots and grasses lined with fresh swan's down. They're often built on top of beaver lodges, muskrat houses or small islands.
