What states do trumpeter swans live in?

The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest native waterfowl species in North America. As their name suggests, trumpeter swans are known for their loud, trumpeting call. These elegant white birds once nearly went extinct in the early 20th century due to overhunting for their feathers and habitat loss. Conservation efforts helped trumpeter swan populations rebound across parts of their historic range. Today, trumpeter swans live in several states and provinces across North America.

Key Facts About Trumpeter Swans

Here are some key facts about trumpeter swan habitat and range:

• Native to North America, trumpeter swans breed primarily in Alaska, Canada, and the northern U.S., with smaller populations in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions.
• They migrate south for the winter, traveling to southern Canada and parts of the contiguous U.S.
• Trumpeter swans need large bodies of water for habitat, preferring roomy wetlands with ample aquatic vegetation.
• They build large nests out of vegetation along the shallow edges of ponds, marshes, and lakes.
• Trumpeter swans mate for life and return to the same nesting sites each year.
• Major threats today include habitat loss and lead poisoning from ingesting lead shot.

Now let’s take a closer look at exactly which U.S. states and Canadian provinces trumpeter swans call home.

Breeding Range and Habitat

Trumpeter swans breed across Alaska, Canada, and some northern U.S. states:

• Alaska: Trumpeter swans breed widely across mainland Alaska and parts of southeast Alaska. They nest on ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving streams and rivers with ample aquatic vegetation for food.
• Canada: The majority of trumpeter swans nest in Canada, particularly from British Columbia east to Ontario, including:
  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
• Contiguous U.S. states: In the lower 48 states, trumpeters primarily breed in:
  • Montana – especially western Montana near Flathead Lake
  • Wyoming – like Yellowstone National Park
  • Idaho
  • Oregon – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge hosts nesting swans
  • Minnesota
  • Wisconsin
  • Michigan

During the breeding season, nesting pairs of trumpeters aggressively defend their large wetland territories, which may span 50 acres or more. They frequent wetlands with dense stands of aquatic plants like cattails, bulrushes, and pondweeds that provide food and nesting material.

Wintering Range

When frigid winter weather arrives on their northern breeding grounds, trumpeter swans migrate south to warmer climates:

• Pacific Coast – Trumpeter swans winter along the Pacific Coast from southern Alaska through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California.
• Interior U.S. – Some trumpeter swans shift from the interior breeding range east to winter in wetlands in states like Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana.
• Eastern U.S. – Other trumpeter swans winter along the Atlantic Coast and inland areas from New York south to Virginia and the Carolinas.
• Canada – Some trumpeters winter as far north as southern British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario if waters remain ice-free.

On their wintering grounds, trumpeter swans congregate in flocks on large lakes, marshes, ponds, and rivers that remain unfrozen. These open wetlands give them access to aquatic plants during the colder months.

Reintroduction and Restoration Efforts

In addition to their core northern range, trumpeter swans have been reintroduced to parts of their historic range through restoration efforts in the U.S. and Canada:

• Midwest – Trumpeter swans have been reestablished in several Great Lakes states and elsewhere in the Midwest via release programs starting in the 1980s and continuing today. Restored flocks now breed in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.
• Northeast – Trumpeter swans were reintroduced to New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other Northeastern states in the 1990s and 2000s after over a century absent. These swans migrate south for winter.
• Rocky Mountains – Restoration projects helped trumpeter swans return to nest in Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming outside their core northern Rockies range.
• Canada’s Atlantic provinces – Provincial programs have successfully reestablished trumpeter swans in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland.

These restored flocks remain relatively small and localized compared to the extensive trumpeter swan breeding range across northwestern North America. But reintroduction efforts have expanded the trumpeters’ overall distribution and numbers beyond the isolated refuges they dwindled to in the 20th century.

Population Status Today

Thanks to conservation measures and restored habitat, trumpeter swans have rebounded from just a few hundred individuals in 1935 to over 63,000 mature adults today across North America.

However, the IUCN Red List still considers trumpeter swans to be Vulnerable based on threats like habitat loss and lead poisoning. Their population levels remain a fraction of estimated historical abundance.

Here is a table summarizing the latest population data on trumpeter swans:

The majority of trumpeter swans nest in remote wilderness areas across Alaska and northwestern Canada. These core northern populations likely represent the bulwark of trumpeter swan abundance today. Smaller restored flocks in the contiguous U.S. remain more vulnerable. Ongoing conservation efforts for wetlands and reduction of lead pollution can help ensure trumpeter swans thrive across their range into the future.

Conclusion

In summary, trumpeter swans predominantly breed across Alaska, Canada, and the northern U.S. today. Their main breeding range centers on Alaska and northwestern Canada, with smaller restored populations in the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest regions. Trumpeter swans migrate south in winter to ice-free wetlands, wintering along the Pacific Coast, interior North America, and some Atlantic coastal areas. Through conservation work, trumpeter swan populations have recovered substantially since the early 1900s. But continued protection of wetland habitats remains vital for the long-term preservation of these magnificent birds. Their conservation reminds us of what can be achieved when humans commit to reversing the impacts we have imposed on the natural world.