Eight cygnets were released Sept. 8 on Jones Lake near Ovando as a part of the Blackfoot Trumpeter Swan Restoration Prograam.
Ovando School Supervising Teacher Leigh Ann Valiton holds a cygnet in the Polish color phase. While it is the same age as the other cygnets, its plumage is white instead of brownish.
To release the cygnets, those that were holding them were instructed to set them on the ground and open their arms. The cygnets realized they were free and quickly headed for the water.
Wildlife Biologist Greg Neudecker answering questions while the cygnets were banded.
Seeley Lake Elementary seventh and eighth graders gather around science teacher Patti Bartlett as she held one of the cygnets that was released Sept. 8.
The cygnets all banded and ready to be released. Betsy Baur of Helena, Mont. won the raffle drawing to release the swan. She gave the opportunity to Eliza Frazer, also of Helena, who is holding the last cygnet on the left.
OVANDO - The Blackfoot Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program marked its 12th year of releasing swans in the Blackfoot Valley Sept. 8. Eight trumpeter swan cygnets were released at Jones Lake near Ovando in an effort to restore trumpeter swans to their historical territory in the Blackfoot Valley.
State Coordinator for the Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Greg Neudecker led the program in which seven area schools participated in the release. While the birds were being banded and photos taken, Neudecker spoke about trumpeter swan history in the Blackfoot Valley, biology, habitat and characteristics.
There is no historical data of how many trumpeter swans existed in the Blackfoot Valley. Neudecker said that based on historical writings about the area, there was a healthy population in the valley. Beginning in the late 1800s, the swan populations declined due to hunting. While settlers shot the birds for food, commercial hunters were after the hide and feathers that supplied the millinery trade in Europe. The white-feathered hat that became a fashion staple in Europe is attributed for depleting the trumpeter swan population to near extinction.
Neudecker asked the students what was today's number one cause of death for trumpeter swans. Many of the students were shocked to learn that power lines kill more swans than predation or anything else.
The eggs of the cygnets released were collected from nests in Canada. They were taken to the Wyoming Wetland Society in Jackson, Wyo. where they were incubated. The cygnets hatched in June. They were brought by trailer to Jones Lake to be released.
Swans are known to return to the place where they learned to fly, instead of where they hatched. Neudecker said the hope is they will return to the Blackfoot Valley next spring, find a mate, establish a territory and find a place to nest. Neudecker said swans are typically four to five-years-old before they successfully nest.
The restoration program has released 175 trumpeter swans in the valley since its first release of 10 birds in 2005. Neudecker said there are currently six successful trumpeter swan nests in the Blackfoot Valley. The goal for the program is seven successful nesting pairs. It is believed that will be enough to create a sustainable population.
Students and teachers from Potomac, Sunset, Ovando, Seeley Lake, Lincoln, Drummond, Helmville and Bonner had the opportunity to get up close to the cygnets and get photos. Following the release, students rotated through learning stations designed to teach them about factors that impact the swans and the wetlands. They learned about wetland ecology, bird watching and aquatic invasive species (AIS).
At the AIS station, students watched a demonstration of the mussel dogs that are trained to sniff out quagga mussels on watercraft in areas that are not easily visible to inspectors.
The program is a collaboration between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Blackfoot Challenge, the Wyoming Wetlands Society, the Montana Waterfowl Foundation and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. For more information visit the Blackfoot Challenge's website http://www.blackfootchallenge.org and click on the Blackfoot Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program.
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