TRUMPETER SWAN CONSERVATION ONTARIO

Throughout the year Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario’s volunteer organization has participated in numerous presentations either in person or virtually with different groups clubs or other like-minded organizations to share our knowledge of the Trumpeters swan. Our efforts are to help raise awareness conservation and educate the public by sharing an understanding of their history habitats behaviours as well as risk factors such as lead poisoning angel wing syndrome and Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI). Throughout the winter weather permitting (Nov- Mar) our team members visit various wintering sites do daily check ins and survey counts on the wintering population. We welcome the public to ask our volunteers questions to share our knowledge. One of the facets of our on-going citizen science program is the banding and tagging of Trumpeter swans under scientific permits issued by Environment Canada and Canadian Wildlife Services. Unique yellow tags are affixed to wings to encourage citizens to report sightings for ongoing research projects into habitat movements breeding and general health of the Ontario population of Trumpeter swans. Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario’s team was in the field banding a total of 25 days of which sixty-nine swans banded and tagged during April 1 2023 to March 31 2024. Over the past years banding activities have been limited in the spring and fall for the safety of the team and swans when the risk of migrating birds transmitting HPAI increases. We continue to work in conjunction with the Canadian Wildlife Services to support the monitoring efforts of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI) by collecting blood and swab samples during the banding process as well. During spring and summer when swans are nesting raising young or molting we continue our research efforts. Over the years the program has monitored and recorded over 600 known nesting sites throughout Ontario and currently track approximately 175 known active nest sites (a true testament to the success of the efforts of the predecessor organization known as Ontario Trumpeter Swan Restoration and its volunteers.) See attached document

Researchers from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Trent University and Toronto Metropolitan University have been utilizing and formulating our data. They have submitted a manuscript to the scientific journal Avian Conservation and Ecology (ACE) in June 2024 describing an integrated population model (IPM) for the Ontario Trumpeter Swans. This IPM uses information from the long-term banding and tagging program of Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario and its predecessor organization to calculate ecological variables and properties of the swans (such as survival birth rates productivity etc.) and to project population growth and limiting factors. The management plan for the Interior Population of Trumpeter Swans of which Ontario’s birds are a part has been progressing with meetings of Mississippi and Central Flyway biologists held throughout the past year. Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario has participated in the process by attending all working meetings of the group and reviewing all drafts of the plans components providing insight from the Ontario experience and drawing on our unique database of observations on abundance distribution breeding habitat etc. It is anticipated that the IP TRUS Management Plan will be completed by mid 2025. A presentation on the Ontario Trumpeter Swan program history and results was given on January 17 2024 in The Trumpeter Swan Society webinar series. Over seven hundred people registered for the webinar with the majority being from Ontario. The presentation was well-received with many positive comments and questions. The presenters provided information to specific questions from attendees in a post-webinar process. Additional information in attached document