Yes, there are trumpeter swans in Michigan. The trumpeter swan is the largest native waterfowl species in North America and was once common in Michigan until their numbers declined due to hunting and habitat loss during the 1800s. However, through restoration efforts, they have made a comeback in recent decades.
Trumpeter Swan Overview
The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest extant species of waterfowl. Adults measure 140–180 cm (55–71 in) long, with a wingspan of 185–275 cm (73–108 in). They can weigh 10.9–17.2 kg (24–38 lb). Males and females look alike, with all-white plumage and black legs, feet, and bills. Trumpeter swans are distinguished from the similar but smaller tundra swan by their larger size, black bill (rather than pink-orange with a black tip), and lack of a yellow spot between the eye and bill.
Trumpeter swans breed in wetland areas across the northern parts of North America. They mate for life and build large, mound-like nests out of aquatic vegetation. Female trumpeter swans lay 3–12 eggs that hatch after about a month of incubation. Cygnets can swim and forage with their parents soon after hatching but are not able to fly until around 4 months old. Trumpeters are primarily herbivores, feeding on aquatic plants and sometimes small invertebrates.
History of Trumpeter Swans in Michigan
Trumpeter swans were once abundant across Michigan and the Great Lakes region. It is estimated that 15,000–20,000 trumpeter swans inhabited the Great Lakes area in the early 1800s. They were an important part of Native American culture and subsistence. However, excessive hunting of trumpeter swans for their feathers and skins caused the population to rapidly decline. Habitat loss from wetland drainage and pollution also contributed to their disappearance.
By the late 1800s, trumpeter swans were extirpated from Michigan. The last known wild trumpeter swan in the state was shot in Saginaw County in 1883. For nearly a century after that, trumpeter swans were absent from Michigan.
Trumpeter Swan Restoration
Beginning in the 1960s, wildlife agencies and conservation groups began collaborative efforts to reintroduce trumpeter swans back into parts of their historic range, including Michigan. Between 1986 and 2008, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources released more than 2,000 trumpeter swans obtained from zoos or other state restoration projects.
These restoration efforts have been successful. The trumpeter swan population in Michigan grew from just a few individuals to over 600 by the early 2000s. Today it is estimated there are around 1,000 trumpeter swans living in Michigan, distributed across the northern half of the Lower Peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula.
Key Trumpeter Swan Release Locations in Michigan
- Seney National Wildlife Refuge
- Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
- Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station
- Kensington Metropark
- Muskegon County wastewater facility
Current Range and Habitat
Trumpeter swans are now found year-round across much of northern Michigan. They are most common in central northern Lower Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula. Key habitat areas include:
- Coastal wetlands – Along the Great Lakes and larger inland lakes
- Inland marshes – Particularly in the central Lower Peninsula
- Rivers and streams – Such as the Muskegon, Tittabawassee, and Au Sable Rivers
- Flooded agricultural fields – Trumpeter swans will forage in fields of corn stubble and winter wheat
In winter, trumpeter swans congregate in areas of open water and wetlands where their preferred food sources remain accessible. Some migratory populations will move further south in the winter.
Threats and Conservation
Although trumpeter swan populations have rebounded significantly in Michigan, they still face some threats and conservation challenges:
- Lead poisoning – Trumpeter swans can ingest lead shotgun pellets or fishing sinkers, causing poisoning and death.
- Collisions – Collisions with utility lines and vehicles are a mortality source.
- Habitat loss – Draining or degradation of wetland habitat reduces food availability and nesting sites.
- Disturbance – Human activity near nest sites may disturb nesting pairs.
Management practices that can support trumpeter swan conservation include:
- Wetland protection and restoration
- Restricting human activities near nesting sites
- Lead tackle buyback programs
- marking utility lines to increase visibility
Conclusion
Trumpeter swans have made a remarkable recovery in Michigan after being wiped out in the late 1800s. Ongoing conservation efforts have helped restore a self-sustaining population estimated at around 1,000 swans. Trumpeter swans can now be found across northern Michigan, particular in coastal wetlands, inland marshes, rivers, flooded agricultural fields and other suitable habitat. While threats remain, continued habitat protection and management practices focused on reducing lead poisoning, collisions and disturbance will help ensure trumpeter swans remain a part of Michigan’s natural heritage for generations to come.