I am a student at McMaster University, in the Honours Bachelor of Science, Biodiversity Specialization. I am entering my fourth year and will be working on an undergraduate project, involving creating a GIS database of Trumpeter swans. With the goal of documenting the success of the re-introduction program, and eventually to conduct a spatial analysis of successful nest locations in relation to land uses. This project will be carried out under the supervision of Dr. Chow-Fraser, Coordinator of the Biodiversity program in the Department of Biology at McMaster University. Since 2005, a number of Dr. Chow-Fraser’s students' research have contributed to the on-going mission of Parks Canada (Fathom Five National Marine Park, Georgian Bay Island National Park and Point Pelee), Ruthven National Historic Park, as well as the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan, Ministry of Natural Resources.
Originally native to Ontario, the Trumpeter swans were extirpated from eastern Canada over 200 years ago was primarily due to hunting pressure and habitat loss. Biologist Harry Lumsden began a provincial reintroduction program in the early 1980's to re-establish the Trumpeter swan in its former habitat and range. Today, as a result of an intensive reintroduction and conservation effort, there are about 1000+ wild Trumpeter Swans in Ontario. Along with the reintroduction, swans must breed in the wild to maintain a sustainable population. There is a continued effort to identify where pairs are nesting. Birds are banded and tagged during winter so we can keep track of the number of wild birds in Ontario. Some birds you observe may have yellow wing tags and metal leg bands. The wing tags make it easier to identify the bird from a distance. Write down the number if you can see it. To help identify the swans here is a website: http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/id.html I have been involved in the banding and tagging of Trumpeter swans for the last two winters, working with Beverly Kingdon and Harry Lumsden. This involves catching swans as well as keeping daily records of swans in the Hamilton Harbour and surrounding wintering areas. It would be greatly appreciated if everyone could keep an eye and ear open for Trumpeter Swans who might be nesting in your area or on your property. Many of you many have some wetland areas, which are the preferred habitat for the birds to nest. Breeding birds select nest sites that are surrounded by water from 10 cm to several meters in depth. They frequently construct their nests on old beaver and Muskrat houses, but they also build on emergent vegetation, either floating or anchored to the bottom. Pairs often begin to build or repair their nest even before a site is completely free of ice. Most nests are used year after year, usually by the same pair. Rebuilding does not usually involve much more than adding plant material to an already substantial mound. Write down the wing tag number if you can see it. If possible please provide coordinates for a point near the location of the nest, and/or the name of the marsh and bearing and distance from the nearest town. Please contact Kyna Intini at 905-627-0660 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ If you like crossword puzzles, then you'll love Flexicon, a game which combines four overlapping crossword puzzles into one! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/208_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
