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Trumpeter Swans at Pineview Reservoir

Lauri,

I saw three Trumpeter Swans at Pineview Reservoir in Huntsville, Utah (Weber
County), this afternoon.  All three are cygnets marked with yellow collars
with black lettering, and left pink underwings.  The collar numbers are Y01,
Y03, and Y09.  The three Trumpeters were generally keeping company with
three Tundra Swans.  Those six were the only swans I saw on the reservoir,
which is mostly iced over.  Please reply to birdnet@utahbirds.org with the
life history of the three Trumpeters.  Thanks!

Utah Birders,

The swans are feeding and resting on the northeast side of the reservoir and
about a half mile south of the Middle Inlet Swim Area.  You'll find complete
directions to the location at the end of this post.

After I studied them for a half hour or so, I made a quick trip to a phone
to report them on the hotline.  Then I went back to the swan location to
hunker down and really study for about an hour and a half.  I started at a
distance of 250-300 yards, but eventually crept to a distance of about 150
yards.  I'm glad I toted a collapsible chair along.  I worked my way out by
using rings of scrubby aspens growing out of the exposed reservoir bottom to
hide my approach.  Several pairs of self-righteous and self-appointed sentry
Canada Geese were not fooled by my skulking.  Every time they started
honking I simply sat down until they weren't agitated anymore.  The swans
couldn't have cared less.

There's nothing like a yellow plastic collar and a flourescent pink wing to
confirm you're looking at a Trumpeter instead of a Tundra Swan.  However, I
decided to work over the field marks as if the artificial markings weren't
there.  Perhaps the study will serve me well when I come across other
Trumpeters, au naturel (I mean them au naturel--not me).  Here's what I
learned:

The strongest difference between the two species is not the Tundra's yellow
lores, is not the overall sizes or postures, and is not the shape of the
beaks.  It's the forehead shapes.  The Trumpeter's forms a point, like a
widow's peak, that projects well down onto the upper mandible.  The Tundra's
forehead is more rounded.  I could see that field mark with a wimpy 40x
scope, even on the Trumpeter cygnets' dusky-gray heads.  The other field
marks are important, but now that I've seen them, I would not rely on any
one alone to definitively ID the species.

1.  The yellow lores were fairly visible on one Tundra Swan (the adult),
barely visible on a cygnet Tundra Swan, and not visible on the third cygnet
Tundra Swan.  None of the Trumpeters showed yellow on the lores in any
light, at any distance, or with any tilt of their heads.  The Trumpeters did
show faint pink markings on their upper mandibles.

2.  The size difference between the two species was barely discernible, and
only when paired side-by-side.  And because the Trumpeters were cygnets, the
size difference at this point in their lives isn't a reliable field mark.
Perhaps it would be pronounced if the Trumpeters were adults.

3.  The differences in the neck length, thickness, and posture were visible,
but both species had to be swimming forward and relaxed to see the
differences.  The Trumpeter's neck is longer, thinner, and the bird holds
its neck straighter.  The Tundra Swans' necks appeared shorter, thicker, and
more curved.  The Tundra's curvature might be the result of the appearance
of a more bulbous shape at the bottom of the neck.  The Trumpeters' lower
necks, of course, were covered by the slim collars that moved up and down
with gravity.

4.  The feet were different colors.  The Trumpeters' feet were a murky
grayish.  The Tundras' feet were jet-black  The feet were visible either
when the birds dabbled, stood on shore, or lazily flapped and stretched one
foot aft of the wingtip.

5.  The differences in the head and beak shapes were noticeable, but didn't
clobber me over the head.  The Trumpeter almost appears to have a peak at
the crown, and then the forehead descends straight into the relatively
straight beak.  The Tundra's crown appeared more rounded, as did the
forehead, and I could detect a slight upward curve of the culmen.  One
Tundra's upper mandible was also a little lumpy.

6.  Shape of the back--oops!  I forgot to look for this one.  I don't
usually check a field guide until I've absorbed everything I can about a
bird, and frankly, I forgot to look for this field mark.  I didn't look at a
book until I got home.  Crummy excuse, I know.

For my trouble, I got an excellent chance to compare the two species and a
sunburn on my left hand and forehead. Good thing I don't bird au naturel,
'cause it's sunscreen season, and I didn't use any today.

Here's how to get to the spot.  If you're driving up from points farther
south than Farmington, take I-15 exit 326 (US 89).  Take 89 to I-84 east,
and exit I-84 at Exit 92, Mountain Green.  Turn left under the interstate
and right onto UT 167.  UT 167 takes a left turn at a Sinclair gas station
and becomes Trapper's Loop that runs east of Snow Basin.  The highway
T-bones into UT 39.  NOTE YOUR ODOMETER at this intersection.  The swan spot
is exactly 3 miles from here.  Turn right on UT 39 and follow it east and
north around the reservoir.  DON'T turn right when UT 39 turns east of
Huntsville--continue north on UT 162 toward Eden, and bear left as the road
curves back toward the reservoir.  The swans were located in the first inlet
you'll see as soon as the road runs adjacent to the reservoir.

If you're visiting from Ogden or points north, exit I-15 at #347, 12th
Street and UT 39.  Turn east and drive through Ogden Canyon and along the
south shore of Pineview.  NOTE YOUR ODOMETER at the UT 39-UT 167
intersection, and follow the directions above.

There's no place to park adjacent to the swan location.  You'll find a small
pullout 1/10th of a mile farther north, and an Angler's Access with parking
and pit toilets 1/4 mile north of the swans' inlet.  It's probably best to
look for the swans early in the day, because you'll have the light at your
back or from the south.  There's no access from the west side.  Good luck.

Kris

----- Original Message -----
From: "Hanauska-Brown,Lauri" <lhanausk@IDFG.STATE.ID.US>
To: <birdtalk@utahbirds.org>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 10:40 AM
Subject: trumpeter swan observations


> Idaho Fish and Game in cooperation with US Fish and Wildlife Service,
> Bureau of Reclamation, Harriman State Park, and Shoshone-Bannock Tribe are
> once again capturing, marking, and translocating cygnet trumpeter swans.
> Captured cygnets are marked with green collars with white lettering or
> yellow collars with black lettering.  All cygnets translocated to the Bear
> River in southeast Idaho are also marked with bright pink wing dye on the
> left wing.  (2002 cygnets were marked with pink wing dye on the right
> wing).  During the past two winters we have captured over 150 cygnets
> which may show up this winter as adults with green collars.
>
> Please report any observations of green or yellow collared or pink wing
> swans to Idaho Fish and Game @ lhanausk@idfg.state.id.us.  Swans have been
> observed in years past throughout southeast Idaho, northern Utah, and as
> far away as California and Arizona.  Observations of any of these swans
> are crucial to the success of this project and are much appreciated.
> Collar numbers are extremely helpful.  Please provide adequate detail on
> location, date, and other swans in the area.  Thanks for your help again
> this year!
>
> Please circulate this email to friends and organizations that may be out
> birding.
>
> Lauri Hanauska-Brown
> Wildlife Biologist
> Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game
> 1515 Lincoln Rd.
> Idaho Falls, ID  83401
> Phone:  208-525-7290
> Fax:     208-523-7604
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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