Subject: Re: Trumpeter Swans?
Date: Feb 14 15:45:55 1995
From: Michael Smith - whimbrel at u.washington.edu



> Gene Hunn wrote:
> "When I was up to the Skagit last, Jan. 28, I counted ca. 1100 swans on
> Fir Island and all or most were Tundras; then I encountered another
> flock of 350 or so along Chuckanut Drive nw of Mt. Vernon which seemed to
> be all or mostly Trumpeters. Does this fits others' experience this

On Tue, 14 Feb 1995, Nunnallee, Dave wrote:

> He maintained that Tundra Swans do not winter on the Samish Flats, and
> that all swans seen there will be Trumpeters. This does seem to fit with
> Gene's observations above. Does anyone know if this is true?

A recent trip up yonder provided both swans on the Samish Flats in 1
flock, though mostly Trumps. We didn't look through any other flocks
after that. So at least a few Tundras winter on the Samish Flats.

If you would like a THOROUGH account of Trump Swan winter distribution
and movements, try this thesis at the UW libraries:

Anderson, P.S. 1993. Distribution and habitat selection of wintering
Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) in the lower Skagit Valley,
Washington. Unpub. M.S. thesis: Univ. Washington, Seattle. 74pp.

Includes some nice maps showing where flocks occur, and what percentages
of swan sp. are in flocks. It's at the Forest Resources Library
(basement of Bloedel Hall) as SD121 .Th40984 or at Suzzallo as Thesis 40894.

____________________________
Mike Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu
http://salmo.cqs.washington.edu/~wagap/mike.html