TRUMPETER SWAN SURVEY of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN POPULATION, U.S. BREEDING SEGMENT FALL 2005

Observers counted 510 swans (white birds and cygnets) in the U.S. Breeding Segment of the Rocky Mountain Population of trumpeter swans during fall of 2005, the highest count since 1992. The numbers of white birds and cygnets in the tri-state region increased 22% and 4%, respectively, compared to counts in 2004. The number of young produced in Montana was 25% higher than in 2004, whereas numbers of cygnets in Idaho and Wyoming essentially were unchanged. The number of white birds increased compared to 2004 for all three states in which the Tri-state Area Flocks nest. The number of birds at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge increased compared to last year, due to increased numbers of white birds. The count for Nevada was unchanged from that of 2004, and for the fifth consecutive year, swans at Ruby Lake fledged no young. The number of swans at Summer Lake Wildlife Management area and vicinity was similar to the count for 2001, the most recent year in which biologists conducted extensive surveys of the area. Although the area around Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge continued to experience drought conditions during summer 2005, Palmer Drought Indices for other areas within the tri-state region were much improved relative to recent years