US Fish & Wildlife Service
Date of this Version
4-2-2013
Citation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Birds and State Programs Mountain-Prairie Region Lakewood, Colorado.
Abstract
Observers counted 6,425 swans (white birds and cygnets) in the Rocky Mountain Population of trumpeter swans during early February 2013, which was similar to the 6,431 counted during winter 2012. In the tri-state area, the number of total swans increased for Montana (80%) and Wyoming (4%) from counts in 2012. Idaho decreased by 5% from last year but ID observed 520 swans in 2012 that were not classified as adults or cygnet so the decrease may not reflect what is actually occurring. The number of birds wintering in areas near restoration flocks, decreased by 16% from 2012. The numbers of birds at Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) (37), Malheur NWR (3) and Summer Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) (85) decreased -9%, -81% and -9%, respectively, from 2012. Reservoir levels in early February were lower than during winter 2012 and 9% below the long term average. Temperatures in the tri-state area and in Yellowstone National Park during winter 2012-13 were at long term average.
Comments
U. S. government work.