Threats Facing Swans
Our programs and initiatives are dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Trumpeter and Tundra swans. Use this page to get more information on where to watch the swans, identifying them, and other helpful resources.
Threats Facing Swans:
- Lead Poisoning – from ingestion of lead shot and to a lesser extent lead fishing sinkers Swans eat the lead shot thinking it is grit to help with digestion of food in their gizzard. It is ground down and enters the blood stream causing lead poisoning. It only takes 3 lead shot pellets to kill a 30 pound Trumpeter Swan.
- Power Line Collisions –
- Loss of winter habitat for feeding and roost sites – The increasing importance of agricultural areas has allowed swans to move into new geographic areas, especially where there are dairy farms in western Washington. This has resulted in both a boon for wintering swans in terms of food resources as well as conflicts because in some areas where swans can damage fields during their foraging activities, especially for potatoes and pasture or cover crop grasses. The conversion of waterfowl friendly farming to berry, apple and other types of crops creates a net loss of areas for waterfowl to feed.
- Climate Change — The impact of climate change on important Alaskan nesting and breeding grounds as interior wetlands dry and permafrost disappears. Swans are not able to bring off a brood to flight stage for migration.
Support Swans - Donate
By supporting NWSCA you are helping us to protect and advocate for swans and their habitats. Help keep Trumpeter and Tundra swans gracing our skies and wetlands.