More trumpeter swans are spotted this year

The single-day count of trumpeter swans in the islands recorded an increase to 62, up from 49 last year. A total of 53 adult and nine juvenile swans were counted.

The survey was conducted Jan. 12 by volunteers for The San Juan Preservation Trust and the Trumpeter Swan Society. It was heavily concentrated on San Juan Island, where volunteers saw 44 adult and eight juvenile swans. They recorded three on Orcas, three on Shaw, and four on Lopez.

While this years single-day count represents an increase over last year, Cherill Perera, survey coordinator, said the swan population in the islands has averaged 70 to 80 birds over the past several years. She stressed that the survey results are most meaningful when viewed over time. Two years ago, the single-day count indicated 82 swans. Perera said warmer than normal weather may have caused fewer swans to migrate as far south as the San Juan Islands this year.

Approximately 40 volunteers participated in the single-day count, visiting 80 locations on several islands.

The entire survey extends from early November, when the swans begin to arrive from their summer breeding grounds in Alaska, to the end of March, when the swans leave. The survey is performed on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, Shaw, Blakely, and Waldron islands.

Each year, the survey includes a single-day count in mid-January. The survey data is shared with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to assist in maintaining a healthy environment for swans.

Trumpeter swans are among the largest waterfowl, standing three to four feet tall, with wingspans of eight to nine feet. Weighing 25 to 30 pounds, trumpeter swans take flight from the water and require a runway of 40 feet to lift off.

Swans prefer open, grassy or farmland habitat with proximity to water. Among the sites enjoyed by swans are several properties conserved by easements held by The San Juan Preservation Trust. One of the most popular locations is a 17-acre property on San Juan Island, on which a conservation easement was granted to the Trust in 1991 by the Percich family. The preservation of habitat for wildlife is a critical element of the mission of The San Juan Preservation Trust.

For more information on trumpeter swans or to volunteer to help with the swan survey, call Perera at 468-3260 or the Trust office at 468-3202.

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