ildlife biologists classify species into two broad categories: generalists such as the great horned owl can flourish in a wide variety of habitats compared to specialists which have very specific habitat needs. The trumpeter swan, the largest waterfowl in North America with a wingspan reaching 7 feet, is also one of most specialized birds in Wyoming. Swans depend exclusively on shallow wet- Wlands year-round. In mostly arid Wyoming, such wetlands are scarce in summer, let alone during long, frigid winters. Recent droughts have also taken their toll with an obvious reduction in Creating a swan habitat in a the number and size of wetlands throughout the state. Yet since 2005, the number of resident swans that live year-round in Wy- sagebrush sea is anything but oming has more than doubled. In September 2015, we docu- mented a record high number of 212 adult and subadult swans, birds at least a year old, in Wyoming outside of Yellowstone Na- tional Park. The growth in the state’s swan population reflects the success of a long-term Green River range expansion project by Wyoming Game and Fish Department and many partners. Since 2004, department efforts have focused on creating and restoring additional wetland habitat in the Green River Basin. But first, why does this magnificent white bird require help in Wyoming? A bit of history is needed. Wyoming resident swans are part of a small remnant population called the Tri-State or Greater Yellowstone flock that has persisted in western Wyo- ming, eastern Idaho and southwestern Montana since the early 1900s. At that time, the birds were thought to be the only trum- & peter swans remaining in North America. Conservation actions began in the 1930s to save the species from extinction. The first step was to create Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana where the flock was fed in the winter and protect- ed from hunting and other disturbances. This original Tri-State flock of approximately 70 swans flourished and grew to more than 500 by the 1950s. In that same decade, another completely blackStory by separate and larger nesting flock was discovered in Alaska that wintered along the West Coast in British Columbia and Wash- Susan Patla ington. Trumpeter swans as a species appeared to be secure. This was one of the great conservation success stories of that era. By the 1960s, however, growth of the resident Greater Yel- lowstone population began to falter and the number of breeding age adults and productivity declined from previous peaks. The main reason appeared to be crowding at the Red Rocks refuge where most of the resident swans continue to nest. A secondary factor seemed to be the growing number of swans that migrated from interior Canada to winter in the Greater Yellowstone area. The underlying cause for both of these trends highlight a basic attribute of swan behavior: Swans are traditionalists. They are the only waterfowl in which the young, or cygnets, stay with white their parents the entire first year. Cygnets learn where to sum- 16 | January 2016 wgfd.wyo.gov Wyoming Wildlife | 17 Creating swan wetlands proved at We were lucky that the swan project first to be a daunting task. Swans require blossomed during what proved to be a large ponds ranging from 8 to 10 acres dynamic time for new funding sources Swan projects with depths less than 3.5 feet, and little for wildlife conservation. The first break human disturbance. For nesting, swans was the creation of the U.S. Fish and also need islands, and most importantly, Wildlife Service’s State Wildlife Grant Rimfire Ranch, Daniel abundant aquatic vegetation. Raising a Program in 2002. This program pro- family of four cygnets until the young vides an annual appropriation for states Fall 2008 to fall 2010 can fly, about 100 days after hatching, to benefit species of greatest conserva- 4 ponds and 20 acres requires around 6 tons of vegetation. tion needs. In 2003, we were awarded a First we needed to find landowners grant to develop a landscape-level wet- who wanted wild swans and had the land plan for swan habitat in the Green Friendly Pond, Big Piney potential habitat to support them. Then River Basin. It was also fortuitous that we had to obtain funding. There were the newly retired Lockman was seek- Fall 2008 some grants that could provide funding ing contract work. He spent two very 6 acres for wetland restoration and construc- busy summers assessing potential sites, tion, but they required writing a pro- working closely with landowners to de- posal based on a costly technical plan velop plans for ponds that would also fit Duck Creek Pond, Pinedale and accurate expense budget. What a in with ongoing ranch operations. His Fall 2009 to spring 2010 Catch-22. We needed money to devel- final project report included detailed The trumpeter swan is a specialist species that depends on shallow-water wetland habitats throughout the year. Photo by Mark Gocke op project plans to obtain grants, but plans for 22 possible projects on 13 9 acres funding for initial planning was not ranches. readily available. Both state and feder- Now we had plans, but how to obtain al grants also required matching funds funding for wetland development? After Circle Nine Ranch, Boulder mer and winter from adults, and once author of the first regional management nesting population was to persist. from other sources. How were we to get more than a year of searching without Winter 2010 to summer 2011 established, these patterns stick. Swans plan for the Tri-State flock. These bi- But how to get swans to move to the ball, or rather money, rolling? luck, the tide turned. In 2005, the Wy- 6 acres that had a tradition of migrating farther ologists understood that it was critical new locations? After some years of ex- south were eliminated much earlier by to expand both the number and distri- perimentation, the answer proved to be fur-traders and European settlers. So bution of nesting swans if this regional releasing captive-raised swans into new Homestead Pond, Boulder our resident swans ended up with one areas without adults. Previous habitat of the most restricted distributions of surveys indicated that the Green Riv- Fall 2013 to summer 2014 any bird species in the lower 48 states; er stays open in the winter and offered 12 acres they crowded into an area less than 100 What a Catch-22. both excellent summer and winter hab- miles across both in summer and win- itat. ter. And in winter they had to share this We needed With Lockman moving to Cheyenne Wild Red Project, Daniel same area with an increasing number of in 1989, the department’s Nongame Fall 2015 to spring 2016 swans from Canada. money to develop Program stepped up to carry on the By the mid-1980s, the situation for range expansion project. We released 75 7 acres resident trumpeter swans in Wyoming project plans in swans at selected sites around Pinedale and the Greater Yellowstone area was from 1994 to 2002. The captive-raised looking a bit precarious. Wyoming had order to obtain swans were provided by the nonprofit only 60-70 adult birds. These swans Wyoming Wetlands Society in Jackson lived year-round in the high-elevation founded and directed by Bill Long, a Snake River area in Teton County and grants but veteran department game warden. By Yellowstone National Park. Dave Lock- 2003, the first goal was achieved: es- man, the department’s waterfowl biolo- funding for initial tablishing 10 nesting pairs in the Green gist for western Wyoming, initiated the River Basin. Releasing captive-raised first Wyoming trumpeter swan study in planning was not swans ceased at that time and we shifted 1985. Working with colleagues in the to focus on creating additional summer Homestead Pond near Boulder saw construction for swan habitat from 2013 to 2014. Pacific Flyway, he also was the principle readily available. habitat for this growing population. Photo by Susan Patla

18 | January 2016 wgfd.wyo.gov wgfd.wyo.gov Wyoming Wildlife | 19 oming Legislature with the support of project ponds, ducks, geese, shorebirds, Gov. Dave Freudenthal, created the Wy- In 2005, the herons, sage grouse, raptors, moose, oming Wildlife and Natural Resource muskrats and pronghorn have all ben- Trust. In June 2007, in partnership with Wyoming efited from these new sources of water Helping hands the Natural Resource Conservation Ser- and vegetation. But the greatest reward vice’s Pinedale office, we received our is that swans have established nests at In addition to the landowners who Legislature with three project sites. first swan habitat grant from the trust generously provided both enthusiasm to build the 10-acre Duck Creek project There is much to celebrate—but south of Pinedale. the support certainly more work to do. The num- and suitable sites for pond construction, An additional source of federal fund- ber of resident adult swans in the state Susan Patla cites the following key of Gov. Dave has more than doubled. The increase ing appeared in 2007 with the creation players in the success of the trumpeter of the Wyoming Landscape Conserva- in distribution of nesting pairs is even tion Initiative (WLCI). The purpose of Freudenthal, more striking. Swans can now be found swan range expansion: this multi-agency effort is to provide nesting in the Green River Basin from money for projects in southwestern created the the Upper Green River pothole country • Dave Lockman — retired western south of Union Pass down to Seedska- Wyoming to enhance wildlife habitat Wyoming waterfowl and wildlife while still allowing responsible energy Wyoming Wildlife dee National Wildlife Refuge, 30 miles development. Late in 2007, the Bureau north of the city of Green River. The biologist of Land Management received its first number of nests and young produced in • Jack Doyle — late civil engineer from and Natural the new expansion area now exceeds the appropriation for on-the-ground proj- Pinedale ects. Our proposal to build four wet- core area near Jackson. Continuation of Resource Trust. • Luke Lynch — late Wyoming director land ponds on the Rimfire Ranch near wetland project work in both expansion Daniel was ready to go. Matching funds and core areas in Wyoming will help of The Conservation Fund were obtained for this project through five ranches has been obtained, with keep the trumpeter swan population • Reneé Dana — retired Wyoming nine ponds constructed. This has ac- growing and viable for future genera- the Natural Resource Trust. Work on Landscape Conservation Initiative swan habitat projects began to roll. counted for 60 acres of new wetland tions of citizens. A view of a white swan Through 2015, more than $1,000,000 habitat through 2015. Though it takes is one that never fails to arouse wonder coordinator has been raised through the landscape three to five years to establish adequate and joy. • Bob Budd — Wyoming Wildlife and aquatic vegetation for nesting swans, —Susan Patla has served as the department’s initiative and natural resource trust for nongame wildlife biologist in the Jackson and Natural Resources Trust wetland projects in the Green River Ba- wildlife response has been almost imme- Pinedale regions since December 1998. diate once a pond is filled. In addition to She received the very prestigious Craighead • Bill Long — Wyoming Wetlands Society sin. Wildlife Conservation Award in 2014. An additional funding coup occurred swans, which have been observed at all • Jennifer Heyward — Natural in 2012 with a successful application to Resources and Conservation Service the federal North American Wetland • Mark Hogan and Dave Kimble — Fish Conservation Act, the most prestigious program for wetland grants in the coun- and Wildlife Partners Program try. The department, in partnership • Mark Noble — Noble Construction in with The Conservation Fund and the Pinedale U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received • Rob Doyle and Brian Remlinger — an award for conservation easements and wetland and riparian projects in the Alder Environmental in Jackson Upper Green River area. Our success • Holly Copeland — The Nature with earlier projects proved essential in Conservancy convincing grant reviewers of the value of wetland habitat in Wyoming. • Bob Oakleaf — retired Game and Fish All in all, funding for 10 ponds on Nongame Program supervisor • Bureau of Land Management staff A trumpeter swan swims through Flat As North America’s largest waterfowl, trumpeter swans can weigh up to 28 pounds Creek at the elk refuge near Jackson. with wingspans up to 7 feet. Photo by Jon LeVasseur Photo by Diana LeVasseur

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