Hello,

As some of you may have heard several trumpeter swans have died in the
Dungeness area north of Sequim likely from lead poisoning due to lead shot
ingestion. The swans think the pellets are grit and eat them to help with
digestion. In addition, another trumpeter was shot by a so called "hunter"
in this same area.
The following are links to the newspaper article and TV piece that aired
tonight.
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110203/NEWS/302039988/peninsula-
trumpeter-swan-pelted-with-shot-killed-five-dead-since

http://www.king5.com/home/Trumpeter-Swans-Under-Fire-115234834.html

To help us find the source of the lead shot we need to know where the swans
were foraging and roosting over the past 5-6 weeks. If you were out birding
in this area and have information on where (the exact field or area) the
swans were feeding or water bodies they were on please send that information
to me.If any of you have been out in this area birding over the past 5-6
weeks and saw swans, please send the information to me off list. The area
we are looking at includes all of the Sequim zone where swans have been
seen.

In addition 4 trumpeters were shot over a 3 week period in the Snohomish
area, all in separate instances.
TTSS is offering a reward for information leading to the punishment of these
violators. Enforcement knows the ID of two of the cases but not the other
two. Let me know if you have any information to pass on about these.

Thanks.

Martha Jordan
The Trumpeter Swan Society
425-787-0258

914 - 164th Street SE
PMB 272
Mill Creek, WA 98012