Blue collared swans: no, not factory workers. There are a few trumpeter
swans that have been banded with blue collars on their breeding grounds in
Alaska. A few of them are now being seen in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Anyone seeing these birds, or the red, yellow, black (tundra) or green
collars as well, please contact me with the information:
date, location, collar code and color. Even a partial code will be helpful.
Even if you cannot read it, just let me know that you saw the collar.
I am seeking all reports for Whatcom County, and only blue collars for
Skagit (unless you can read the code on the red, yellow or black ones).
Also, in eastern Washington a tundra swan with a blue collar was seen at
Rearden Ponds near Spokane. Several tundra swans of the mostly Altlantic
flyway were banded in Alaska. If you see one of these, let me know. I can
send you the flier on these.
We have two reports two weeks ago of the black collars at Franz Lake NWR
on the Columbia River. They are migrating somewhere.
The red, yellow (trumpeter) and black (tundra) were part of the lead
poisoning study in Whatcom County. Blue collars are another, unrelated
study but still important.

Thanks.


Martha Jordan
425-787-0258
www.swansociety.org